The Island With No Parallel

The Letter

"I do. Well, she's a pleasant girl, I'm just not sure she's worth the trouble. I'm realizing just how much effort I'm putting into hiring just one maid. She has to learn the language, know how to get around. It's starting to seem like more trouble than she's worth."

Now Maria was giving one of her famous disapproving glares, and he knew she must have really bonded with Yunara to get that upset with him about it, and he knew he had crossed a line. "Don't think I don't have eyes, Lord Suarez. I may be getting old, but I'm not blind."

"What are you talking about?"

"You had your Spanish lessons with miss Yunara yesterday, but she didn't learn much. Then she and I went together and she learned a lot. Not to mention she's a pretty young lady. And every day you become more and more bitter and lonely. Everyone can tell. I think you're jealous of miss Yunara's attention."

"Maria, don't even start. She's a maid, I'm a Baron! We couldn't be any more different. You're ridiculous," he snapped.

She shrugged indifferently. "If you say so. But I don't remember you having difficulty writing in English before. And if you get rid of miss Yunara, you may as well get rid of me, too," she said on her way out, slamming the door as she did.

As usual, Maria left him to simmer alone in his anger and sputtering for a comeback. He usually didn't mind his servants having the freedom to speak relatively casually to him. Being a man of color, he just didn't find it in himself to treat them any other way. He knew what it was like to be treated as beneath someone. But Maria crossed the line questioning his authority. If she wanted to end up without a job along with Yunara, he could certainly make it happen.

However, what gave him pause was that he couldn't deny the fact that he was perfectly capable of writing that letter himself.

But it was because he was hoping to open her up some, get her to talk a little. Instead, she just quietly wrote down everything he said without speaking a word, and he didn't know why that disappointed him so much.

Just then, he noticed that there was a letter sitting on his desk that wasn't there before. Did Maria bring it in? Yes, she did, he remembered she came in with a piece of paper in her hand, but must have slammed it on the desk in her anger and forgot to explain where it came from.

Checking where the letter was from, at simply a glance, the handwriting was vaguely familiar. Then he saw the name and remembered. Fernando Álvaro.

What could he want after all these years? In anger and indignation, he wanted to throw the letter out without even bothering to read the rest of it. But then he considered that if he was sending him a letter after so long, perhaps it was important.

Reluctantly, he reached for a letter cutter and tore the envelope and pulled out the letter inside.

Dear Manuel, the letter started in Spanish.

It's been a long time since we've last spoken. I have something to ask of you that will seem strange, but is of the utmost importance. I understand you have taken a young girl into your refuge at your masia, Yunara. I need you to bring her to me. I need to speak to her, and this conversation cannot wait.

I know you and I don't have the best relationship, and I don't know if the journey to my masia will be of an inconvenience, but it is vital that you heed my request. I offer to you in exchange a promise. A promise that through this task you'll find the information you've been searching for a very long time.

Son, it's time you found out the truth surrounding your father's death. And the truth about who your mother really was.

Bring Yunara to me and I will tell you more. And by all means you must protect her. There's more to this girl than meets the eye. Even she doesn't realize the potential that lies within her. Keep her from danger, and I hope to see you again soon, old friend.