ever trade shameful acts for dinero. My sister will marry a good man, and my mother will live with her daughter in a house with running water and many grandchildren to wait on her when she is elderly.”
We all have our dreams when it comes to family, Jordan thought. He switched back to European Spanish and addressed Roberto as one equal would address another. “All right, young man. We’ll be in touch.” He reached into his wallet and withdrew some cash.
Roberto backed away. “I do not take charity, señor. I earn my living. I work hard. I do not beg like these niños.” Roberto gestured toward the younger children running up to other cars in the parking lot.
“I don’t offer you charity. My father is dead, and my brothers and grandfather, as well. I am the only man left to provide for my women. I ask you in their name to take this for your women.”
Roberto nodded. “For them. Not for me.” He stuffed the money into his pants pocket, and the two men studied each other. “I will see about helping Geraldo’s esposa. And the daughter.”
“Gracias. We’ll be in touch,” he said again.
The two shook hands. Jordan headed for the truck, while Roberto made his way through the parking lot, sharing some of his change with the younger children. Jordan gave them one final look, then set his lips together and rejoined Aurora for the drive back to the Tijuana–San Ysidro border.
* * *
THE RIDE WENT smoothly until they reached the border crossing, where traffic was always backed up as cars were, one by one, inspected and waved through. Begging children were as thick as Dumpster flies, darting between the slow-moving cars, shouting, pounding on windows, offering flowers, drinks, food, trinkets and souvenirs for sale.
“Getting hungry?” Jordan asked as they inched forward through the automobile and foot traffic.
“Actually, I could use a cold drink and a screaming session,” she sighed.
“How about two sodas and forget the screams? I’m trying to drive here.”
Aurora actually smiled. “Done. But let’s get across the border first. I’ve had all I can take of Mexico for one day. These poor kids,” she said as another with straggly flowers banged violently on her window, begging in English and Spanish. “Tanya doesn’t know how lucky she has it.”
“If she doesn’t, she’ll figure it out soon enough.” Jordan started to roll down his window to buy the wilted flowers, but Aurora stopped him.
“Don’t. We can’t take agricultural products across the border,” she reminded him.
“I can at least give him a couple of bucks.” Jordan reached for his wallet.
“If you do, so many kids will fight over this car that someone’ll get hurt. Or they’ll rob the boy of your cash. Just keep driving. At least that way, they’ll be safe. Unlike Tanya...” Aurora turned her head to face him. “She didn’t have much to say?”
“Nothing I’d care to repeat.”
“I’m not surprised.” Aurora paused. “What did you and Roberto talk about?”
“I told him that you and I were partners and to see what he could do for your sister and her daughter. He seems quite loyal to you.” Traffic stopped again, and this time children selling bottled water and chilled sodas pounded on Jordan’s window. “Is it true you promised him a green card if he helped your family out of jail?”
“Yep.”
“That’s an awfully big promise to dangle.”
“And one I can honor,” Aurora said sharply. “Especially since he’s kept his part of the bargain. He did come up with news about Gerald.”
“News you haven’t verified yet. I’ll call for you. In the meantime, you’d better be prepared to deliver if, by some miracle, Roberto succeeds. I don’t want to see him in trouble. He’s the sole support of his mother and sister.”
Aurora’s lips opened, then she closed them tightly.
“You were going to say something?” Jordan prompted.
“You’re the one who wanted to come with me. If my unconventional efforts to help Dorian offend you, please stay behind next time. If you want to withdraw your offer to help with the payroll, that’s okay, too. This is my family, my problem. I can always use my boat for collateral. I don’t need your charity or your lectures.”
Jordan inched the truck forward again; there was now only one car ahead of him. “I’m concerned about you. And now that I’ve met him, I’m concerned about Roberto, too.”
“You’re more concerned about the San Rafael and her gold. That’s your main interest in all of this. Don’t pretend otherwise,” she snapped. “You can’t