"A tear fell down Elaine's cheek. "Thank you, Nica. Thank you so much. Maybe I'll meet you one day and we can laugh about this." Maybe one day. Antoni...o needs me, I gotta go, okay?" Yes, thanks again." You welcome. Bye-bye, baby." Bye, Nica."Well, thought Elaine, still staring at her cell after disconnecting the call. That certainly wasn't Gary putting on an accent!Wow.Glancing at the computer, Elaine was pleased to see that Gary hadn't messaged her while she was on the phone. Checking the time,. What kind of penalties?" Nick was a bit worried.He couldn't really afford to live on his own and Brian was a greatroommate, but this talk of penalty was starting to remind Nick of hisparents. I can't move back in with them, Nick thought. They had kickedhim out a year ago after they caught him with weed and Brian was the onewho helped him get back on his feet."Each time you miss a rent payment you'll start that penalty and I'lltell you what the next one will be. If you're smart, you won't miss. " Then why?" You gave up. You don't think we'll be found. Ever." I didn't say that." Yes you did. Just now. That's what you meant." If that happens, it's not the end of the world. We have each other and we'll have a family. We won't be alone." How long have we been here?" Maria asked."I don't know. It seems like forever." Do you still love me?" Of course. Why would you even ask?" Well, you're kinda stuck with me. I'm the only one here." Maria, I love you. More now than before. More each day.. I appreciated her offer. But I led her into the kitchen and we sat down at the table. We needed to talk.I got us each a glass of ice water. We had already drunk enough beer out there in the hot sun. We sat there sipping water and I looked her over. She looked very tired. But she stilled looked very damned good.We didn't speak for a minute or so. Finally I asked, "Were you ever going to tell me?"She blushed and looked away for a minute. It was several uncomfortable minutes before she replied in.