|
THE LOFT
Antonio gazed down at Gabi as his words registered with both her and Ricardo. He could see the unspoken questions in her eyes, but they would have to wait until the situation with Ricardo was diffused. Antonio pulled Gabi against him and looked back to Ricardo who was staring open-mouthed at him from across the room. "Really?" Ricardo spoke at last. "So, the Bishop kicked you out after seeing the tape I sent him?" Antonio closed his eyes and shook his head in total disbelief. Ricardo had sent the tape to the Bishop – not Francesca. Gabi clutched Antonio’s shirt as she whispered, "Antonio?" He hadn’t mentioned anything of this to her. Antonio opened his eyes and looked to Ricardo. "You sent the tape…Ricardo, how could you…" Antonio was shocked and spoke without thinking. "How could I…how could I!" Ricardo was shouting again. "Let’s just think about which one of us started this, Antonio." He was right - Antonio had started everything when he allowed himself to fall in love with Gabi. Ricardo stepped toward the two and Gabi moved slightly behind Antonio in fear. Ricardo picked up on it and moved in for the kill. "What’s it like, Gabi, to spend your whole life destroying other people’s lives?" "Ricardo," Antonio warned him. "Lying and manipulating people to get what you want…never caring about what effect your actions have on everyone else." Ricardo was staring her down angrily. "We’re leaving, Ricardo," Antonio said as he attempted to shield Gabi from Ricardo’s harsh words. "That’s enough." "And look what you’ve done to poor Antonio here," he motioned to his brother. "You’ve made him betray God and his brother, forced him from the church and now you’re trapping him with a baby." "Ricardo!" Antonio had reached his limit and his nerves were raw. "Enough." Gabi was sobbing again and she held Antonio’s arm for dear life. "Come on, Gabi." He directed her around toward the door. "I suppose you think the two of you are just gonna walk out that door and forget about me, get married and raise your baby together – be the perfect little family." Antonio and Gabi were ignoring him as they made their way outside. "It won’t happen, Gabi…you’re still my wife. I won’t let you go." Ricardo was shouting after them, waving his arms like a lunatic. "You’re still my wife!" Antonio held onto Gabi as they quickly descended the stairs. They heard glass breaking from inside the loft as Ricardo sent the vase with Antonio’s roses crashing to the floor. They walked in silence down the beach; both too upset to speak. THE INN AT SUNSET BEACH Antonio and Gabi approached the front desk of the hotel. They couldn’t stay at the Mission and Antonio wasn’t ready to tell Maria or his mother what had happened. Surf Central had too many people around. Antonio decided the best thing to do would be to get a room at the Inn. Gabi had stopped crying, but her face was stained with tears and her eyes were puffy. Antonio rested his arms against the counter as the clerk turned around. "Father Antonio," she chirped. Antonio recognized her as a teenage daughter of one of his parishioners. "Hi." "Hello Sarah," he replied politely, his heart twisted hearing her use his now former title. "How are you?" "Good, Father. What can I do for you?" She eyed Gabi, who had her back to the counter but was obviously with Antonio. He noticed Sarah’s curiosity and felt a slight uneasy. "I, uh, I need a room." Antonio reluctantly wished he had asked Gabi to wait in the lobby. He was afraid the young girl might get the wrong idea – and why wouldn’t she? No one knew he had left the priesthood. "Sure," she replied with a smile. "Single…or double?" Sarah raised her eyes suspiciously to Gabi. Gabi had turned slightly and caught the look from the girl. "Oh, uh," Antonio was trying to play it cool. "A double would be fine." Gabi heard the nervousness in his voice and decided to nonchalantly remove herself from the mix. Antonio saw her leave out of the corner of his eye. "Here you are Father," the clerk handed him the key. "Just take the elevator to the fifth floor and take a right. Room 530." "Thank you," Antonio smiled shyly at her and turned to leave. "Your welcome Father Antonio." Sarah leaned over the counter to see if they had any suitcases. "Hmmm, very interesting." She smirked and picked up the phone. Antonio met up with Gabi around the corner. She was leaning against the wall with her arms folded across her chest. "Sorry about that," Antonio dropped his eyes away from her. "She caught me off-guard. I didn’t know what to say." "It’s okay." Gabi reached out and touched his hand. "I just thought I would step away and make it a little less…uncomfortable for you." Antonio pushed the button for the elevator and took Gabi’s hand. They rode up to the fifth floor and found the room. Antonio opened the door as Gabi went inside and directly into the bathroom. Antonio closed and locked the door then headed over and slid open the patio doors opening the room up to the fresh ocean air. His jaw ached from Ricardo’s punch and he rubbed it gently. He was far more concerned about the blow Gabi had taken from the back of Ricardo’s hand. Gabi stood in the bathroom staring at herself in the mirror. She looked like she had been through the ringer…her eyes were red and puffy, her makeup completely washed away and a light bruise was beginning to form near the corner of her mouth. Ricardo’s words ran through her mind. Ruining every life she touched, manipulating and lying to people to get her way…it was all so sadly true. She had betrayed Ricardo’s love and trust, enticed Antonio into breaking his vows and ruining his relationship with his brother, and now, she had single handedly destroyed Antonio’s family and taken him away from the church. It all hit her at once and she began to cry. Antonio knocked softly on the door when he heard Gabi sobbing. "Gabi, are you okay?" She didn’t answer. "I’m coming in." Antonio pushed open the door to find Gabi sitting on the floor hugging her knees to her chest. "Gabi," his voice was calm and soothing as he leaned over her and picked her up into his arms. Gabi rested her head against his chest as he carried her out to the bed. "Shh," he instructed softly as he set her down and pulled back the covers. "You’re exhausted…here, lie back." Gabi obeyed and slid her legs under the sheet. Antonio pulled the covers over her and pushed her hair back. His fingers grazed the side of her mouth "Does it hurt?" Gabi shook her head no. He started to turn away from the bed when her hand frantically grabbed onto his arm. "No, don’t leave me." Antonio smiled and sat down on the side of the bed wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "I’m sorry," she said between sniffles. "For what?" he replied. "That Ricardo came home and found us…together." Gabi’s dark eyes glistened as she looked up at Antonio. "I can’t believe he knew about us all along." "I know," Antonio sighed. "I don’t understand why he didn’t say something before." Antonio felt that familiar guilt wash over him. "We should have told him from the very beginning." "But we didn’t, Antonio." Gabi dropped her eyes. "And now everything is completely out of control." Antonio kissed the top of her head. "When were you going to tell me?" she pulled her head back. "I wanted to surprise you," he smiled softly. "Surprise!" His joke was weak, but Gabi chuckled in amusement. Her face grew suddenly serious and Antonio raised her chin with his finger. "What?" "Why did you leave Antonio?" She had to know and she hoped he would tell her the truth. "Did they ask you to…because of the tape? And why didn’t you tell me about that?" "I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to get upset." Antonio had always put Gabi’s feelings before his own. "You didn’t need to know about it and it never occurred to me that Ricardo was the one who sent it. I assumed Francesca must have arranged it before she was killed." He looked at Gabi and she raised an eyebrow waiting for the more important answer. Antonio took her hand in his. "They didn’t ask me to leave. I told them I wanted to…because I love you." "Is that enough, Antonio, to love me?" Gabi’s voice barely got out the words. Antonio sat up and looked directly into her eyes. "Yes," he said without hesitation. "I love you more than anything, Gabi. I always have and I always will." "What about the church and your commitment to God?" Gabi dropped her eyes. "I took you away from that." "No," he reprimanded her gently. "I made my own decision…with my whole heart I know this is the right thing." "Antonio," she took a deep breath. "What if I weren’t pregnant?" She raised her eyes. "If there were no baby, would you still leave the church for me?" Antonio swallowed hard, his deep, dark eyes drawing Gabi inside his soul. "I love you, Gabi. I tried to convince myself that I could live without you…that being a priest was more important to me than you." He blinked and Gabi could see his eyes full with tears. "I believe that you find one soul mate in your lifetime and you’re mine. The church filled a void for me after Maria disappeared and I will always be thankful for that. But now, my life is moving in a different direction…our lives, Gabi." Gabi touched his cheek with her hand and ran her thumb across his cheekbone. "I couldn’t let you go, even after you were with Ricardo. I needed to keep you in my life…as wrong as it was." He looked away from her for a second. "Being with you when you were married to Ricardo was wrong, and we both have to admit that. I will always regret the pain we’ve caused him…I don’t know if he will ever forgive us. But I love you and you love me." Antonio put his hand against Gabi’s stomach. "And I don’t regret that we are going to be a family. I never will, I promise you that." Gabi felt the tears slipping down her cheeks as Antonio leaned over and kissed her tenderly. "I love you, too," she murmured as he held her close, her head against his heart. "I want you to get some sleep," he laid her back against the pillow. "It’s been a rough night. Are you sure you’re okay?" He rubbed his hand over her stomach with a gentle smile. She nodded yes and nestled her head into the pillow. Antonio stroked her hair softly until she fell asleep. Even after all they had been through, he wasn’t ready to sleep. He was worried about Ricardo…finding Antonio in bed with Gabi had been a terrible shock, even though Ricardo had known about them all along. Ricardo’s temper had gotten the best of him many times and tonight had been no exception. Antonio walked out to the small balcony overlooking the water. He glanced over his shoulder to see Gabi sleeping peacefully. Their lives were about to get even more complicated and the road ahead would be difficult, at best. Gabi was married to Ricardo and he had vowed he wouldn’t give her up. Antonio sighed heavily as the reality of it all set in. Now that he had made his decision to be with her, forever, would he get the chance? They had a baby coming and although Gabi’s last name was Torres, it wasn’t with him. His mother had always been against Gabi and Ricardo and when she found out Antonio left the church to be with her and that Gabi was pregnant, Antonio shuddered to think what hell would break loose. His head began to ache and he admitted his body was just as tired. Switching off the light and removing his clothes, he climbed into bed next to Gabi and took her in his arms. She snuggled herself against him with a sweet sigh as Antonio kissed her head. Their future started with the sun and Antonio was almost positive tomorrow wasn’t going to be a good day.
|