We decided to order a pizza and Leslie made a salad for dinner. Somewhat playing house as I kept fondling her while she was fixing up the salad. The doorbell rang and I rushed to the door. When I opened it, I was surprised to be looking at a deputy sheriff.
Deputy - Are you Paul Hansen?
Yes sir...I was raised to be polite to law enforcement.
Deputy - Is your sister Leslie here as well?
Leslie - (coming out of the kitchen) What's going on?
Deputy - Do you mind if we take a seat?
I knew it couldn't be good. So, we all took a seat in the living room. Leslie was clutching my hand, as she knew it couldn't be good news either.
Deputy - There has been a terrible accident in Mexico. Your parents, brother and his companion were on a ferry that capsized. It was travelling from mainland Mexico to Baja. The Mexican authorities are searching for survivors. Unfortunately, your brother was recovered but critically injured. He didn't survive the trip to the hospital. I'm sorry for your loss, but there is still hope in finding your parents.
You say this happened yesterday? I didn't know they were even in Mexico. Did you Leslie?
Leslie - I think mom was talking about seeing Fred on their trip, but I didn't know about Mexico either. What are we supposed to do?
She began crying and leaned into my side. I put my arm around her and held her tightly.
Deputy - I'm really sorry I don't have any good news at the moment. For now, stay close to your phones. If you need to contact me, here is my card. Feel free to call if I don't call by tomorrow afternoon.
With that, he got up and walked toward the door. He hesitated before leaving but said nothing. Both Leslie and I were speechless. We just sat there for what seemed like hours, but it was just a few minutes. The doorbell rang again. This time the pizza guy arrived. Since I paid online, I handed him $5 for a tip and brought the pizza into the kitchen. We sat in silence. I was eating but not consciously aware of it. Leslie was watching me but not eating anything.
Leslie - Are we being punished?
Without answering her right away. She got up and walked out of the kitchen. I could hear her go to the hall bathroom and shut the door. I decided to give her some space. I put away the salad and leftover pizza in the fridge. In a stupor, I made my way to Fred's old room and sat there. So many questions were running through my mind. I laid down on the bed. Next thing I knew, I had fallen asleep. When I awoke, the sun was just coming up.
I realized I was still in Fred's old room and made my way to see if Leslie was sleeping. She was asleep and had a handful of tissues wadded up around her. I know she must have cried herself to sleep. I felt bad I wasn't there to comfort her.
I went to the kitchen to make some coffee and look online for any news of the ferry accident. The search for news didn't take long. It seemed like every news outlet had a story about it. Over a hundred were recovered with only three survivors so far. There were over a hundred still missing. While I was reading the different reports, I heard Leslie get up. She came into the kitchen, grabbed her keys and headed out the door. I heard her drive away.