Chapter 21
I don’t make speeches.
It was half past eight when the flight from Havana landed.
Camdyn had been anticipating the arrival, so she’d gotten to the airport early.
The airport was allowing them to host a small informal press conference since the debate for Lola’s guardianship had garnered much public interest. Cam was normally not a worrier, but a foreign government, especially one with a reputation of being difficult—like Cuba—left the possibility of unexpected problems arising.
Once she was sure the airport and their security were prepared for the press conference, Camdyn grabbed a cortadito to burn some time while waiting.
Nervous energy buzzed through her and she had a momentary thought that espresso probably wasn’t the best idea, but she knew she was just excited.
They’d actually been successful in Javi getting guardianship of Lola.
He’d called Camdyn before five to let her know they were heading to the airport and that their flight would take off around seven.
The flight to Miami was short—only an hour and a half—but she’d been able to hear the exhaustion in Javi’s voice.
It had been a nonstop, and no doubt emotional, day for him and her pa.
For the thousandth time, she wished that she’d been able to travel with them, but unfortunately it had not been possible.
Her phone vibrated with an incoming text.
It was from Javi, letting her know they were disembarking.
The group would still need to go through immigration and customs before exiting arrivals, but hopefully it wouldn’t take too long.
She quickly replied to let him know that the camera crews would be waiting, then she went ahead and texted the ESPN and local news correspondences that she’d been working with so that they’d be ready in the space adjacent to baggage claim.
She met up with security and they waited as close to the arrivals exit as possible.
Juana arrived a few minutes later with several of her friends in tow.
She’d been using the trip to Miami as a chance to catch up.
In fact, tomorrow they’d be having brunch with Javier’s dad’s family, and some family friends, too.
Camdyn saw her grandpa walking towards her first and she immediately greeted him with a hug. Then Javi walked in, his arm slung over the shoulder of a young, thin girl, who could be no one other than Lola. Juana ran towards them crying and embraced the girl.
After several minutes of tears and joyful greetings, Javier brought Juana and Lola over to where she stood with Pa. “Cami, meet my cousin, Lola De la Fe.”
Juana was beaming with pride, and the young girl beside her looked like she’d drunk a cortadito, too.
She was holding her hands against her body as if uncertain what to do with them, or maybe it was an attempt to comfort herself.
She looked nervous, but her eyes were definitely inspecting Camdyn.
She was a small girl for twelve, but had a mound of dark, voluminous, curly hair.
“Bienvenido a Miami, Lola,” greeted Camdyn as she stepped forward to hug the girl. “Seremos grandes amigas.”
“Hablo Inglés,” Lola replied softly.
“That’s wonderful. However, you’ll find in Miami, and in Arizona, that a lot of people also speak Spanish. You can speak with me however you are comfortable.”
Lola nodded.
Camdyn wasn’t sure what Javi had told Lola, so she directed her next statement to him.
“Javi, there’s a camera crew waiting to the side of the first baggage carousel.
They were promised a statement for giving us airtime to gather public support.
You just need to give them something, then early tomorrow morning you’ll do a sit-down exclusive with ESPN.
It would be great if they could get a picture of you with Lola, but it isn’t required. ”
He turned to Lola. “Are you up for a photograph with me? You don’t have to take it, and you don’t have to speak to the reporters if you don’t want to. You never have to do something you don’t want to do, okay?”
The girl looked like she wanted to hide, but she answered. “I will take a picture, but I do not want to talk.”
“You’re sure?” asked Javi.
When Lola nodded again, he said, “Okay. Let’s get this over with.”
Their group moved on towards the baggage claim area with Pa and the security officer he was chatting with leading them and Juana's friends bringing up the rear.
Everyone seemed tired, and Cam hoped the news reporters would go easy on Javi and Lola with their questions.
Maybe she should have insisted on scripting, but it was too late to suggest it now.
Stepping closer to Javi, Camdyn asked quietly, “Did we need to collect anything from baggage claim?” Javi and Pa were rolling the carry-ons they’d left with, but Lola didn’t have a suitcase.
He leaned down and whispered, “No. Everything she has is in that black backpack.”
Camdyn had thought it was the girl’s purse. Lola’s lack of belongings caught her off guard and she fought back tears. “Oh, Javi, it doesn’t even look full.”
He squeezed her against him and kissed the side of her head. “I know. We’ll take her shopping soon. She’s timid right now, but I think she’ll open up with a little time.”
Camdyn nodded, but her heart hurt for Lola and the Cuban people. No wonder the Mother Superior had been willing to bend the truth and had asked the Caritas organization to help push the government for Lola’s guardianship.
As soon as reporters caught sight of Javi, they came towards him and started in with questions, but he lifted his hand and directed them.
“Let’s keep this interview to the area the airport has so generously allotted for us.
My mother, cousin, and I will pose for you to take pictures, and I will give a statement and answer questions.
Lola will not be taking questions. Are we all clear? ”
Everyone seemed to agree with the plan and circled the small podium the airport had set up, and everything proceeded as Javi said—pictures were taken, Javi gave his statement and thanked the public for their support, then he took questions.
Pa wrapped an arm around Camdyn’s shoulders and she leaned her head against him while they watched.
“You’ve got a good guy there, baby girl. And I don’t tell you enough, but I’m proud of you. You worked so hard to make this happen and you pulled it all together in record time.”
Months of work outside Camdyn’s actual job had led to this moment, and she felt such accomplishment at having united Lola with Juana and Javi.
She couldn’t claim all the credit, but she and her grandpa had quite literally changed the course of this girl’s life.
Just that thought had her again working to hold back tears.
Proud didn’t even cover everything Camdyn was feeling—accomplished, victorious, satisfied.
So many feelings, but above all, she felt fulfilled. This was why she chose a career in law.