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.But I planned to live it up while we were thousands of miles away from all the obligations and false commitments.The taxi pulled over to a small resort at the side of the road.Devin hopped out and I followed.I could see the beach through the walkway.The water crashing up on the shore made me feel good.Devin said, “Welcome to paradise.”“Thank you.”After we checked in, we headed to our cabin-style room.I walked in and the suite was surprisingly beautiful.Dark hardwood floors and furniture, a very large bathroom, a sitting room, and a high-post king-sized bed.Devin sat on the couch and asked me to sit beside him.He said, “We’re going to have fun.We’ll be at the clinic from nine to twelve each day.Mainly the students will be there.I just came to oversee things.”“The students?”“Yeah, it’s a program for law students interested in politics or community service.A different group each year, so don’t worry.”“Devin, I don’t know.That’s not cool to flaunt me around these students.”“You could be my wife.”“I should be your wife.”He gave me a high five.“Absolutely.”We changed into something more comfortable and headed to the resort bar.Devin purchased a bottle of ron de caña and a bottle of Coke.The young lady at the bar flirted with him.She spoke English, but I could barely understand her.He grabbed my hand to guide me to the cabana on the beach deck.“What about the drinks?”“She’s going to bring them to us.”“It’s not like she has to make it.”“Yeah, I know.”We sat side by side in the brightly colored wooden beach chairs.The sun had just started to go down, and we watched in awe.The water washing up on the rocks beneath us gave the beautiful sunset a melody.The sea met the sky and it seemed like the perfect picture.The beach wasn’t loaded with a bunch of people.Aside from one or two other people, it was just Devin and me.When I was done soaking up nature, I looked at Devin and he grabbed my hand.I said, “Don’t you wish life could be so simple?”“It can be.”He grabbed the side of my chair and pulled me closer to him and began to stroke my hair.Finally, the waitress brought our drinks down, with two glasses of ice.Devin sat up to mix the drinks and handed me one.He’d boasted about how sweet this rum was and how it was like honey.I couldn’t dispute his claim.It went down so smoothly you could drink it straight, which Devin did.By the time the sun was gone, we were in one chair.My back rested on his chest and my hands stroked his legs, while he rubbed my shoulders.We talked about our relationships and how despite being apart, we’d grown together.We weighed the risks, and that night we agreed that we all have a short time on this earth and you may as well follow your heart.35DEVINWhen we arrived at the clinic the next morning, the students were having their introduction briefing.Some had their backpacks.Others appeared to be dressed for the beach.The AIDS Outreach Center was run by Señora Gonzales.She was a middle-aged nurse who decided she had to do something for new mothers living with HIV.And she took what little she had to open up the facility.They didn’t have much and survived mainly on donations.She tried to take as many women and children as possible, and often they’d share beds.But she was more concerned with them having food, shelter, and medical care.Love My People volunteers came in to help cook food, wash clothes, and provide Señora Gonzales with any support she needed.Many of the volunteers in my foundation were first-year law students.I designed the program so that students could experience and identify with the people; that way they would be more compelled to fight for injustice around the world after graduation.Many other foundations also supported her with similar programs.Señora Gonzales and I immediately developed a special bond the first time I came to Nicaragua.She was a petite, dark-skinned woman with steel caps on her teeth, but her motherly spirit was bigger than life.Not that she wasn’t thankful for all the help she received, but she was ecstatic to see someone her color running this type of organization.She would encourage me: “Devin, bring more of my color to Nicaragua.”The home sat up on wooden stilts and was constructed of wood and cinder blocks.It was a large home and many of the women had small cots to sleep on.When we walked up the stairs, Clark looked at me with an uncomfortable expression.I put my hand on her back to let her know this was cool.When we walked in, Señora Gonzales said, “Devin, thank you so much.I am so happy to see you.”I gave her a hug, and she quickly turned to Clark.“Oh my, is this your wife, ay?”“Yes.”“She is beautiful,” she said, hugging Clark.“I smell coco bread, Señora Gonzales.”She pushed me.“You know I made coco bread.”She led us through the open house and briefly introduced us to the women staying there.“These are my ladies.They are about to have a class.”She took the bread out and handed me a warm loaf.I began breaking pieces off and tearing it up.I pointed the loaf at Clark.Initially, she looked like she didn’t want to snatch a piece.After she tasted it, she was nearly tackling me for the bread.Then we started talking to the women.Clark smiled and greeted them.She even had the courtesy to ask them if they wanted to eat some of our bread.Each of them refused, as they were trying to be hospitable.Clark asked their names and held the babies, while Señora Gonzales and I talked about the goals and necessities of the week.Clark’s nose and forehead were moist with sweat, and her shirt was sticking to her, but she was so relaxed with the women.Although some of the ladies only spoke Spanish, Clark did her best to communicate with them.I loved it.Señora Gonzales noticed my admiration.She nodded.“A good woman, ay.Take care of her, you know.”“I will,” I said, as we headed to the front porch to talk.“She beautiful.How do you say?” Her eyes rolled in her head, as she tried to remember the cliché.“From the inside out.I don’t know if you believe in spirits, but her spirit is pure.”She spoke as if she knew I had conflicted feelings.I nodded.“Yeah, she is pure.”“Good woman is hard to find.”I laughed, but I never doubted that.It was just weird how passionate she seemed about my stand-in wife.She was definitely a deep lady with a lot of wisdom.Maybe she knew more about Clark and me than even we knew.When the students finished their briefing, I introduced myself to them and spoke with the group leaders [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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