Page 11 of The Risks of Reuniting

"This is Carlos," Holt says to Rachelle and me when the large man turns to us.

I put on a smile as I recognize the name of the man who runs this operation. Rachelle does the same. His entire demeanor comes across as trustworthy and unflappable, and I grab onto that with hope.

"Welcome," Carlos says.

I stick out a possibly sweaty hand, and he wraps it up in his beefy palm. "Chloe Moore," I greet.

He turns to Rachelle and takes her hand as she also introduces herself.

"We are very happy you are here," Carlos says after releasing us both. "We have many people who need help with teeth. Dr. Joseph will be happy his new helpers are come."

"Dr. Joseph is the dentist we'll be assisting?" Rachelle asks to clarify.

"Yes," Carlos responds. "He is very tall and very thin. I think he is scared of sweet foods."

Rachelle and I both laugh. Sugar is the thing dentists seem to complain about the most. Followed by flossing and brushing.

A smaller, muscled Peruvian man steps forward and says something to Holt and Cesar, and they both pick up their bags to follow. Holt glances my way and I can sense his question –will you be okay?– but he doesn't verbalize it and I'm glad. I'm not his to worry and fuss over anymore.

Carlos gestures toward the building Rachelle had pointed out. "If you come I will show you your room." Rachelle and I fall into step alongside him, and I do my best to look around at my surroundings while we walk. "Do not drink water without boiling it. Do not wash dishes without boiled water. Boil water for teeth cleaning. You can shower with the water but do not get it in your mouth. Do not flush toilet paper. Put it in a garbage can."

I was already aware of these restrictions, but hearing them again as I look at the rundown buildings and sterile yard area makes it hit home. I am in a foreign country.

There are only small, flickering lights in some of the buildings and I wonder about electricity. It's not terribly cold out, but I could see needing a little heat in the middle of the night. It might be spring at home, but it is fall here, and the humidity will make the evenings chilly.

Before long Carlos pushes at a rattly door on the back side of a white-painted building. It's pitch black inside, and I hover next to Rachelle just inside while Carlos turns on a lamp. It casts a soft glow in the room. The floor is old tile, and the room is sparse. There are two twin beds, and a desk pushed up against the single window in the room. There is a basin of water on the desk, along with two towels. On the other wall is a four-drawer dresser above which a shower curtain rod has beenhung from the ceiling to accommodate hanging items. There's nothing that looks like a heater, so I'm hoping the blankets are thick.

"That water is safe for drinking and teeth, but you will have to boil more tomorrow. That is your job now." Carlos points to the pitcher. "The bathroom is there." He points out the door and I lean over to see a small pink structure across a walkway. "Remember, do not flush your paper." He points at the lamp. "There is only one power in the room, so you have to move the lamp plug if you want to charge your phone."

Neither Rachelle nor I have any words, so we simply nod and I manage a smile as he bids us good night.

"I'll take the bed on the left," Rachelle says after Carlos has closed the door.

I smack my lips. "Sounds good to me."

She sets her duffel bag on the bed and it thuds down like a brick. She looks at me and we both start laughing.

"Oh my gosh," she says. "It's a concrete bed."

I sit on my own bed and attempt to bounce, but it's pretty stiff. "The hotels back home can't hold a candle to this place," I giggle, so tired that everything is suddenly hilarious.

Rachelle looks around and shakes her head, her smile still wide and bright. "Welcome to Peru, huh?"

I hold my hands up and cross my fingers. "May we never need to use the bathroom in the night."

"Amen," she says.

Chapter 5

Chloe

Iconsidermyselfadeep sleeper, but it turns out that all the dogs of Lima want to come out at night and howl to the moon while fighting to defend their territory. I didn't sleep a wink. As the room fills with light from the small window I wonder what the possibility of getting some earplugs would be. I'll need them. I can handle a day or two without sleep – which is exactly where I'm currently standing – but after that I will become a bit unhinged. I did not come here to scare people.

"I would give up all my social media followers for some silence," Rachelle moans next to me, and I swing my head her direction. Her blonde hair is spread out over her pillow and she's tossed an arm over her eyes. "Or some chew toys to keep those dogs occupied."

I groan. "How many followers do you have?"

She grins. "A lot."

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