|
THE LOFT
Gabi waited anxiously for Ricardo to get home from work. They had missed each other at the station since he slept until the afternoon before coming in. Gabi was stuck in the evidence room cataloging all afternoon and when she looked for him before she left, he was meeting with the Chief. Gabi was preparing a romantic dinner for the two of them. After much thought, she decided that Ricardo was just tired and cranky this morning from working all night and he would be much more receptive to her tonight after a nice dinner. Gabi lit the long taper candles and blew out the match. She put the bottle of wine on ice and went into the bathroom to change into a soft peach tank dress. After dabbing some perfume on her neck and fluffing her hair, she returned to the kitchen and checked on dinner. She experienced only two episodes of pain during the day, both much milder than those she had last night. Gabi checked the clock and contemplated calling the station to see if Ricardo was on his way. Before she could call Ricardo, the phone rang. "Hello?" Gabi expected to hear Ricardo’s voice. "Hi, Gabi," Antonio said quietly as Gabi’s heart began pounding fiercely. "I just wanted to call and see if you were…if you were okay after," he paused. "Last night." Gabi closed her eyes as she listened to his sweet voice so full of concern and love for her. She wanted to blurt out the truth to him right then and there. "Yes, Antonio, I’m fine." She took a deep breath. "I’m sorry about that…on the beach." "It’s okay, Gabi," Antonio said as he twirled the phone cord in his fingers. "Like I said, I knew something was upsetting you and I just wanted to help." He waited for her to offer some explanation but she said nothing. "Well, I…I guess I better go." "Thank you, Antonio," Gabi replied. "For checking on me." She ran her hand across her stomach. "It means a lot to me." "You mean a lot to me, Gabi." Antonio silently reprimanded himself for letting that one slip. Gabi smiled softly then heard Ricardo’s keys in the door. "I have to go, Ricardo’s home." She sounded rushed. "I’ll talk to you later." Gabi hung up before Antonio had a chance to say goodbye. Antonio hung up the phone and sat back in his chair. Gabi was moving on with her life and he realized it was time he did, too. "Hi, Ricardo," Gabi said sweetly as Ricardo eyed the little love feast Gabi had prepared for them. "What’s all this?" He glanced over the table and what she was wearing. Another attempt to seduce me, he thought, very interesting. "I just thought we could have a nice dinner." Gabi walked into the kitchen to take out their meal. "Are you hungry?" "Uh huh," he mumbled suspiciously. "Good, sit down." Gabi put the food on the table and sat down in her chair. "Let me pour you some wine." Ricardo smirked as Gabi poured him a glass of wine. She was making eyes at him already and he almost laughed out loud. How obvious could she be? Ricardo downed the wine in one sip and placed his glass back on the table. Gabi watched him with wonderment as he poured another glass and emptied it quickly. He would show her…he would get hammered just like she had the night he had wanted to make love. "I think I’d rather have a few beers," Ricardo announced as he opened the refrigerator. Sitting down, he cracked open the bottle and guzzled almost half the beer at once. "Ricardo," Gabi said wildly. "Take it easy." "It’s been a long day, Gab...just trying to relax." Gabi stood up and walked behind his chair placing her hands on his shoulders and rubbing his neck. "There are other ways to relax, Ricardo." Ricardo couldn’t believe how blatant she was being as she massaged his neck slowly. Her hands slipped inside the neck of his shirt. "Come on, Gab," he said roughly as he pushed her hands away. "I’m not in the mood." Gabi stood back as Ricardo dug into his dinner. She was feeling rejected and she didn’t understand why he wasn’t interested in her. "Ricardo!" she snapped impatiently. He swung around in surprise at her tone. "What’s wrong with you?" "Nothing, Gabi...what’s wrong with you?" he asked coldly as he stared at her. "Why don’t you want me?" Suddenly, she realized how desperate she sounded. "I mean, I thought you wanted to make love." "Where were you when I wanted to make love, Gab?" He had a point and she knew it. "You always had an excuse…you were sick, you were tired. I can’t even remember them all." Gabi stepped up and touched his shoulder. "I want to make love, Ricardo." She smiled warmly at him. "Tonight." Ricardo could tell she meant business which made him even more determined not to make love to her. "Well I don’t." He turned away from her and continued eating. Gabi turned away and went into the bathroom. She shut the door behind her and leaned against it. She just didn’t understand what was going on…could he see how desperate she was? Maybe she was pushing him too hard. She didn’t have a lot of time to waste, she reminded herself. If he got drunk enough, she could always tell him they had made love. She shook her head wildly at her irrational thinking. Willing herself to relax, she tucked her hair behind her ears and exited the bathroom. She sat down across from Ricardo and they ate dinner in silence. Ricardo went to bed first...alone. Gabi held off making a move for the next three days. She thought if she gave him some space, his sex drive would kick in on its own. She knew Ricardo too well…he had an insatiable appetite for her and he wouldn’t be able to resist much longer. Gabi had felt his hands on her last night in bed and she waited for him to take it further, but when she rolled over she found he had only grabbed her in his sleep. She attempted to rouse him, but he was too deep asleep and eventually she gave up. She tried to stay calm, but her window of opportunity was sliding shut. Ricardo had gone to the station for a few hours and he promised Gabi they would go out when he got home. It was Saturday and they were going to go out for dinner. Gabi got dressed up in a sexy skirt and blouse, fixing her hair the way he liked it. She would make sure he wouldn’t be able to resist her when they got home. She was lying on the bed reading a magazine when he came in the door. "Hi," she called out happily. "I’m glad you’re home." "Hey," he replied flatly. He walked to the closet and turned over his shoulder. "We won’t be able to go out tonight, Gab. Chief’s sending me out of town for a few days." "What?" Gabi’s voice was high and squeaky. "Where...for how long?" No, she thought, this was definitely not good. "To San Francisco, until Friday." Ricardo pulled out his suitcase and began packing. "Ricardo," she climbed off the bed. "Why do you have to go? Can’t someone else go?" "What’s the problem, Gab?" Ricardo was getting frustrated with her. "Chief asked me to go and I’m going." "Well, do you have to go tonight?" Ricardo looked at her with a questionable glance. Gabi bit her lip and stepped closer to him. "Can’t you leave in the morning?" She slid her arms around his waist. Ricardo knew what she was up to and thought a little teasing might be a lot of fun. He leaned over and touched his lips tenderly to hers. Gabi grabbed onto his waist as he pulled her into his arms. Gabi’s heart beat faster as Ricardo deepened their kiss. Finally she was going to get him to bed, but she was going to let him take the lead. Ricardo stepped backward slowly moving Gabi to the bed. She pulled his shirt up out of his pants and tugged open the buttons. Ricardo’s warm, strong hands slid under her shirt and caressed her middle. Gabi reached for his belt buckle and began to undo it when his pager began beeping wildly. Right on time, Ricardo thought. He pulled himself away from Gabi and checked his pager. "Damn, Gab," he said with disappointment. "It’s the station…the Chief and I are going to ride together to San Francisco and he said he’d page me when he was on his way." Ricardo stepped back and began to button his shirt. "I’m sorry." He leaned forward and kissed her on the nose. "We’ll have to finish this when I get back." Gabi stood with her mouth open and her hopes dashed. She couldn’t believe she had come this close and now he was packing his suitcase again. Her plan was ruined. Ricardo would be gone for five days and she was already almost four weeks pregnant. By the time he got back she would be five weeks and she would never be able to convince him that their baby would be born perfectly healthy - a full five weeks early. Gabi turned away from him as tears filled her eyes. She took a deep breath as she realized that it was over. She stared out the window as Ricardo finished packing. The Chief knocked on the door and Ricardo walked up behind Gabi. "I’ll call you tomorrow." He leaned against her back and kissed her cheek seeing the tears in her eyes. He paused for a moment, surprised by her reaction. "I love you." He said it with feeling and he meant it. Ricardo could see that Gabi was truly upset that he was leaving and that they hadn’t been able to make love. He could tell when she kissed him that she really wanted to make love and now he felt guilty for his behavior over the last week. "I have to go, Gabi." Gabi shook her head and turned to face him. "Good bye," she said in a soft tone. Ricardo watched a tear roll down her cheek. Maybe he had been wrong about her motives all along. He touched her cheek softly and headed to the door. Gabi watched him leave before she collapsed onto the bed. Brilliant, she scolded herself. Now what? THE MISSION Gabi entered the front door of the Mission and walked quietly into the chapel. She stood before the Virgin Mary and prayed that her decision be the right one. She had no choice now. Gabi dipped her head reverently before she turned and made her way back down the aisle. "Gabi, hello." Sister Betrille’s voice chirped from the door. "How are you dear?" "I’m fine, Sister. Thank you." Gabi smiled shyly at the kindly nun. "Have you seen Father Antonio? I need to speak to him." "Oh," her voice grew somber. "He is visiting another Mission for the day. I don’t expect him back until very late." Gabi’s heart sank. She really needed to see him before she lost her nerve. "Oh, okay." She looked around the chapel. "Well, I think I will just sit here for awhile, if that’s okay?" "Of course my child," Sister replied. "I’ll tell Father Antonio that you were here." "Thank you." Gabi watched Sister Betrille leave and then turned around to face the altar. Her heart was heavy as she felt the tears welling up once again. Antonio was so happy here, as a priest. His parishioners counted on him for advice and guidance. The young people in the parish found him understanding and easy to talk to. The priesthood was his calling and he had made it his priority to be the best priest he could be. She couldn’t take that away from him. Gabi hung her head as she turned and walked back into the vestibule. She started to leave when she realized she couldn’t. She had to see Antonio as soon as he returned. He had a right to know...her decision affected him, too. The night she stayed with him, Antonio had taken her out a back hallway. Gabi slipped out the front doors and around to the back of the Mission. She found the door and was relieved it was unlocked. Gabi made her way down the hall to Antonio’s room. She pushed the door open and went inside. Closing the door quietly behind her, her eyes fell immediately to Antonio’s bed - the bed in which their child had been conceived. She closed her eyes and recalled how Antonio had carried her into his room soaking from the rain. How he lit the candles and she told him she hated him. How their lips met passionately and they took off each other’s clothes. How they made love tenderly that night and again in the morning. Gabi suddenly felt very tired. She stepped over to the bed and removed her shoes. Curling up on the bed, she nestled her head against Antonio’s pillow. The scent of him lingered from the previous night. She breathed it in deeply and closed her eyes. Before she knew it, she was fast asleep. Antonio was exhausted as he made his way from his office to his bedroom. He had just returned to the Mission and it was after midnight. He yawned as he reached for the doorknob. Pushing open the door, the light from the hallway shone in and he could see Gabi curled up asleep on his bed. His heart jumped as he scanned the hallway to make sure no one else was around. He walked inside and quickly closed the door behind him. Antonio knelt beside the bed and switched on the small lamp on his nightstand. Gabi looked like an angel holding on to his pillow tightly. He hated to wake her, but he needed to know why she was there. "Gabi," he whispered as he rubbed her cheek with his fingers. Her skin was soft and warm and it felt so good to touch. "Gabi." Gabi’s eyes opened slightly and a smile crossed her lips as she saw the love of her life kneeling by her side. "Hi," she said softly as she rolled onto her back. "Did you just get back?" "What are you doing here?" Antonio was speaking in a hushed tone in case anyone passed through the hallway. "I had to see you," she said as her smile faded. "Where’s Ricardo?" He had to ask since it was after midnight and Gabi had obviously been at the Mission for awhile. "Does he know you’re here?" Gabi shook her head no as she felt the tears filling her eyes. She willed herself to be strong, but her resolve was not cooperating. Antonio saw her eyes glistening and felt a wave of uneasiness. "Gabi? What’s wrong?" Gabi looked down as her lip began to tremble. Antonio was becoming very concerned and took her hand in his. Gabi raised her eyes to his and saw his worry and love for her. She reached out her hand and touched his cheek tenderly. Antonio’s heart began pounding wildly as the tears slipped down Gabi’s cheeks. "Gabi, you’re scaring me...please, tell me what’s going on?" His voice was begging her for an answer. "Antonio." Gabi took a deep breath and summoned all her courage. "I’m pregnant."
|