In the previous chapter:
The lighthouse was without light which, according to Raphael, was a symbol of Jeremy’s state of mind and a sign that Cynthia had to go there and try to help him.

Introducing: Alejandro Hidalgo Armado.
Alejandro is a creation of Fredbrenny. Thank you Fred.

*****

Cynthia was very relaxed in spite of the task ahead of her. At 7 a.m. she started to prepare breakfast for her children.

While they were eating, she told them that she would go to Lighthouse Island in the afternoon but that she would still be here when they would come home from school.

She accompanied them to the school bus and then continued to Aunt Dawn’s.

She rang the door bell to tell her that she had to leave in the afternoon.

The woman offered to prepare her a breakfast but Cynthia told her that she already had breakfast with the boys and, besides that, she still had to do a few things before leaving.

They walked together to Cynthia’s place because Aunt Dawn should be told where she was supposed to sleep and where the children’s rooms were. Cynthia told her as well that she hired an assistant in the household so Aunt Dawn didn’t have any other task but to take care of the children and prepare them their meals.

The sweetheart wanted to stay at Cynthia’s house immediately to be there already for lunch and make things easy for Cynthia who still had to prepare her suitcase.
While preparing it, she smiled thinking about her new blouse. She decided not to wear it today. She changed the sheets on the bed and went to the living room where Auntie Dawn was watching TV.

*****

When Jane and Penelope woke up, they prepared breakfast and decided not to go fashion shopping.
–  “We are going to Bridgeport tomorrow and there they will have most probably the latest in fashion. So let’s wait till we get there” said Penelope.
–  “That’s a good idea Penny; I didn’t think about that. Well, I think I’d better go home to see my family. We could meet in the afternoon at the Bistro.”
–  “All right; meanwhile I will look on the web for a good place to stay at Bridgeport. See you in the afternoon.”

*****

After Cynthia said good-bye to her children and Aunt Dawn, she went walking to the Old Fisherman’s Beach where they had a small motorboat prepared for her.

While walking she heard the sound of a plane and she looked up at it.

On her way she entered the grocery store to buy candles because if the Lighthouse didn’t have electricity they would come in handy.

At that very same moment, Jane had left her brother’s house and looked at the same plane.

Then she took her car and drove to the Bistro.

On Lighthouse Island, Jeremy was looking through the window and saw the plane as well. He felt strangely excited. He had woken up that morning with excitement but he didn’t remember the dream that had brought him that feeling.

As a matter of fact, he had nothing to be happy about, especially after last night when he noticed that the lighthouse didn’t have electricity. What was he going to do now?
He wasn’t aware that he had a hard time in front of him.

Cynthia was on her way and would bring some changes in his life.

*****

Jane had prepared her suitcase already for the next day. They would only stay in Bridgeport for a couple of days so she didn’t have to pack much.
She arrived early at the Bistro and her girl friend wasn’t there yet. She went inside to have a drink and when finished, Penny still wasn’t there. She took her cell phone and called her to know if she would be very much longer. “No, I’ll be there within half an hour, perhaps less.”

Jane had been walking to and fro while talking. She hung up and turned around right into the arms of a man who put his arms around her and said with a strong Spanish accent: “Now, this doesn’t always happen that I hear a beautiful voice and at the very same moment the owner of the voice throws herself into my arms. That’s what I call ‘suerte’ (luck).”

Jane felt a bit embarrassed and didn’t know well how to react. She stepped backward and the man said: “May I introduce myself? My name is Hidalgo… Alejandro Hidalgo Armado…, a sus pies!”

–  “Eh… my name is Jane Hunter, but what a long name do you have…; could you repeat that, please?”

– “You want me to put my arms around you again? No…, I know you didn’t mean that! Hahaha… My name is Alejandro Hidalgo Armado.”
– “After that you said something more.”
– “I said a sus pies”. He smiled and said: “That means at your feet.”

– “At my feet?”
He smiled and said that it was a common expression in Spain: “You know… at your feet… like a dog and always willing to do what you want me to. Hahaha… this all reduces to these three little words ‘at your feet’.
–  “Well…, thank you mister Alejandro Hidalgo Armado for preventing me from falling… and for the Spanish lesson. Bye…!” and she wanted to turn away from him but he still held her hand in his’.
–  “I love the way you pronounce my name! Your voice is very… profound. Heavens….; if I only could touch you in the same place where your voice touches me! I will recognize that voice amongst thousands of other voices!”

Jane started to feel uncomfortable because he had lifted her hand up to his mouth. Once there, he quickly turned her hand around and kissed her palm and wrist gently, letting her feel a little bit of the sharpness of his teeth.
Something happened inside her at that moment, she didn’t want to recognize the butterflies in her stomach. She felt overwhelmingly possessed.

She backed away and said: “This wasn’t necessary, sir. Now, if you would be so kind as to leave me alone! I’m waiting for somebody and, to be honest, I dislike people who hide behind dark glasses!”
The man smiled, turned around and before leaving, he said: “Your wish is an order to me but I promise myself to have a closer look at you

Jane was a bit confused and didn’t know how she had to take these words.

Shortly after that, Penny arrived and while sitting there, Jane told everything to her friend. They spent some hours there and forgot about time.

At a certain moment Penny’s eyes opened wide and she said: “Now…  isn’t that a cutie!” Jane looked where Penny was looking at and quickly turned around again.

–  “Shhh…; it’s him…, that stranger with the impossible name!”

Jane felt her cheeks burning and thought that she had whispered but the man turned towards her and said: “Ah, Señorita Jane…, you are still here!” She stood up and said: “No, I was just leaving; come on Penny.” She ran away from the Bistro and from that man; her heart was beating like mad and she didn’t understand why.

–  “Hey Jane…, stop a moment; let me breathe…. Penny was exhausted. Once she had recovered her breath, Penny continued talking. “I don’t know what you’ve got against him. He’s got a charming voice with a delightful accent and seems very interested in you.”
–  “You may have him! said Jane a bit too fast. “Come, I think that my humble car will do to drive you home.”

–  “You don’t fool me Jane…, I think you are falling for him! Are you sure you still want us to go to Bridgeport tomorrow?”
–  “I am not falling for him; not even if he were the last man in the world! And of course I want to go to Bridgeport! At what time will we be leaving?”
–  “All right then, if you’re sure…; let’s say at noon at my place?”
They said good-bye and Jane drove home.

Next day Jane went to her girl friend’s place where they took Penny’s big car and while singing out loud, they were on their way to Bridgeport.

To be continued…