Lunch was a dismal affair for Miller at Fonda Anita with the formidable, Anita de la Gonango el Nutrado watching his every move. He figured since he was not sure about when he could leave, he would end his stay with huge meals, using up his chits as fast as possible. The problem was eating alone.

He had unquestionably alienated Billy with his comment about the money and wondered now if his plan would be as successful as he hoped. He nibbled at his chicken salad and drank without tasting his wine; eating without Billy was just no fun . . . anything without her was no fun! Anita sailed up to his table with a small dish of pastries and set it down without comment.

"I didn't order dessert."

"It is with my compliments, senor."

"It is? Why?"

She smoothed her long skirt and poked a deadly nail into her tightly wound hair. "It is to apologize for my earlier behaviour toward you, senor. I have since come to realize just how wrong my initial judgement was."

"And how did you reach that conclusion," he asked, sampling a sweet.

Anita blushed mightily and wet her heavily painted lips. "Senor Estrada uhm- enlightened me."

"Really. Interesting. Well, no harm no foul, senorita. I accept with grace and a sincere thankyou." He popped the rest of the sweet in his mouth and chewed happily.

********

Miguel off loaded Miller's bags in the lobby and stood by while Miller dug out a pile of coins for a tip. He received a jerky bow and the resort smile as the diminutive driver scurried away. Helen Ramirez was behind the reception counter and she beamed her hostess smile upon him as he approached.

"Senor Hunt, how sad it is to see you leaving Windy Palms."

"I almost believe you mean that, senorita." Her face showed his remark was unwarranted and she bowed her head. "Sorry, I guess after all that's happened I'm feeling a little self pity."

"Well I have a remedy for that, senor."

"I hope it's not another island drink."

She laughed and the sound was musical, lifting his spirits a little and when she handed him his bill he couldn't figure out what he was looking at.

"I don't understand . . . ?"

"You have been complimented for your entire stay, senor. It is to compensate for the errors, attitudes and circumstances of your visit."

"I don't know if you were aware but this was a company trip for me, as an employee - part of their profit sharing plan. It was all pre-paid."

"In that case, Senor Miller, we will keep the payment as compensation for having you here."

Miller stared, incredulous. Had she really said that? Did she mean that? As he watched her face the stern expression morphed into a beautiful, teasing smile and she took his hands in hers, tilted her head and waited until he regained his composure and realized the tease.

"Senor Hunt, there is one added item . . . Senor Estrada requests the pleasure of your company for dinner along with his daughter and myself in his villa. We will be eating at eight and having cocktails at seven. Miguel will pick you up at six forty-five."

"I'm at a loss." Miller withdrew his hands and held them out in a helpless gesture."Wow! This is quite something."

"Until seven then, Senor."

"But I've packed everything!"

"It is a very casual affair, senor. What you have on is just fine."

"Well okay then. See you at seven." He basked in another gracious smile and wandered off to just putter about without thinking of anything special. How ironic that this should mesh so perfectly with his plan. Miller did a successful heel click heading for the tiny shopping area.

********

Estrada's Villa was across the resort from the main building and well hidden in a grove of ancient palms that were strung with colourful lanterns. Miguel drove sedately up the long drive and halted the cart with precision directly in front of the entrance walkway. Miller hoisted his bag out of the back and thanked him, waving him off then with a quick, appreciative look at the grounds, he strolled up to the front door and rang the bell.

"Senor Hunt, right on time. Wonderful." Helen planted a delicate kiss on his cheek and led him into the sparkling, tiled foyer. "Aren't you handsome in one of Rose's outfits."

He made a silly face and looked down at the new pants and shirt. "Since I didn't pay to stay I figured the least I could do was dress for mess."

Helen laughed her tinkling laugh and patted his shoulder. "How clever, Senor. Come, the others are waiting."

"Wow. Nice digs."

"It was once the mansion of a very important political leader in the last century. It seemed only fitting that the manager of such an esteemed resort have the exclusive use of its amenities." She swept along in front of him and Miller pondered if, in spite of Billy's prodding, Helen was already one of those amenities.

They entered a huge open living room/dining area furnished in soft looking, cream leather with heavy, Spanish styled furnishings in dark stain and black iron. Billy was seated on a sofa behind a huge round, glass-topped coffee table and he could see her tanned legs extending below the hem of a pale blue peasant skirt. Carlos was at a portable bar and after handing a glass of wine to Billy he stepped quickly across the braided carpet to grasp Miller's hand.

"Welcome, Senor Hunt to my home. Please come and sit, have some wine."

Miller eyed the sofa beside Billy but chose a wide single chair beside it instead, dropping his pack and settling down. "Thankyou very much for having me and thankyou as well for your generous offer to cancel my bill." Helen gave him a knowing smile.

"Da nada. We felt it was only just." He glanced at his daughter and coughed politely.

Miller gave her an appraising look but she wouldn't meet his eyes. "Well, here's to a pleasant end to a bizarre vacation." They all smiled politely and drank to his toast. Carlos and Helen each sat, close but not too close to one another and waited as a young servant passed around a plate of fearsome looking nibbles.

"I hope I won't embarrass myself again if I eat one of these." He joked.

"They are all very mild and quite safe I assure you." Carlos thanked the young man and they were alone, eating and drinking quietly. Helen recounted Miller's clever accounting for his new clothes and he fidgeted as they all complimented his choice.

He kept sneaking peeks at Billy but got nothing more than a weak smile . . . no conversation. Finally he set down his glass and pulled the pack over to his feet. "I have something for you, Senor Estrada, something that I think might make you both happy and uncomfortable."

Billy looked up sharply at her father who exchanged befuddled looks with Helen. Then stared hard at Miller.

"I don't understand, Senor."

"I want to give you this." He dropped a plastic bag on the coffee table and sat back watching his host. Billy emitted a small gasp and lowered her head, staring at the table top.

Carlos reached out and dragged the bag across the table, opening it slowly. His reaction was to expel a huge gasp of breath and mutter a string of unintelligible Spanish. Helen peeked inside and then clutched his arm.

"What is this, Senor Hunt?"

Miller set his drink down again and leaned forward. "It is the balance of the money Graves and Burrows stole through the scam on the investors." He looked pointedly at Billy who was flame-cheeked. "It's a long story so if you are on a schedule for dinner perhaps I could tell it then."

"Carlos looked in the bag again and shook his head. "I'm not sure I'll be able to eat now."

Dinner was exceptional and they all did eat . . . plenty . . . as they listened to Miller's story, his decision and why he made it. Billy wiped her eyes and left the table in a hurry, leaving the others momentarily speechless.

"I had my suspicions, Senor Hunt, but I honestly didn't think Billy felt the same."

"You think running out like that means she feels the same way?"

"Trust him, senor, a man knows his daughter better than she realizes." Helen squeezed Carlos' arm and leaned against him. "You should go and see if she is all right."

"Oh I don't kn-"

"Trust me, senor." Helen nodded.

He went out into the hallway she'd taken and after a minute or two of false turns, he found her on a balcony at the back of the villa. He was surprised to see that from this vantage point he could see the top of Casa Faro tilting casually in the filtered moonlight.

Cicadas were vibrating away in the bushes and a thin sound of music from the main resort wafted on the still air. Billy was leaning with her back against a pillar staring up at the emerging stars, dabbing at damp eyes with a piece of tissue in her fingers.

"Are you okay?" He ventured, moving closer.

"No."

"Was it something I said?"

She turned her head and looked at him. "You are a bastard, Miller."

"I know. But one that's absolutely nuts about you." He stopped next to her and stood listening to them both breathe.

"It was always my intention, Billy. I didn't want the money and when you insisted that Warez would likely keep it for himself I decided that it should at least belong to the resort and not some greedy cop."

"And you didn't tell me, why?"

"I- you were- I didn't want you to think it was a ruse to get you to- to . . ." He blew out some air and stepped forward leaning both hands on the railing.

"You're telling me it wasn't."

"C'mon, even a bastard has some scruples about declaring his love." He turned and sat on the rail. "I've told you that more than once and I meant it, Billy."

She straightened up and placed her arms about his neck. The kiss was long, soft and delicious. Miller was afraid to move, afraid to end the moment and more afraid of slipping backwards over the railing. He managed to stand without uncoupling and they stood, holding the kiss, while the night sounds receded to a silent memory embracing only the two of them.