Justice and love

Marianna Campbell

I was pensive and smoking a cigarette on the balcony of my house, located in San Francisco, in Northern California. It was 8 pm when I looked at my cell phone and saw that there was a message notification from Ana Paula, I had just talked to her on the phone, she was desperate and had called me several times today, but she didn't talk about what it was about. She just said it was a serious matter

I can say that my day today was a little bit hectic and I don't say that this was at my current job, because here I work as a security guard at a women's clothing store and I can say that it is very calm, it is not the same as what I used to do but it pays off.

Today I received many calls, not only from Ana Paula but also from Allan Parker, head of the FBI department located in Mexico, and even from Maite, a friend of mine who had just joined the police. They were insistent that I return, claiming that there was something urgent and that's why there were suitcases scattered around my room, I had decided to go to Mexico. No one would tell me what was going on and this was making me afraid, yes, I Mariana, former investigative agent for the FBI was afraid.

I needed to go back, Ana Paula needs me, but the question that's on my mind is: am I ready to go back and face everything again? Am I ready to answer several questions about why I ran away? Am I ready to face my past?

Still lost in thought I heard the doorbell ring, I put out my cigarette and went to open the door, It was Lewis who came to visit us. Lewis is a 75-year-old man who has been helping me since the day I lost everything, or almost everything, in a flood here in California a year ago. He comes to visit us once every two weeks and Maria Paula, my daughter, already calls him Grandpa.

"Good evening Mr. Lewis, how nice to receive your visit" - I smile and open the door

"I came to visit you and Maria Paula, I brought some things for you to eat.

He was holding some bags, that I grabbed, ran to the kitchen, and put them on over the table

"You didn't have to worry about that, you know.

"I like helping you, don't get mad, please.

" Get mad at you? Never!" - I smile - "Impossible to get mad at you, even if I wanted to, you know that we love you and that you are Maria Paula's adoptive grandfather"

We laughed lightly, I caressed his face and motioned for him to sit on the sofa. I noticed that he was looking all around and also at the suitcases

"Miss Mariana, where is Maria Paula? I want to see her, I brought her a present.

He showed a package and it did not take two minutes before we could hear some little steps through the corridors of the house, Maria Paula came crawling quickly towards us

"Mom ... grandpa ".

Maria Paula is one year and three months old, I got pregnant by a man I had a brief relationship with in the past. She was sleeping on my bed when she probably heard Mr. Lewis' voice and decided to come to us. Even though my bed is not very high bed mattress is not far from the floor, I had put some pillows so that she would not fall, but she is very smart, she came down by herself and came to us

"My little granddaughter has arrived" - opening her arms - "Grandpa brought you a present."

He took the package, sat down with her on the floor, and began to play. I looked at the scene spellbound, Mr. Lewis is a man with a great heart, and surely not only Maria Paula and I, but he too will suffer as much or more than we will if we do leave.

I left them playing in the living room and went to make us something for dinner, I am no chef but let's just what I cook is delicious.

While cooking I kept thinking, I was really worried about what might be happening in Mexico, mainly with Ana Paula and Allan Parker also insisted on my return. 30 minutes later dinner was ready

"Come for dinner, it's ready"

"Miss Mariana, you know you didn't need that"

"Yes I did, come to eat now" - I knock lightly on the chair - "and I don't take no for an answer, I made macaroni and cheese which I know you love"

"Well, since you insist, I won't deny it" - he looked at little Maria Paula who was there - "shall we eat? if not, your mom will scold us "

He came over to the table with her on his lap, I set her armchair in the middle between him and me, put her sitting there, and then put her plate on. I cut her noodles into small pieces.

We sat down and served ourselves, the conversation was very pleasant as it is always very nice to talk with him, he has the best stories

"...And it was on that ship that I met Emiliana.

He had already told me this story a few times, but he loves to tell it every time we talk and I love to hear it. Emiliana is his wife, they have been married for 50 years and she is a super nice lady, she is 77 years old, but unfortunately, she has liver cancer and because of her age, they decided not to do the surgery, so she was very weak emotionally and physically. she also has a huge affection for me and Maria Paula even though we haven't seen each other for about 2 months, because due to her debilitated state, she couldn't come to see us and I couldn't find the time to go visit her, but I'm sure was she the one who chose my daughter's gift.

I noticed that at one while eating, he looked around the room and I can guess that he was looking at the suitcases that were thrown on the floor

"I know you want to ask something, you can ask"

"Yes... But... I don't know if I should"

"You can ask! You know you don't have to hide anything from me.

"Well, it's just that... "- he swallows dry - I saw those suitcases over there and... Are you going to travel?

I was right, it was about the suitcases, it was time to say that maybe we are going back to Mexico and I confess that I am afraid of his reaction

"Well... maybe" - I take a deep breath

"What do you mean maybe? If you are not sure why are there so many suitcases lying around the room?

"I'll tell you but I don't want you to be sad.

I looked at him and noticed that his look had changed, now there was a sad expression, he asked me to continue talking

"I got some calls today from the niece of a friend of mine and also from the FBI that has me a little worried, they don't want to talk about what it is, but they want me to come back and I don't know what to do.

Mr. Lewis was quiet for a moment. We looked at Maria Paula and she was getting all dirty while eating and I thought that was beautiful, but at that moment I could only notice the look of sadness on Lewis's face, who was now wiping my daughter's mouth with a napkin

"But are you going to stay for a while and come back or are you going forever?

" I don't know I am still thinking " - wiping my mouth - " You will be sad if we go and Emiliana too.... "- he interrupts me

"For me, you would stay, but you have to think about yourself, girl, do you think you could go back? Do you think you are ready to face everything?

"To tell you the truth I don't know" - I bite my lips

Everyone knew what happened to my family, but Lewis was the only one who knew why I ran away from Mexico

"Are you ready to face him? The person who caused the accident with your family?"

" Yes, because I read in the paper that some time ago he passed away "

"What about his grandson?'

Mariana- I'm not going to see - lo

Lewis was quiet for a few seconds, you know I don't like to talk about what happened to my family

"Well, then... If I were you I would at least take a chance. Go over there and see what they want, maybe they need you, and if you don't feel well, you come back. "

I now poured the wine, hearing this from him made me a little calmer.

" But what about Mr and Emiliana, how will they be?"

" We are already old, don't worry about that " - I smiled in a corner - "and I also have a few friends alive and the woman who works at home, we will not be alone, you will have someone to help us in case something happens if that is what you are worried about "

" But you will miss Maria Paula for sure "

" Yes, I'll miss this beautiful girl very much "

He stroked her cheek and she smiled at him, then he continued to speak

"But you can send me pictures of her on my cell phone and when you can, you can come to visit us.

"I don't know, I don't know if I should leave you here, I don't know if I want to face everything..." - I swallow dryly

I put my hands on the table and he takes one of them, caressing me

"Yes, go girl, go see what they want, and as I said, if you want to come back, You will always be welcome

Yes, this house where I currently live with Maria Paula is his, he gave it to us when we lost almost everything in the flood. I wanted to pay for the rent but he refuses to accept it.

"Ok, you've convinced me, I'm going to Mexico!

I smiled and squeezed his hand, on the table. Maria Paula looked at us a bit confused and restless, she wanted to understand what was going on and also to get down from the chair because she had already finished eating

"That's the way to talk! When did you buy the ticket?

" I haven't bought it yet, but I will buy it later today to travel tomorrow until late afternoon because from what I see they need me for something very urgent "

" Okay "- he takes a deep breath - " I only ask that you come to see us and say goodbye to Emiliana before you travel "

" I certainly will don't worry."

" That's good then "

He kissed my hand and I smiled.

I got up, took Maria Paula out of the chair she was sitting in, and put her on the floor. As I was putting the dishes in the sink I felt Mr. Lewis touch my shoulder with your hands

"Miss, from what I see of the suitcases on the floor you must have a lot of clothes to put in the suitcase, go pack your bags and I'll take care of Maria Paula until she sleeps.

"Thank you, you are an angel. Once she's asleep if you want you can sleep too, you know you have a room here. "

He nodded smiling, I kissed his forehead, walked to the living room to get the bags, and took them to the bedroom, I and Maria Paula had a lot of clothes and it took me a while to decide where to start packing.

Sometime later Mr. Lewis came to bring the baby to lay her down on the bed because she had slept and took the opportunity to inform her that he would go home anyway. I said goodbye with the promise to go there the next day at his house before traveling and after he left I went back to packing my bags

"Mexico, I'm coming back," I sighed, with my hands on my waist.

Mariana Campbell

The next day, I woke up very early, around 8:00 a.m. I say very early because I almost didn't sleep. I was packing until 3 a.m. and I still hadn't finished, I was so tired that I surrendered to sleep. But I have a human alarm clock that woke me up, squeezing my cheeks and asking for breast milk.

"Good morning, my passion"

I kissed her forehead and put her to suckle at the breast. I had bought a ticket for 5:00 pm, I wanted to arrive in Mexico today to pack up and go talk to Ana Paula tomorrow.

While the baby was feeding, I finished packing. When the closet was practically empty, I noticed that I still hadn't put away the little box, that little box...

"I shouldn't take it, but I can't unpack it either.

I opened the box and some memories came to my mind, so I closed it immediately, took a deep breath and put it inside the suitcase. I also saw the recorder, that recorder that