"Have a jet fueled and ready for me at the airport!" Raisa said as her hands began to shake. Her life was coming full circle.

~~~~~~~~~~

She arrived at Virago and ran up the steps. No one had to tell her how grave the situation was, she could see it in their faces. Raisa went directly to the Nona's room

"Nona!" She knelt down next to the bed.

"I've been waiting for you. I knew you would come." Raisa could see that the eyes seemed dull and not even her smile held that usual vibrancy.

"You have been very naughty, I should be angry with you," she said softly.

"No, don't be angry Mi angel, I didn't want to worry you." The old woman said with difficulty.

Raisa smiled and looked down as her hand covered Nona's. She suddenly noticed how the old woman's hand was frail and thin. She looked up again and all the fear that lay in her showed in her eyes.

"You must fight for your happiness. I know that there is so much love inside you Mi angel." Nona's hand reached out and caressed the face that she had loved so dearly. She had given Raisa all of the tenderness and love she had once given her own daughter before she died. She would do all possible to get this the child closest to her heart to find joy at last.

"All I need is you," Raisa was barely able to say as tears ran freely down her face.

"Pick a horse for my sake and ride him. Open your heart. You have one even if you try to hide it. And it's a strong heart. A good heart."

"No, Nona..."

"You will go on and you will do this for me?" The old woman asked as her eyes filled with tears as well. "From the first day I saw you I loved you. You cried with all the vigor of life inside you. Be who you are. Be my strong and brave little soldier. It is a role that suits you. You have fought your whole life. Now you must fight for your happiness."

"Don't go. Please stay with me," she cried as her face went down and touched the old woman's hand.

Nona caressed the dark tresses lovingly as she always had. "I will always be with you. Mi angel...love never dies. Remember that - love never dies."

Raisa's face lay on that hand as her tears came of their own volition. She felt when the caresses to her hair stopped. And at that moment she knew.

She never raised her head as sobs racked her body. "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh....."

~~~~~~~~~~

This unfeelingnes seemed to fit her like a glove. It had been three weeks since Nona had been buried. She still wore mourning colors. But, unlike other times, she had not run. This time she had stayed. She walked around the entire hacienda everyday.

All the old servants that had recognized her devotion to the old woman looked at her in sadness. They saw the pain in her eyes that she thought was so well hidden. They doted on her and even went out of their way to make her favorite dishes but even so most of the times the dishes returned to the kitchen barely touched.

Raisa had gotten thinner and to anyone who looked at her she simply looked more chiseled in features. But, then again, who really knew her? If they only knew that the once feared and powerful woman cried herself to sleep every night. Or that she slept sitting in a chair because she could not bear the memories of the woman she loved that had once shared that bed. And yet, she had stayed in Virago.

As she walked it suddenly occurred to her that all that she had ever really and truly loved had been at Virago. All that had shaped her, hurt her or meant anything to her had been or come from there. She looked around and almost at that same instant the lush greenery that surrounded her seemed to be alive. A breeze like many from a long time ago came slowly and caressed her starved skin. She inhaled the sweetness of the earth beneath her and she felt the power of this land that called out to her once more.

She closed her eyes and as she opened them she was filled with a longing she could no longer deny. She had asked for a sign and when it came she had not seen it. And now this place that was her life force had once again made it all clear to her. It was so simple. Love never dies.

Raisa looked around once more and walked in a rush to the stables.

"Tomas?"

"I'm here."

"Good, are those the new horses?"

"Yes."

"Come," she said simply and the ranch hand followed.

She leaned against the fence and looked as the horses ran around and played. After a few minutes she saw it. It was a bay with sharp eyes. The horse seemed arrogant and she recognized it as spirit. She pointed to it.

"Separate that mare from the rest and put her in my stall. Order a name plate for her."

Tomas smiled "What shall I put on it?"

She looked at him and a sad smile appeared as she said. "Esperanza."

The name Hope seemed appropriate. She looked at the horse once more than headed back to the main house.

~~~~~~~~~~

Four days later Raisa arrived at Dallas International Airport. Arrangements had been made and a car waited for her. She was rushed through customs. The limousine took her to the penthouse she always stayed in when she came to Dallas; one of Copecos' many properties. Within hours she had made sure to touch base with her office and Caracas and instructed all inquiries to be re routed to Dallas.

That night Raisa stood before the glass wall in front of her and looked at all those lights and as she took a deep breath she turned around and went to bed. And as she lay her head down all that kept going through her head was the word....Tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~

"I don't know why you just don't send her in the car," Matt said in exasperation.

"I enjoy driving her to school, Matt."

"Did it ever occur to you that she is spoiled? That's why maybe she is having these temper tantrums."

"You know one day you are going to actually say something intelligent and I am going to miss it," Carolyn said as she picked up the keys and left him with his coffee cup half way to his mouth.

Carolyn could see that Amanda had just gotten into the car. She walked over to the driver's side and got in.

"Ready sweetheart?"

"Yes, mom." She kept looking out the window.

Carolyn sat and watched her daughter who had almost stopped looking at her straight in the eyes these days. Slowly she was loosing Mandy and she knew it. She just didn't know how to stop it.

Carolyn caressed the dark tresses of hair and the child turned around to face her. For one brief moment she saw fear in those eyes.

"Amanda..."

"We are going to be late, Mom." The child once again turned to look out the window.

"Amanda, what's wrong baby? I can't help you if you won't talk to me," she said softly.

"Nothing's wrong, Mom."

"It hurts, Amanda," Carolyn said and as her voice faltered the child looked at her again. "It hurts me that you can't talk to me."

"If I ask you something will you tell me the truth?" The child finally said and was looking at her mother intently.

Carolyn thought for a moment then looked up and nodded her head.

"Are you my real mother?"

Carolyn's face showed her surprise. "Yes, of course I am."

"I don't look like you or Daddy."

"You look like my father's family sweetheart. They have dark hair and dark eyes like yours," she said tenderly as she caressed the soft cheek of her child. "You are my own beautiful little girl."

Amanda looked at her hard and long and suddenly Carolyn could see the change and realized that she had believed her.

"Can I ask you one more thing?"

"Yes."

"Who is Raisa Andieta?"

Carolyn did not hesitate in her answer. "Someone I knew a long time ago."

"Daddy didn't like her, did he?"

"No," Carolyn said sadly.

"Okay."

~~~~~~~~~~

Carolyn dropped Amanda off at school and started with her usual errands. It was Monday and on Mondays she picked up fresh flowers and went to her favorite little café for coffee next door to the flower shop.

As she was walking out of the florist she came to a sudden stop.

"Hello," Raisa said gently. "Can I help you with those?"

"Oh, um..." she seemed to be juggling the bouquet suddenly.

"Here, you hold on to those and I'll take these." Raisa took possession of some of the blooms. "Is your car close by?"

"Yes, I'm parked right there," Carolyn answered in a daze.

Both women walked quietly. Carolyn opened the car and placed the flowers inside the back of her car and then closed the hatch. She turned around and again was faced with a memory from long ago.

Raisa smiled. "I've heard that place makes great coffee," she said as she pointed to the very shop that Carolyn had been headed to before.

"Yes, yes it does." She felt awkward and infantile.

"Would you have some with me?" Raisa asked simply.

Carolyn thought a moment and then her answer was "Yes."

Both walked in unison. Neither was daring to speak for fear of saying something wrong. Raisa pulled the door and Carolyn entered. They both automatically went to Carolyn's usual table. Carolyn smiled to herself. The cappuccinos were delicious.

"How long have you been in Dallas?" Carolyn finally spoke.

"Only a few days."

"Matt didn't say anything," Carolyn said looking away.

"Matt doesn't know."

Carolyn looked at Raisa again. Raisa began to drink her coffee again.

"Do you like it?"

"Yes." Raisa met her eyes again with a smile and was rewarded by one in return.