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"Thanks, Antonio," the red-haired little boy replied with the toothiest grin Antonio had ever seen. "I understand now."
Antonio tousled the five-year olds hair and stepped away from the table. He crossed his arms in front of him and felt the swell of satisfaction that was once again an everyday occurrence for him. Taking the counselor job at the youth center was the best decision Antonio could have made. It allowed him the opportunity to still serve the community in a meaningful way that also fulfilled his desire to assist those who desperately needed guidance. The pay wasn’t great, but after living on a priest’s meager salary for the last six years, he felt as if he had won the lottery. He poured himself completely into his work; staying busy to keep Gabi off his mind. "Goodbye, Antonio," Nicholas called from the doorway as his mother led him from the room. "See you tomorrow." "Goodbye, Nicholas," Antonio said with a wave. Checking his watch, he realized it was time for him to head out for the night as well. Maria was hosting a family dinner and Carmen had insisted Antonio attend. He had given excuse after excuse to avoid them…to avoid Gabi; his mother had had just about enough. Antonio picked up the last of the model-building supplies and returned them to the cabinet. Looking around the room, he flipped off the light and was on his way to what he anticipated to be a miserable evening. MARIA’S Maria closed the door behind Antonio as he entered the living room. He was dressed casually in a pair of khaki pants and a navy blue button down shirt. Ben emerged from the kitchen with a cold bottle of beer, which Antonio raised eagerly to his lips. Antonio was by no means an alcoholic, but the occasional indulgence helped him to relax and he was certain he would be tossing back a few tonight. Taking a seat on the couch next to Maria, he exhaled heavily. "So, Antonio," Maria smiled at him. "How is your new job?" Talking about the youth center always gave him a good feeling. "I love it, Maria. Seeing the look on those kids’ faces when you help them figure out their homework or with a game or a puzzle," his voice faded away and he looked down into his lap. "It’s the best feeling in the world." Maria touched his arm. "Those kids are lucky to have you, Antonio." "I’m lucky to have them," he said quietly. Behind them, the front door flew open and Ricardo made his usual grand entrance with Gabi close behind. "Hey, everybody," Ricardo bellowed as he made his way to the couch and plopped down on the other side of Maria. "Sorry we’re late. Gabi couldn’t decide what to wear." He rolled his eyes playfully as Gabi felt her cheeks flush. Her eyes were drawn to the back of Antonio’s head as he sat on the couch and she felt her heart skip a beat. "Ricardo," she whined with irritation. "That’s okay, Gabi." Maria intervened. "Dinner won’t be ready for another half an hour and mama isn’t even here yet anyway." Antonio hadn’t looked in Gabi’s direction yet. It had been almost a week since they "ran into" each other in the kitchen at 3 am. Gabi had been staying at Ricardo’s, to Antonio’s odd relief, avoiding each other successfully - until tonight. "Hey, T." Ricardo leaned across his sister. "How’s the job?" Gabi’s attention shifted to Antonio’s face and she watched from across the room as it lit up. "It’s great Ricardo." He smiled softly. "Really great." Antonio’s eyes smiled as he told a few stories from his first week at the center. Gabi always knew that he would find happiness and fulfillment outside the priesthood but she never felt it her place to try to convince him of it. She had asked him twice if he would leave it for her and twice he told her no. Perhaps she needed to accept the fact that he wanted a life without the church and without her. The conversation at dinner centered on Benjy and what he was going to be for Halloween. Maria had suggested a pumpkin or maybe dracula; Benjy was determined to be a blue Power Ranger. Gabi spoke quietly with Ricardo, leaning over to whisper something near his ear. Antonio would raise his eyes inconspicuously to witness the exchange, then look away before Gabi inevitably glanced in his direction. He was confused by the signals she was sending but decided that he was only interpreting them as what he wanted to see from her, not what she might still really feel for him. Ricardo started to stand from the table while Gabi insistently tugged at his hand. Everyone stopped talking to find out what was happening. "Ricardo," Gabi said sternly as her fiancé ignored her. "Not now." "Everyone," Ricardo summoned their attention. "We have an announcement." Gabi rested her hand against her eyebrow and seemed to slink under the table. Antonio’s curiosity was piqued by Gabi’s response but the wide grin on Ricardo’s face sent a wave of nervousness through him. Surely he wasn’t going to announce that Gabi was pregnant, not here in front of everyone like this, although her behavior was rather odd. Antonio felt sick to his stomach at the thought and dropped his head in apprehensive anticipation. Ricardo pulled Gabi up to stand next to him; her cheeks flushed as pink as the roses that adorned the centerpiece. "Gabi and I would like you all to know," Ricardo began. Antonio shook his head as it screamed, "Oh God, I’m gonna be an uncle." "That we’ve set a date for the wedding!" Ricardo wrapped his arm around Gabi and pulled her close. Her eyes instinctively fell on Antonio’s face trying to read his reaction. She was almost disappointed to find a genuine look of relief. "Gabi and I are going to be married May 10th." "Oh, May," Maria exclaimed, "that’s a wonderful month for a wedding." Gabi smiled softly. "I know it seems so far away now, but the next 8 months are going to fly." Maria was going into planner mode as she always did when a special occasion was coming up. "Let’s see, you’ll have to get your dress…" Maria moved next to Gabi and was rattling off a list of details that would have to be attended to. Ricardo turned to accept Ben’s hearty handshake. Carmen leaned over for Benjy to whisper in her ear and Antonio left to get another beer. Gabi’s eyes followed him out of the room Antonio leaned against the hard counter as the ice-cold ale slid slowly down his throat. He had consumed quite a few beers and ate little dinner; he was nursing a nice comfortable buzz. Antonio closed his eyes and was assaulted with images of Gabi standing in front of the refrigerator the other night at Surf Central. His eyes flew open and he was shocked to find her standing right in front of him. They stared silently at each other for a few seconds before Gabi spoke. "Antonio?" Her eyes searched his carefully. "Is everything alright?" "Yeah," he shrugged his shoulders. "What could be wrong?" Gabi knew him too well and his tone was too short to be honest. She hesitated before speaking. "I didn’t want Ricardo to make the announcement about the wedding tonight." "Why not?" he interrupted. "I would think you would be thrilled to have set the date." Antonio took a rough swig of the beer. "Moving things right along; I think that’s great." He shot her a cold look. The glare in his eyes was something she had seen him give a few times, but had never received from him and it unnerved her. "I didn’t know you were so fond of beer, Antonio." She changed the subject as she eyed him curiously. "Well, Gabi," he smirked. "There’s a lot you don’t know about me." He could see as her eyes dropped that his flippant attitude had hurt her. "I’m sorry," he relented. "That didn’t exactly come out right." Hurting Gabi’s feelings was something he still couldn’t bring himself to do. "It’s okay, Antonio. I understand." Gabi’s said compassionately. "What do you understand, Gabi?" He challenged her since he didn’t really think she knew. "I understand that it’s hard for you, Antonio, to watch Ricardo and I…together." Gabi’s eyebrows raised as she said it. "Because of what happened…with us." "What did happen with us, Gabi?" Antonio swallowed the last of the beer while he waited for Gabi to answer him. Her dark eyes sparkled as she stared at him; his arms crossed in front of him as if to protect himself from her answer. "Hey you two," Ricardo called out as he came into the kitchen and walked over to Gabi. Placing his arm around her shoulder, he turned to his brother. "So, T, what do you have planned for May 10th?" Gabi closed her eyes and turned her head into Ricardo’s side relieved to have respite from answering his question; Antonio lifted his eyes from her to Ricardo. "Since you can’t perform the ceremony anymore, I can pencil you in as my best man, right?" Antonio watched as Gabi slowly lifted her head to see his response. He dropped his eyes to the floor as he realized he wouldn’t be able to tell his brother no without some feasible explanation. "Of course, Ricardo," Antonio sighed quietly. "I’d be…honored." Ricardo broke away from Gabi and took Antonio into a warm hug. Antonio’s eyes caught Gabi’s as Ricardo swatted him energetically on the back. "You’re the best brother, T. I love you, man." "I love you, too," Antonio answered without looking away from the woman to whom he was truly speaking. Gabi almost felt as if Antonio’s words had captured her heart as she watched the two most important men in her life hugging – her fiancé and her future brother-in-law. She had such intense feelings…such love, for both of them. Her heart jumped in her chest at her own sentiment. Love? "Gabi?" Ricardo’s voice startled her from her thoughts. "Are you still with us?" Antonio and Ricardo were both staring at her as she stood silently twisting the chain around her neck. "Huh? Oh, yeah," she fumbled. "I was just, uh…" Ricardo laughed as he swept her into his arms and swung her around as Antonio stepped out of the way. "I just can’t believe this beautiful woman is going to be my wife!" He set her down and planted a generous kiss on her lips. Antonio dipped his head and turned back to the refrigerator to grab another beer. "Hey, T, grab one for me," Ricardo laughed as Antonio handed him a beer. "I didn’t know you drank beer?" Antonio rolled his eyes and popped open the beer. "Well I do," he snapped as he threw his head back and guzzled almost half the bottle. Gabi watched him as he swiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Hey, I’m impressed," Ricardo laughed as he opened his own. "I guess we have more in common than I thought!" Ricardo swallowed a long drink and wrapped his arm around Gabi. "Yes, Ricardo," Antonio replied solemnly as Gabi’s eyes met his. "We sure do."
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