The Refuge

Chapter 36

To experience real agony is something hard to write about, impossible to understand while it grips you; you're frightened out of your wits, can’t sit still, move, or even go decently insane. — Charles Bukowski,

Even though her mind swirled with thoughts on the two families' plans to stop the deforestation, Ramona still had to show up for work the following morning. With even less enthusiasm than usual, she trudged up the steps to the government house, a container full of muffins cradled in her arms. Lolita had sent her with the baked goods to use as a sort of apology to Mrs. Aleric for any inconvenience caused by her absence yesterday.

Of course, Ricardo at his desk served as Ramona's troll at the bridge every single morning. She mocked him with an overly cheerful greeting and offered him a muffin on top of that. He squinted at the container before vehemently turning her offer down. Ricardo declared blueberry muffins tasted like soap and he'd never be caught dead eating one.

After chirping a "suit yourself" over her shoulder, Ramona made her way down to Mrs. Aleric's office. The door only hung open a crack, so she peeked inside and asked to enter.

"Come in, come in." Mrs. Aleric said, "Let's see what you want, child."

Ramona slipped inside and laid the container of muffins on her boss's desk. "I just wanted to say good morning. I'm feeling a lot better now, thankfully."

"You must have a strong immune system." Mrs. Aleric's gaze was laced with skepticism as she took a muffin.

"I guess so. Did I miss anything important?"

"Mr. Ortega came to see you and left sorely disappointed, I can tell you that much."

"That's a shame. I'll have to make it up to him."

"You'd better."

Ramona shifted from one foot to the other, searching for words. "Is there any chance he's coming back today?"

Mrs. Aleric nearly snorted crumbs all over her desk. Her penciled-in eyebrows drew closer together. "You know how Mr. Ortega is. He's always so busy he can't remember to wipe his behind. That's what he says, anyway, but I don't buy it."

"Why's that?"

"If he were really working that hard, Newhill would be prosperous like Steelfort. Instead, they're lagging far behind."

"That's fair. What if I were to visit him?"

"We might be able to make that work." Mrs. Aleric said, "You're gonna be marrying the guy, so it only makes sense you spend some time with him."

"Exactly. Nobody marries a stranger, after all."

"Speak for yourself. Sebastian hadn't even seen me in the flesh when he sent a ring in the mail."

Ramona's face reddened a tinge, and she let out a nervous laugh. "Well, most of us aren't so...eccentric."

"I suppose not. Alright, well go to your office and start catching up on your work. We'll probably send you down to Newhill at lunch, no need to come back if things go well."

"Perfect! Sounds like a plan."

Ramona exited the office much cheerier than she'd entered, realizing her chance to sway the mayor of Newhill to their cause would soon be in her grasp.

* * *

That afternoon, Ramona watched the scenery fly by outside Gael's truck as they rolled down the road leading to Newhill. From her perch in the passenger seat up front, Paloma pecked at her phone and selected a playlist which soon blasted through the speakers. The music was unlike anything Ramona had listened to before, and the man singing did so in a language she didn't know, but that didn't stop Paloma from reciting the words with ease.

"You guys think this is gonna work?" Ramona blurted out, revealing the second thoughts that had begun to take shape in her head as they entered Newhill's shadow.

"Yeah, it has to," Gael said. "Our futures depend on it."

Paloma turned her music down and twisted in her seat. "You're worried you won't be able to convince him?"

"I just don't know what's gonna happen. Nothing seems to be going right so far."

"Hmm, I'm not so sure about that. Things haven't been the greatest, but God has seen to our needs through everything so far. We just need to take refuge in Him."

"I guess so." Ramona said, "I just don't feel like I'm all that convincing. Maybe if you and I swapped, things would be better, but it has to be me."

Paloma snorted. "You'll be fine! If I were so convincing, I would have filled that petition up a lot quicker than I did."

"I guess you're right. I'll just try my best...we'll see what happens."

Much of the lower city of Newhill stood in the shadow of the distinctive mound the city had been named for. As Gael navigated the road spiraling upward toward the top, more and more sunlight trickled through the truck's windows. Finally, they reached the Uptown District where no obstructions blocked out the sun, and where the Ortega mansion basked in the warming rays.

Of course, one couldn't simply waltz into the mansion unchecked, so Gael was forced to park in front of a gate while a security officer adorned in a pure white uniform stepped up to his window.

"What brings you here?" the officer asked, glancing over the truck with mild disgust.

"We're here to pay the mayor a visit," Gael said.

"The mayor's busy. Come back at a better time."

Ramona leaned forward in her seat. "Is he really too busy for his own fiance? If so, that's a red flag right there."

"Why do all these people need to come with you, then?"

Gael stuttered. "Well..."

"We're family!" Paloma said, "I'm sure Mr. Ortega wouldn't mind meeting his fiance's folks."

"Well, I'll have to talk to my boss about that."

So the officer stepped a few paces away with a walkie-talkie cupped to his ear. He chattered into the microphone with vigor, eyebrows constantly twitching as he spoke. Whatever words entered his ear afterward, he hardly looked pleased to hear them, but he stowed the device away on his belt and returned to Gael's window.

"You're all clear, I guess. Just don't cause trouble up there. And don't distract the mayor for too long."

"He's a busy man, I know." Gael said, "Thank you."

The officer stepped into a little booth and pressed a button to open the gate, and then Gael drove right through. As they drew nearer and nearer to the abode of Bolivar Ortega, Ramona's stomach stirred. She agonized over how to win the mayor of Newhill over to their cause.

★★★★

Yay, we arrived at Newhill! 🎉

Wish Paloma, Ramona, and Gael good luck.

Do you think Mr. Ortega will agree to support them in their cause? Give a reason for your answer.

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Until next time, don't agonize over anything.  XD