“I have pancakes burning. Make it short.”
Cole glanced at Emma.
“Her dad helped save my nephew.”
The spoon lowered slightly.
Emma blinked.
“My dad saved somebody?”
Cole nodded.
“He did.”
“From what?”
“Something dangerous.”
Rosa said quickly, “That is enough detail.”
Emma looked annoyed.
Adults were constantly editing interesting parts.
Cole continued.
“My nephew was working overseas. There was an accident. Your dad happened to be nearby. He helped get him out.”
Emma looked proud.
“My daddy is good at helping.”
“Yes.”
“He says helping is what people do when they notice someone needs it.”
Cole swallowed.
“That sounds like him.”
Rosa noticed something in his expression.
“How well do you know Mateo?”
“Well enough that he trusted me with this.”
“That is not what I asked.”
Cole looked down at the envelope.
“I met him after the accident.”
“He kept checking on my nephew.”
“Even after he was stable.”
“Then we talked.”
“He asked about my family.”
“I asked about his.”
“He showed me pictures of Emma.”
Emma smiled.
“Which ones?”
Cole looked toward her.
“One where you had spaghetti on your head.”
Emma gasped.
“That was when I was two!”
“Apparently historic evidence.”
“Daddy promised he deleted that.”
Rosa muttered, “Your father lies about deleting photographs.”
Emma looked offended.
Cole almost laughed.
Then his expression became serious again.
“He also told me about your chair.”
Emma looked down.
Adults often did this.
They saw the chair before they saw her.
Cole seemed to recognize the change.
“He didn't tell me because he thought something was wrong with you.”
Emma looked back up.
“He told me because he said you were faster than him downhill and he wanted witnesses.”
Emma smiled again.
Rosa finally lowered the spoon completely.
“What did Mateo ask you to do?”
Cole looked at the envelope.
“First?”
“Give her this.”
“And after?”
He looked across the road.
At the motorcycles.
Then back toward the small Martinez house.
“That's in the letter.”
Rosa hesitated.
Emma said, “Can I have it now?”
Rosa studied Cole for another few seconds.
Then nodded.
Cole placed the envelope gently on Emma’s lap.
Her fingers traced the butterfly.
“Open it.”
Rosa stepped closer.
Emma carefully tore the edge.
Inside was a folded letter.
And a photograph.
The photograph slipped onto her lap.
It showed her father.
Mateo Martinez stood beneath a harsh overseas sun wearing dusty work clothes and sunglasses.
Beside him was a younger man with his arm in a sling.
On the other side stood Cole Maddox.
No leather vest.
No motorcycle.
Just a large gray-bearded man in an ordinary T-shirt.
Emma held the picture up.
“You look nicer here.”
Cole blinked.
Rosa covered a smile.
“Thank you, I think.”
Emma unfolded the letter.
Her reading was improving.
Not enough for the entire page.
She recognized her name.
She looked toward Rosa.
“Read it.”
Rosa took the page.
Her eyes moved over the handwriting.