The Soul Compact (Now Free on Amazon)

Chapter 3

The US embassy was located within a few minutes of the airport. Unlike many other roads in Haiti, the road to the U.S. embassy was kept in good repair, which explained the smooth drive to their destination. 

The US embassy was comprised of several buildings.  The main building was three stories high and looked more like a fortress than a building that housed the official residence of the US Ambassador.  In fact, it was both. Built in 2008, it contained the most advanced security systems.  The building’s lack of architectural beauty was softened by the beautiful landscape.  

When they reached the residence of the Ambassador, which occupied part of the top floor of the main building, Heather’s father guided Heather to her room, and they talked some more for a few minutes before he left to answer an urgent call.

As promised, Heather then called her mother to tell her of her trip. The call lasted less than five minutes. After she hung up with her mother, Heather then called Peter on his cell phone.  He picked up on the first ring with a joyous voice, prompting Heather to ask, “Why are you so happy? Is it because I left?”

 “Don’t say that.  I’m missing you and I’ve been waiting for your call.”  Then Peter paused as if he was deciding whether to tell Heather something.

     “What is it, Peter?”

“Oh, nothing.”

 Heather could sense that he was hiding something from her.

“Peter, I know you’re not telling me something. What is it?”

     “I can’t tell you yet.  It’s a surprise,” Peter finally blurted out.

     “You know I don’t like surprises,” Heather argued.

     “Yes, you do. I promise I will tell you soon.”

      Heather and Peter then spoke about Heather’s plans for the summer, including her intention to ask Linda to teach her more about voodoo and the Haitian culture. They spent about an hour on the phone until Heather’s father came and knocked on Heather’s door to tell her that they would be leaving soon for the brunch.

     “I have to go. I'll call you when I get back,” Heather promised Peter.

“I love you Heather,” Peter replied as they hung up.

Peter had to restrain himself.  He wanted it to be a real surprise and that’s why he could not tell Heather that his father had scheduled a trip for the two of them to visit Haiti in a couple of weeks. Peter was still thinking about Heather when his father, with a sad look on his face, came to his room and said, “Peter, we need to talk.  Your life is in grave danger and it’s my fault.” 

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     The presidential palace looked like a replica of the White House in the United States, with huge columns that rose to the ceiling, while reflections of elegant chandeliers could be seen on the shiny white marble floor.   Dignitaries on official visits were met at a spectacular entrance under tall white portico columns and guided to the beautiful  main hall in the interior of the building, where a massive, stylish, double-curved staircase led up to the second floor.

     Heather and her father were fifteen minutes early and were taken to a small but stately reception room on the second floor, where several senators and ministers were already gathered.  Heather was wearing an off-white linen jacket with matching pants. She was surprised that she liked the clothes that Linda had left for her in her closet.   Her lipstick was a light brown shade, which made her look slightly older.

     When Heather and her father entered the room, a faint beat of music from Les Difficiles, a Haitian band from the past, could be heard coming from the ceiling speakers. Several of the dignitaries who recognized her father then came toward them.  Her father was wearing the same pants and jacket that he had worn earlier at the airport, but had exchanged his blue shirt for a white linen shirt.  As he introduced Heather to the President’s friends, Heather was surprised to see that they already knew about her, her high school and her plans for college, and were asking her about them.  She realized that her father was not kidding when he told her last week that he had talked to all of his friends about her.