Gift-Chapter Seven

The chain linked fence hadn't been visible in the darkness
when they first arrived. It was easy to see why not, as it was
camouflaged by the surrounding lush greenery. Greg quickly removed the
padlock and swung the gate barring the road aside. He went to the metal
shed just inside the paddock and unlocked the front door. Talia watched
as he wheeled a motorcycle out and walked it to the outside of the gate
and then reversed the security procedures.

As he
finished he glance at Talia who was looking at him
incredulously.

&;quot;What?&;quot;

&;quot;You
have so many charming touches here. Tiny shrines to Buddha hiding in
nooks and crannies, your very own secluded and I might add lovely,
beach, electricity hidden in your own private Taj Mahal and great big,
scary fences with barbed wire on the top. Now I see we have
transportation.&;quot; Talia smiled with him as he walked back to
the bike.

&;quot;This was an island secured by the
government for many years. I didn't see any reason to spend any money
taking the fence down. It keeps things relatively
safe.&;quot;

&;quot;Unless you arrive by boat
on the beach.&;quot; Talia raised an eyebrow at him.

&;quot;True. The surveillance cameras alert the
staff. They check it out when I'm not around.&;quot; Greg got on the
motorcycle and Talia stood facing him as he checked the gas tank. He
glanced up at her and chuckled.

&;quot;I was
joking. There isn't anything that can't be replaced. Let 'em come in if
they must. I bought this piece of land for a very good
reason.&;quot; He reached a hand out to help her get on the
motorcycle and she hesitated. &;quot;Don't be scared. I'll be
careful.&;quot; The look on his face was genuine and she climbed up
behind him.

Wrapping her arms around his midsection,
he ran his hand over her arm and turned his head to look over his
shoulder. &;quot;Never again. I'm your protector now, I
promise.&;quot; Talia gave him a slight hug, hoping he could carry
out that promise if he had to in this crazy game that seemed to be
evolving. They would be watching out for one another this time though.
She was certain of that.

The marina was not the one
where they had arrived earlier. They drove past the single dock and
followed the rarely used dirt road for another few miles. The small
village was a typical port town with a marina containing four long
docks, a few tourist shops, a small market with a single gas pump
outside, and a restaurant with a large patio overlooking the water.
Several large sailboats were moored there and a number of smaller
speedboats floated gently against the pilings.

Greg
parked outside and they walked out onto the docks to look at the boats
and enjoy the lingering sunlight.

&;quot;Greg, if
Javier knows you are here, why hasn't he done something yet? Talia
watched the sun bounce off the water, waiting for his reply, not sure
what exactly he would be saying.

Greg squatted down
on his haunches at the edge of the dock and looked down into the water
for a few very long seconds before he stood up and came to lean on the
piling next to Talia.

&;quot;Javier doesn't know I
own the land. I never put it in my name. I knew that might be too
tempting for him. The locals here are rather protective. I help them
out whenever I can and they aren't too fond of a thriving drug business
here. It causes too much trouble for them. They don't want him hanging
around on the island and so my tracks are covered quite well. Let's
just say that I have let it be known that I don't want anyone to know
that I exist here.&;quot;

Talia didn't want to
ask, but wanted to know.

&;quot;I can understand
you keeping it out of your name. I'm guessing that it's in Paddy's
name. I know it goes way back, your friendship with him. I'm sure he
appreciates it.&;quot;

&;quot;It isn't in his
name.&;quot; Greg hesitated and Talia watched his eyes moving across
the horizon as she waited for the rest of the statement, which seemed
to be hovering at his lips. &;quot;It's in your name. You own an
island paradise and you don't even know it.&;quot; Greg waited
before he looked at her and Talia felt as if the wind had been knocked
out of her chest. She thought she had misunderstood his words
then.

&;quot;Mine?&;quot;

&;quot;Yours.&;quot;

She
moved around to face him and took off his sunglasses. She saw a sparkle
develop in his eyes and radiate out to the fine lines around
them.

&;quot;I was going to tell you later, but
the time seemed right. I needed a name and then thought of all I had
put you through. I figured that if I couldn't have you in my life, for
me to make it up to you, at least you could sell it someday and make
some cash from the deal. Pretty lame when you hear it out loud isn't
it?&;quot; Watching her face, he knew that she didn't know how to
react, so he continued,

&;quot;I paid $20,000 for
the land, the building cost another $20,000. It's worth at least
$100,000 now on the market as a hideaway to someone. You can do what
you want with it. Once this is all said and done, I'm guessing you may
not want to keep it, but who knows what will happen.&;quot; He took
her hand then and the two of them stood silently as the sun gently sunk
from view. Talia leaned her head on his shoulder and he slipped his arm
across her shoulders. This day was too full of surprises for her. As
she felt him next to her she was torn between wanting desperately to go
back to Texas and forget any of this happened and stand in the warmth
of his closeness where everything seemed safe at this moment.

Greg's voice was soft as he spoke then,
&;quot;You know that I love you Talia. There I said it. I don't
blame you if you want to run from everything I've been keeping from
you. There it is. My heart is pretty much on my sleeve and trailing
down all over this dock right now. You may not want to hear any of it,
but it's been said. I'm not asking you to reciprocate the sentiment. I
didn't bring you all the way here to trap you, although I'm sure you
must feel that way at the moment.&;quot;

Talia
could feel the words through his side as she spoke them and the dusk
and humidity made it all seem like a dream that she was lingering in
somehow. She circled her arm around his waist and pulled him closer and
leaned up to kiss the side of his cheek
softly.

&;quot;Give me some time to digest all
this. I can tell that it's time for dinner and frankly, I'd like this
day to be finished soon.&;quot;

Greg held the
embrace for another long minute and then slowly they walked away from
the twilight, his arm still around her
shoulder.

Dinner on the patio was as close to perfect
as it could have been. The patio extended twenty feet over the water
and large tiki torches lit up the gathering night. They dined on
broiled fish platters of fresh tropical fruits and fresh vegetables
until they could eat no more. Strains of Frank Sinatra crooned softly
from the speakers hidden discretely behind the large plants
nearby.

&;quot;I had no idea that they were fans
of Frank here. It makes me almost feel like home.&;quot; Talia
leaned back in her seat, feeling very satisfied and basking in the
relaxation she suddenly felt.

&;quot;They are from
my cd collection. I brought them here a few months ago and whenever
they see me come in, on goes the
music.&;quot;

Talia understood now why the
waitress kept calling him Mr. S. His last name was
Carlson.

&;quot;There are a few of the locals here
that are good friends of mine now and we stick together. It's amazing
the gentle and kind nature of the people here. I bring them American
things when I come here and they reciprocate in some very simple but
important ways. Our waitress Mary has five kids and a husband who
ferries tourists between the islands. Last month we had a storm that
ripped the roof off of their house. Paddy and I spent three days
working with them, putting it back together. I was glad to help them.
They are good people. I've spent so many years around people who treat
life as a disposable commodity. I thank Martin every day for throwing
me headlong here.&;quot;

Talia's heart started to
slowly thaw as he spoke. He had spent so much time being on the run
that it was easy to forget he could be the caring considerate one.

&;quot;Greg, you look more relaxed right now than
I have ever seen you. I may be mistaken but you seem content. That's
rare for you.&;quot;

&;quot;If a tidal wave
wiped us out right now, I'd die a happy man for once. I've made love to
a beautiful woman, had an unbelievable day of sailing and laying on the
beach, didn't have to cater to anyone or listen to anyone whine about
how difficult their wealthy lives are and I just ate a perfect last
supper.&;quot;

Reaching across the table, he took
her hand and ran his fingers across the back of hers. He looked at her
and opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it and looked
away. The ghost of a smile seemed melancholy.

Talia
was floating in a kind of dream, listening to him, feeling drowsy and
content.

&;quot;What? What were you just going to
say?&;quot; The soft sound of her own voice matched her feeling of
quiet.

Greg leaned in toward her and whispered across
the table to her.

&;quot;I'm glad you're here. I
don't want to say anything else, I'll jinx
it.&;quot;

They continued to talk over coffee for
an hour and then found themselves driving slowly back to the house.
Greg opened the gate and put the bike away and the two walked into the
darkness up the path to the treehouse. The sounds of the jungle around
them and the bright stars peaking through the leaves above them seem
like a soft symphony of sorts. Greg led her up the stairs to the house
and before he opened the door he leaned forward to kiss her gently on
the lips.

&;quot;Welcome home, Natalia Giovanni.
Your paradise awaits.&;quot;

Talia smiled softly
and stepped across the threshold of her gift.