He had awoken with a start. Ricardo Devineli came out of the dream about his mother, no the traitor who just so happened to have given birth to him. She had been laughing, as he tried desperately to get his wife and father on the boat. But no, his father, Fernardo Devineli, was too sick to make it to Florida. 

Escaping from Cuba seemed like a hopeless task, with his own mother being the head of Border Patrol (Head of Human Smuggle Stopping), and his father falling ill with a disease he couldn't even pronounce. Then there was his wife, she was afraid of leaving, but she desperately wanting to. Ricardo loved Jenell and had been looking forward to spending a life with her, but now they couldn't. Though, he had a plan.

"Ricardo," his wife murmured, "Was she there again?"

"Yeah, but is that anything new?"

"Ricardo!"
"Go back to sleep, Jenell," he glanced at the little black analog clock, "It's 3:45 a.m."

Jenell, shifted to find the place she had warmed in the bed. "Obviously," he thought, the little room was freezing, they had little ventilation because Fernardo needed the one warm room aside the kitchen. He shifted the blanket over to give her warmth, she didn't object to this as usual, it was the coldest night of the winter so far, she was freezing. Ricardo was sweating though, his nightmare had been more real than normal, his mother all of her facial features sharper, his father paler, his wife with real terror on her face. But as a normal human is, the cold caught up with him, as he shifted, just as his wife did. Sleep did not come effortlessly.

Morning was a whole new challenge for the Devinelis. Waking Fernardo was difficult. Serving breakfast was hard. Ricardo and Jenell were everywhere trying to prepare for the day, packing lunch, finding wrinkleless outfits. Ricardo was a harpist in a band, he made enough to support the three of them. While Jenell was a social worker for pregnant women, she made the money to pay for the smuggling, after Fernardo got sick she made the money for his treatment. The leftovers went to the smuggler. The plan before Fernardo's illness was to pay a smuggler to sail them to Florida. Now that was an impossibility.

At work Ricardo finds his harps and polishes and tunes them. The other members of the band do the same with their instruments. They play at one of the fancy restaurant in the area, where the seats are cushioned and  everything that was served was cooked by only the best cooks they could find. There was Damason who plays the violin. Jahsiiyah with his flute. Ynilo at the base. Alejandro played the cello. Teofilo with fingers of magic at the piano. Last Fidel who yes, did play the fiddle.

"My wife, she ah- didn't come home until late last night," Damason retorted.

"Maybe she's two timing you with the barber, they say she had many small hair dressings done. Asked specifically for him. My wife gossiped about that." Teofilo teased.

"Yes, ah- my wife too, she say that that your wife, oh Jenell ain't it, was kissing him in an alleyway," Alejandro snickered.

"My wife's name is Jackliene not Jenell, that's Ricardo's wife." Damason remarked angrily.

"So Ricardo, how is Jenell?" Fidel questioned.

"She's at work now, apparently winter is the season of labor this year, five woman per day, that's more than after that war!"

"Still can't wrap my head around the fact she got that job, it sounds exhausting." Ynilo shook his head.

"My papa is sick, too many bills, we take what we can get," it was Ricardo's turn to give a head shake.

"How is your pop?"  Fidel asked.

"Hard to tell, give you news when it comes around. But what's that saying? No news is good news?" That ended the conversation, until Damason realized something.

"Hey Jahsiiyah, you've been awfuly quiet today. Anything you need to confess, or whatnot?"

"Nah, just tired, life's rough, not enough warmth to go around." Jahsiiyah explained.

"Know how you feel," Fidel touched his hand to his forehead. The rest then sighed in unison.

"Better start practicing," Jahsiiyah said, "they gave a new song to preform."

That night at the Devineli table, Fernardo, Ricardo and Jenell were eating steamed pork. It costed $5.99 at the local convenience store, also it tasted better than cabbage stew. There was a small side dish of mini onions fresh out of a fire. It was cheap and tasted very good, the only down side it took a little long to prepare.

"So Dad, how are you feeling?" Ricardo asked sincerely.

"If better than yesterday is an answer then, better than yesterday." Fernardo smirked.

"That's great pops, but Doc wants to put you on other meds. If these are working though I could tell him."

"So many medicines, pills, and whatnot, these are working for now."

"Do you like your dinner?" Jenell piped in, trying to keep things on a happy note.

"I sincerely don't miss the cabbage," the aging man looked younger with his eyes closed and head bobbing. Ricardo didn't feel the need to hold back the smile in his heart. Jenell was reminded of old times, the ones before dark secrets and treachery.

Ricardo had planned to reveal his plot tonight. But how could he? Everyone so happy, Jenell even let out a giggle. Her laugh sounded like bells, a trait that had attracted Ricardo to her in the first place.
That night in their cold little room, Ricardo and Jenell were silent. Jenell seemed in good spirits, but Ricardo had one thing on his mind, Florida.

"Ricardo, what's wrong?"

"I'm going to miss you," he admitted gravely.

"What do you mean?"

"My mother sent me a letter a few days ago. It stated that she wanted us to stay and be with her, that we weren't supportive of her. She said that unless we come peacefully, she'll make our lives miserable. She knows of our plans to leave, she will stop us, or so she says. You are going to Florida, the doctor says Dad's going to die soon, I'll stay here until he does and meet you in Florida."

"But - but. Why?"

"You deserve to live a life, not stay here using your money on my father."

"I love your father, my parents are dead, he's my only parent. Also, I'm not leaving you! End of discussion."

"No, you're leaving in three and a half weeks. End of discussion." This was one of the few times in life that Ricardo lost all sense of humor and was totally taking control. Jenell was lost for words, her husband never acted this way, never. In that instant there was a horrible feeling of distance, they had always been a couple who knew each other, sensed each other's emotions. In that painfully interminable moment, Ricardo and Jenell were strangers, frozen in a freezing room. Jenell left three and a half weeks later, safely.

"THEY DID WHAT?" Evelin screeched. Ricardo's mother was fuming when she was told of Jenell's safe escape. She heard that Fernardo and her son were stuck. But Evelin Devineli thirsted for blood lust, for revenge.

She called for the man, the man she used when she yearned for her son too much. The man that had a torturous gash across his face, his personality was identical to Ricardo. Also the same eyes, same hair. Antrio Brangel, was present in front of his fake mother.

“You called for me?” Antrio asked rhetorically.

“I am sending you away soon.” she replied, “Six months to a year maybe, I have to find my son first.”

“But, why? I thought you were my mother.” He really did feel that way toward her, his parents had died while trying to escape, but he didn't want to leave. Antrio was sent to be tortured for conspiracy in an attempted escape. Evelin was supposed to have a say in what would happen to him, but when she saw him, she boiled with mixed feelings. He came out with scar on his face, and a new mother. That had happened four and three quarter years ago in the first three months of her rule, the decision was a test. She failed, though The Big Boss gave her one more chance, that man never saw the light of day again. 

“I never thought that I would have to say goodbye, again. I don't want to send you away, but I'm giving you a wife. Jenell Xzyuy.”

“Who is she?”

“She’s Ricardo Devineli’s wife. You are going to be Ricardo, say your father Fernardo is dead, the disease caught up with him. You will say that you were tortured by your mother, me. Jenell is your wife, you are the most compatible couple that has ever lived.”

“Are you - using me as revenge on your son? Where is this Jenell?”

“Only because it’s that or he kills you,” she lied, though it was believable, “He doesn't enjoy the fact I haven’t completely let go of my past. If I don't use you, you will die. Jenell is in Florida, the reason I am using you for this, so he cannot get to you." She sounded very convincing, Antrio believed her. He left a year later, they had to make it believable, Fernardo wouldn't be dead within a week and Ricardo couldn't be torture and have  escaped Evelin within that short a time.

Jenell got a letter from overseas, Ricardo was coming!
'Dear, Jenell my love.
I have missed you dearly, sadly two months after your departure my father passed. I took the money that we saved for his treatment to a smuggler. Though my mother heard and stopped me, I was tortured. Though I have escaped, I am in hiding but I found the money and I will be joining you soon.
Love,
Ricardo Venil Devineli.

Jenell was so happy she was getting her Ricardo back, so many emotions were going through her head, nothing could be better than this news. But in only a year, she believed that Fernardo died, but torture and an a escape in a year? Part of that just didn't sound right, but who was she to think otherwise, no one else knew where she was. Ricardo had said he'd made up a story, and a letter was sent to reassure that it had worked. Also, only Jenell, Ricardo, and his parents knew his middle name. Also she needed to tell him her secret.

Another fortnight passed before Antrio and Jenell met. Antrio thought that she was beautiful, he had seen a picture of her at her wedding but even though she was six years older now she was even more gorgeous in person. The first thing that struck him is her auburn hair. Then was her soft chocolate eyes, they looked with a mix of happiness and worry.

Jenell, when she saw Antrio, was horrified, thinking he was Ricardo, she couldn't believe his face. That gash, to her, was proof of the torture. So she was ready.

"Oh, Ricardo," Jenell cried,  "It has been so long, so much has happened."

"But we are together now, that is all that matters."

"We have to get to our home, I do not trust the woman there."

"I am confused, why is there a woman in your house."

"Our apartment, with our baby,” Jenell smiled, and Antrio eyes widened in disbelief. 

"Y-y-ou w-were uh p-p-p-pregnant?"

"Yes, his name is Bradin Fernard after our fathers."

"I love you," Antrio was speaking as Antrio, he was falling for Jenell.

Five years later…

After all that time, Ricardo was smelling the fresh sea air. He was thinking of Jenell, did she get remarried? His father lasted much longer than was thought by the doctor, four years. It then took him a year to get the money and successfully make his escape. He almost got caught three times.

"Why are you so focused foward?" The smuggler asked.

"I haven't seen my wife for five years," was his honest reply.

"Well I hope she hasn't moved on."

"Me too," that ended the only conversation they had for the whole nintey miles.

When they landed in Florida Ricardo went straight to the bus. He knew exactly where Jenell's apartment was, he got to her place at exactly 7:43 p.m in the 15th second, and saw her at 7:44 in the 41st second of the minute. He couldn't believe his eyes. She was holding the hand of a man  hideous gash but other than that was his identical twin.

"Ricardo," Jenell turned to the man, "I hope he had a good first day, it's hard to believe he is four."

"He'll be fine, Jenell, I hope he takes after our fathers, Bradin Fernard. In my opinion it's hard to believe it has been four and a half years since Fernardo died."

Ricardo was shocked, who was this man? Jenell had called him Ricardo! He said his father's name had been Fernardo! What was going on? Ricardo then decided something.

"Hello Jenell," the real Ricardo presented himself, "It's been five years."

"Who are you?" Antrio asked.

"I should be asking that to you. Why are you with my wife?"

"This is my wife," he replied angrily.
"What is going on here?" Jenell asked.

"Jenell, I have missed you for these five years. It was so hard to send you away all those years ago."

"But you came a year later and said that Fernardo died? You had been tortured, and I told you about our son?"

"Jenell this obviously is a fraud, come on we have to get Bradin he probably is the next stop." Antrio said.

"No think who do you think this is?" Ricardo asked, "I told you the story once, the story of the man my mom had?"

"I'm going to get Bradin from the bus, you go intreogate this fraud," Antrio turned on his heel and left the lobby.

"I can't tell who's who, you look more like Ricardo and it is more believable that you are Ricardo, but what took you so long?"
"Life, father lived for a lot longer than we originally thought. I am so sorry it took so long. My mother tried to arrest me but had no proof I was planning to escape. Please believe me.”

"Well I will talk to you both at the same time."

Five minutes passed. A little boy, the same auburn hair as his mother, the same blue eyes as his father, he was alone. He was holding a note.

"Where's papa?" Jenell asked the little boy  who's name was Bradin.

"Papa say bye bye, and to give mama notey." Bradin replied in his four year old voice, "he say I get new papa.

"Can I have the notey?"

'Dearest Jenell,
I truthfully was never your Ricardo, my name is Antrio Brangel, but I do love you. I saw how confused you were in that hall, I couldn't bear it. I came to deceive you, so that Ricardo would hear that you moved on and would be broken and come back to Evelin. I am so sorry. These years I have done nothing but live you, and I knew you never truly loved me. Be with your Ricardo, I know you love him, I am leaving in hopes you can forget. Bradin doesn't understand what has happened, never tell him please. 

Love from the bottom of my heart,

Antrio N. Brangel.

"We will now be together, forever.”