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“Water, please.”
Mila brought the glass of water in. Then she sat down and watched me while I drank it.
“Are you... in a hurry?” Mila asked. It was her polite way of inquiring if we were to expect the police or FBI at the door soon—which could be complicated with a cop husband.
“I can give you a head start,” Noah said, “but after that I will have to pretend that I’m chasing you as well.”
So they both didn’t really understand that I was free. I had told my sister on the phone that I had managed to get a pardon, but she seemed to have difficulties registering it all. And how could she? I was a miracle.
“That won’t be necessary,” I said with a grin. “In fact, nobody is looking for me. I got a presidential pardon. I’m free.”
They both turned to me like I had lost my mind and didn’t know what I was saying.
“So it’s really true then?” they asked in unison.
I nodded. “I was pardoned.”
“But... that’s not possible,” Mila murmured, furrowing her brow.
“How?” Noah asked.
“It’s better you don’t know the details,” I said in a serious tone and drank from my water.
“That’s something close to a miracle,” Noah marveled.
“I’m so happy,” Mila said, reaching for my hand.
I nodded. “And there is more,” I began. I hadn’t told them about the baby. I wanted them to find out from me in person, now that I was able to travel here to the US.
I told them about Elise, how we met in Durban, and our trip on the ship to Indonesia.
“When she got pregnant, things changed for me,” I said. “I couldn’t just wait around till her ex found us. I had to do something.”
Noah nodded. “I would have done the same.”
“Look at you.” Mila giggled, changing the mood in the room. “You actually blush when you talk about her,” she teased.
I shook my head. “Don’t make me sound all soft like your guy here,” I teased Noah.
“Says the guy who drinks water,” Noah teased back, opening a beer from the fridge. “We can’t wait to meet her. You are moving back to Boston, right?”
"I don't know. We are pretty happy in Indonesia.”
“Alright,” Mila chimed in. “I will have to travel to Indonesia then when she gives birth to prevent you from fainting.”
I laughed.
“I don’t faint at the sight of blood.”
“That’s different. We’ll see about that.”
Mila put a hand on my shoulder and patted it like you’d pat a teenager who’d just won a prize at school. “I’m so happy for you. I really am. Will you stay with us for a few days?”
I shook my head. “I had to take care of a few things in New York and will head back to Indonesia later tonight. Elise needs me. But you are more than welcome to visit us.”
“We will.” Mila came forward for a hug.
After dinner, we all walked to the car, and I said my goodbyes. I hugged them again, waved at them, and they did the same as I drove away.
