Date: Fri, 06 Sep 2002 12:27:53 +0000
From: Ben nobody <ben_sc@hotmail.com>
Subject: Berto" Roses 50-beginnings

Berto's Roses

By Ben

Part L

Nathan told me he was going to get Haley on the phone and try and persuade
her that she didn't really want to give me a hard time about giving up her
claim to Bob's property in Santa Rosalia. I headed downstairs to talk to
Randy and Wade.

They were just finishing up in the kitchen when I found them. "Thanks,
guys. That was really above and beyond the call of duty. I appreciate it. I
am so sorry that all of this is happening right when you came here for your
vacation. What are your plans for the future? I mean, now that you have
finished school?"

"Well," drawled Wade, as he sprawled in a chair at the table. "We ain't
made no plans just yet. Me and Randy was goin' to talk about that while we
was here on vacation."

"I know one thing for sure, though." Randy added. "I ain't about to go back
to Louisiana and work at that shit-hole of a hotel no more."

"It didn't look that bad to me." I said. "It wasn't new, but my room was
nice."

"That's cuz you had the best room in the house." Explained Randy. Wade
nodded his agreement.

"What about your Mother? Won't she need you to be there? I asked.

"Naw, she has herself a boyfriend. He treats her real good and he's nice
enough, I reckon. I could tell he didn't really want me around that much,
though."

I turned to Wade. "What about you?"

"I ain't any more anxious to go back home than Randy is. I'd like to start
off some place new."

That's exactly what I wanted to hear. "Well, then, let me give you guys
something to think about. I still want to make a go of this place, but with
Bob gone, I'm not sure I could handle the day to day running of things. He
had all the business know-how."

"I also need somebody who can run the kitchen. I can hire somebody to do
the cleaning and room set up, but you guys seem to be just what I need
here. I'd like you to consider staying here. If things work out and you
like it here, maybe we can talk about a partnership, later on."

Wade and Randy exchanged shrewd looks. It was obvious to me that they had
already talked about this possibility together.  Randy said, "Me and Wade
have been studying on just that very thing. We need work. You need
workers. We would rather work with somebody we know and like. And we both
like you a lot."

"Thanks guys, I like you a lot, too. So, you're in?" I asked, hopefully.

Wade and Randy nodded. "Yeah, I guess we are."

I was so excited. I shook both of their hands and gave them both a hug.  I
ran upstairs to give Nathan the news. He was equally satisfied with the
arrangement and even liked the idea of a possible future partnership with
the two men from Louisiana. We were interrupted by the sound of Berto's
voice calling up the stairs to me.

"Senor Ben! Senor Ben? Where are you?" He called excitedly.

I met him on the second floor. His face was flushed but held some of the
old animation in his eyes that was there before the plane crash. "What is
it. Berto? What's happened?"

"He has been found, Senor Ben! They found him on the beach. He is muy
infermo, but he was still alive!"

"Who is alive, Berto?" I asked him.

"Jose! Enrique's esposo. He is at the hospital in Santa Rosalia. Maybe this
means that Mama will be found, and Senor Bob, and Don Chavez!" Berto
speculated excitedly.

"Whoa, slow down a minute." I said. "Jose has been found and he is alive?"
I wanted to be sure I understood him.

"Si! Enrique and Carla went to be with him. They sent me back here with
Paco to tell you about it."

"Let's go!" I said. "I'll tell Randy and Wade where we are going on the way
out."

I let Berto drive the truck to the hospital because he knew where he was
going and he drove faster than I did anyway. Paco had driven Ricky's
limousine back and it was parked prominently out front of the low adobe
building when Berto brought the truck to a skidding stop beside it.

We hurried inside and saw Carla pacing back and forth in a long, narrow
waiting room.  She looked up as Berto and I hurried in. "How is he?" I
began.

"He is still unconscious and has some cuts on his shoulders and back, and a
few broken bones. That is all I know. I think he has some problems from
being in the water so long as well. Enrique is with now."

"Where did they find him, and how did Ricky find out about it?"

"He was found on the beach, south of town. Some of the local fisherman
found him and brought him to the hospital. We heard about it when we were
talking to Berto's cousin and aunt. We didn't know who it was until we got
here. " Explained Carla.

"Uh...has anything of anybody else been found?" I quietly asked Carla,
trying not to let Berto hear my question.

She shook her head. "No, nothing yet, but the search has been continued
since Jose was found. He was found many miles from where they thought the
plane went down. He is a very strong swimmer, and even though he was
injured he managed to make his way to shore."

"Hmm," I speculated. "I really don't know what Bob or Mack's swimming
abilities are or were, but neither one of them was in the best physical
condition. "

"Papa was not a swimmer and I suspect Manuella was not either. I have not
asked Berto about that. He is holding out hope that she will be found as
well, but I don't think we will find the others alive." Carla looked into
my eyes.

" Oh Carla, you never know. It's possible." I hugged her to me.

"I do not think so, Ben." Carla said into my shoulder.

We waited for what seemed like and eternity. Ricky finally came out with a
worried expression on his face.  Carla, Berto and I jumped to our feet and
ran to him asking questions all at the same time. Ricky sat us all down and
began to speak.

"They have stopped the bleeding and have stitched up the worst of Jose's
cuts. He has a broken arm and they fear he may have damage to his head and
neck, but the x-rays did not show this. He has swallowed much seawater, so
his stomach has been pumped and the doctors are giving him antibiotics. He
is not awake yet, so it is just a matter of waiting."

He paused for a moment and then asked. "Carla, have you heard anything from
the search?"

"No, nothing yet. May I go and see Jose?"

"Si, of course. All of you.  Come." Ricky led the way down the hall and
around a corner. He was treated with much courtesy by the hospital staff. I
was later to find out the Ricky's father, Don Chavez, was responsible for
building the hospital and instrumental in attracting quality medical staff
to it.

Jose lay on the hospital bed in the middle of a large, well-lighted,
private room. He was attached to an IV tube and a heart monitor although he
was breathing on his own. His handsome face appeared to be uninjured,
although bandages covered a large portion of his exposed torso, and his
left arm bore a white cast.

Carla stood on tiptoe and bent to kiss his forehead. I was encouraged by
his color. He didn't have the ashy complexion of the near dead that I had
seen before. Bob had looked that way when I first saw him in Santa Rosali,
but he was beginning to look much better before he left for Mexico City the
night of the party.

Berto silently looked at Jose then walked to the window and stared in the
direction of the gulf.  I took Jose's strong beautiful hand in mine and
touched his forehead with my other hand. He felt warm, but not feverish.
He was breathing easily. I took this for a good sign.

It was getting late in the day and I was getting hungry. I suspected the
others were, too. Santa Rosalia had no fast-food restaurants, so I
suggested we all go back to the casa and get something to eat. Ricky, as I
expected, would not leave Jose's side, so I told him I would bring
something back to him.

We left the limousine for Ricky and Carla and I rode in the truck while
Berto drove. Randy must have read our minds telepathically because he was
putting the finishing touches on a late afternoon meal when we arrived. He
didn't have the same menu as Manuella (decidedly more American and less
Mexican) but he used lots of fresh vegetables and everything was delicious.

The tone was much less somber because of the good news about Jose. Berto
was quiet and thoughtful. I knew he was hoping that his mother would be
found as Jose had been. Carla called for updates of the continued search,
but there had been no change. The crash had taken place more that five
miles from the shore. It had been a miracle that Jose had survived the swim
through the storm, especially with a broken arm. It didn't seem likely the
others would be found.

Berto sat near me, and he hadn't strayed too far throughout the day. I
suggested that we tend to the garden while we waited for news. He readily
agreed. I explained what the storm had done to his roses. I had had to cut
the bare hips from the stems and it had left the garden looking desolate.
I apologized to Berto for the appearance of his beloved roses.

Berto stooped into his "duck walk" position and closely examined the first
bush he came to. "Look here, Senor Ben." Berto grabbed my hand and pulled
me down to him. He showed me the beginnings of brand new, very bright green
foliage on the bush.

"You think they will be alright, Berto?" I asked hopefully. "I didn't kill
them?"

"Oh, no. The will be just fine, Senor Ben. You did just as you should
have. They will be blooming again soon." He duck walked down the row
quickly as he had no pruning to do. He pulled a weed here, examined a bush
there. Altogether, he seemed quite pleased. "Ah, look at this!" He pointed.

There, in his hand, was a single, tight white rosebud. It was the most
beautiful sight I could imagine. It was a sign of new growth, of healing,
of a bright and colorful future, which followed a period of painful
mourning. At that moment, I knew that the search for the others would yield
no further good news. No other survivors would be found, if indeed, the
wreckage were found at all.

Berto seemed to sense this too. I watched his face and saw a single tear
spill from his eye and slide slowly down his cheek. He turned his face
toward me and smiled. It wasn't his bright sunny Berto smile. It was more
of "I am ready to let go" smile.

Berto stood and reached for my hand. He pulled me to my feet and started
walking, leading me, to the break in the adobe wall that led to the
beach. He paused at the sand to kick off his shoes and I did likewise. He
led me down to the water's edge and we waded in the quiet surf. Neither of
us spoke as we walked and listened to the waves and the distant gulls
calling.

We walked slowly. I released Berto's hand and pulled his left shoulder to
the right side of my chest, then put my right arm across his shoulders. He
responded to this by wrapping his left arm around my waist and hooking his
left thumb into my belt loop. He turned his face toward me with an
expression of "is that okay?" I smiled reassuringly at him and we continued
our walk.

At some point, by silent mutual agreement, we stopped and turned toward one
another. Our arms automatically circled each other's torso and I cradled
his head to my chest. We held each other and the seawater splashed our
calves. The sun was setting, turning the sky a bright pinkish-orange. Berto
lifted his head and turned his face up toward mine.

I looked down into his beautiful young face. His dark eyes searched my own
as he looked deep within my soul. He knew! He knew I loved him! I saw it in
his face. I saw it in his full sensuous lips, slightly parted and ready to
be kissed. Berto closed his eyes. I so wanted to feel his mouth on mine, to
explore his tongue with my own. I reached up and held his head in my
hands. I lowered my face to his and kissed him.

Only I did not kiss his lips. I pressed my lips to his forehead. I could
not bring myself to exploit his vulnerability. Not then. As much as I
wanted to. He was too sweet, too innocent for that. I loved him too much to
take advantage of him. If, after he had time to heal, he came to me
again. I would not hesitate. But not then, not yet.

Berto opened his eyes and looked at me. His expression silently questioned
me. I hugged him to me and whispered into his ear, "We need to start
back. It will be dark soon and the others might worry." Berto nodded and
broke our embrace. He began slowly walking toward the casa. I caught up to
him and slipped my hand into his. He looked up at me with a slightly
surprised face. He looked down at my hand, smiled and gripped it a little
more firmly.


I want to thank you all who are my loyal fans. I get the most encouraging
messages from you and I cannot begin to express how much I appreciate
it. You guys are the best. You keep reading and sending those messages and
I'll keep the story going, okay?  Don't forget, you can write to me at
ben_sc@hotmail.com. Check out my other stories, under the "Authors"
link. Look for "Lyle Benton".