by Ruthann Miller

Created on: September 18, 2008   Last Updated: May 29, 2011

Meg set the pitcher of sweet tea down on the table, and dragged her hand across her sweaty brow. With the same motion, she lifted her hair off of her neck, allowing the cooler air in.

She looked at the wooden clock on the wall. Half past four, she thought to herself. Miguel would be home soon. How would she tell him what had been on her mind all day? She took her glass and walked to the screen door, pushing open its creaky hinges. The dog followed her out, and licked at her bare ankles as she stepped carefully down the wooden steps. When she reached the sandy yard, she sat on the bottom step, her linen dress cascading around her knees, and squinted out into the wide, blue surf.

What had made her come here? She missed her children. She missed her friends. She even missed-though she hated to admit it-the mainland. She almost knew the answer before she had asked it. Love, security. Miguel was a good man, strong and steady. The kind of man she had never had in her entire life. When he coaxed her into returning with him to his home, it was a way out of her troubles, she had thought. But troubles have a way of following you. Meg knew that now. She reached into her pocket and fingered the letter that had been gnawing at her. It was from her daughter. She would soon give birth to Meg's first grandchild, and she wanted her mother to be there. Returning to the mainland would have its price. Meg knew that. They were still looking for her.

Just as the dog's tail started to wag and his ears perked up, Meg heard the pickup truck's old struts bouncing into the yard. "Daddy's home", she said to Oscar. He let out a bark, and ran around the corner of the house. She glanced over her shoulder as she heard the back door squeak open. Miguel walked down the steps and took a seat beside her. He put his arm around her neck and kissed her face. His sweat was sweet and laced with the faint remains of his cologne. "How was your day?" Meg greeted her man.

"You know how my day was," his arm slid to her waist. "How was yours?" With his other hand, he stroked the dog's head.

"Got a letter from Sara. Baby's due any day." Meg turned to see the reaction in his eyes.

Miguel put his hand up to his brow without looking at her, shielding his eyes, and stared down the beach. "You want to go back, don't you?"

Meg nodded and closed her eyes, waiting for the explosion. Miguel stood up and faced her, both arms in the air. "How can you even be thinking like this, mujer?! You know they are still looking for you!

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