sofa.
“So, kid. What do you think?” he asked.
“You didn’t tell me she spoke only Spanish,” Alexandra said, agitated.
“She doesn’t,” Kevin replied in a matter-of-fact tone. “This is only one video, and she happens to be speaking Spanish in it. It’s no big deal.”
“No big deal? Maybe not to you, but I’m the one it affects.”
“Lighten up, Alexandra.” Kevin’s voice was soft and comforting.
Alexandra’s tone slightly softened. “Well, you should have told me.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it.”
“But how could you not? It’s important.”
“Yes, but we are just getting started too.” Kevin continued in the same tone. “Again, I’m sorry. Maybe I didn’t make it a top priority because I knew you’re bilingual.”
“How did you know that?” she accused.
“Oh, come on, Alex. How do you think? With all the other stuff we have, do you really think it’s that hard to find out what languages you speak? Anyway, this is only your first recording. You’ll see. She goes back and forth, from one language to the next, just like you do with your mom.”
Alexandra turned to look at him suspiciously. “Like I do with my mom?” Her anger started to burn as she slowly asked, “Don’t tell me you’ve tapped my phones too?”
“Yes, we have.” Then dropping his voice, he continued hesitantly, “Your home, office, and mobile phones have been monitored since day one.”
“But how?” she combated before quickly adding, “Oh, don’t bother! You wouldn’t tell me anyway, would you?” She stood and began pacing in front of the sofa. “At least answer me this. Why?”
“For both your safety and ours, that’s why.” His answer sounded final.
“I don’t get it.”
“You don’t have to get it. That’s the way it has to be.” He took Alexandra’s hand to pull her closer. “Come here,” he whispered. “Tell me. What is really the matter?”
Alexandra stopped pacing and stared blankly at Daniela’s frozen image on the screen. With remote in hand, she walked over and turned the set off at the source. When she spun to face him, Alexandra felt completely overwhelmed. “She looks just like me! My goodness, Kevin, she even moves like me.”
He immediately rushed to her side and placed his hands on her shoulders as if to steady her. While looking straight into her eyes, he said, “Honey, you saw her pictures. You knew what she looked like. Why does this come as such a shock?”
Alexandra’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.” She sighed. “I guess I should have been more prepared, but it’s so hard watching her. I feel like I’m watching myself in a movie I didn’t make.” She paused and then asked, “Can you understand, even a little?”
“I’m trying to understand, Alexandra, but to be honest, it’s hard. Since it’s not me on the screen, or anyone who looks like me, it’s difficult for me to relate. I keep asking myself what you must be feeling. If some guy walked in here looking exactly like me, I’d probably blow a gasket.” Kevin’s voice softened. “What I’m trying to say is that I’m here for you, okay? It doesn’t matter whether I completely understand. What does matter is that I am here for you, and I always will be. Do you understand?”
Kevin’s words of encouragement filled Alexandra with a renewed strength. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply before responding. “Yes, I understand, and I’m sorry I get so weird. You’ve got to realize this is all really new to me.”
“I do realize, Alexandra. Also, I’m sorry if I sometimes come across so harshly. Just remember,” he said, grinning, “I’m a guy. We’re not always good at responding the way we should.”
Her slight smile blossomed at his words. “Don’t try and con me,” she said, laughing. “I’ve seen your sensitive side more than once already.”
Kevin snapped his fingers. “Darn! I thought I was hiding it pretty well.”
“Don’t worry,”
“So, kid. What do you think?” he asked.
“You didn’t tell me she spoke only Spanish,” Alexandra said, agitated.
“She doesn’t,” Kevin replied in a matter-of-fact tone. “This is only one video, and she happens to be speaking Spanish in it. It’s no big deal.”
“No big deal? Maybe not to you, but I’m the one it affects.”
“Lighten up, Alexandra.” Kevin’s voice was soft and comforting.
Alexandra’s tone slightly softened. “Well, you should have told me.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it.”
“But how could you not? It’s important.”
“Yes, but we are just getting started too.” Kevin continued in the same tone. “Again, I’m sorry. Maybe I didn’t make it a top priority because I knew you’re bilingual.”
“How did you know that?” she accused.
“Oh, come on, Alex. How do you think? With all the other stuff we have, do you really think it’s that hard to find out what languages you speak? Anyway, this is only your first recording. You’ll see. She goes back and forth, from one language to the next, just like you do with your mom.”
Alexandra turned to look at him suspiciously. “Like I do with my mom?” Her anger started to burn as she slowly asked, “Don’t tell me you’ve tapped my phones too?”
“Yes, we have.” Then dropping his voice, he continued hesitantly, “Your home, office, and mobile phones have been monitored since day one.”
“But how?” she combated before quickly adding, “Oh, don’t bother! You wouldn’t tell me anyway, would you?” She stood and began pacing in front of the sofa. “At least answer me this. Why?”
“For both your safety and ours, that’s why.” His answer sounded final.
“I don’t get it.”
“You don’t have to get it. That’s the way it has to be.” He took Alexandra’s hand to pull her closer. “Come here,” he whispered. “Tell me. What is really the matter?”
Alexandra stopped pacing and stared blankly at Daniela’s frozen image on the screen. With remote in hand, she walked over and turned the set off at the source. When she spun to face him, Alexandra felt completely overwhelmed. “She looks just like me! My goodness, Kevin, she even moves like me.”
He immediately rushed to her side and placed his hands on her shoulders as if to steady her. While looking straight into her eyes, he said, “Honey, you saw her pictures. You knew what she looked like. Why does this come as such a shock?”
Alexandra’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.” She sighed. “I guess I should have been more prepared, but it’s so hard watching her. I feel like I’m watching myself in a movie I didn’t make.” She paused and then asked, “Can you understand, even a little?”
“I’m trying to understand, Alexandra, but to be honest, it’s hard. Since it’s not me on the screen, or anyone who looks like me, it’s difficult for me to relate. I keep asking myself what you must be feeling. If some guy walked in here looking exactly like me, I’d probably blow a gasket.” Kevin’s voice softened. “What I’m trying to say is that I’m here for you, okay? It doesn’t matter whether I completely understand. What does matter is that I am here for you, and I always will be. Do you understand?”
Kevin’s words of encouragement filled Alexandra with a renewed strength. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply before responding. “Yes, I understand, and I’m sorry I get so weird. You’ve got to realize this is all really new to me.”
“I do realize, Alexandra. Also, I’m sorry if I sometimes come across so harshly. Just remember,” he said, grinning, “I’m a guy. We’re not always good at responding the way we should.”
Her slight smile blossomed at his words. “Don’t try and con me,” she said, laughing. “I’ve seen your sensitive side more than once already.”
Kevin snapped his fingers. “Darn! I thought I was hiding it pretty well.”
“Don’t worry,”
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