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THE LOFT
Gabi closed the door with a loud sigh. Her first day back at work had been exhausting and yet promising. Her lunch with Ricardo left her feeling happy and optimistic about her future with Antonio. An annulment would be just the right way to end her marriage to Ricardo so she could eventually be married to Antonio. The smile on her face faded fast when she saw Antonio sitting pensively at the table. "Hi," she said softly to his dark expression. "How was your day?" "Interesting," he said flatly without looking up. "Are you hungry? I was just going to," she began as she rummaged through the kitchen. "Who’s Father Antonio?" Gabi froze as his question reached her ears. She turned around slowly and found him awaiting her response. "How do you know about Father Antonio?" She didn’t want to say anything she shouldn’t so she wanted to gauge his knowledge first. "I went for a walk today and a woman grabbed my arm calling me Father Antonio…from St. Joseph’s." Antonio stood from the table. "Why would she think I was a priest, Gabi?" Gabi leaned against the counter and tried desperately to convince herself to lie to him. Antonio walked up behind her stopping close enough for her to feel his presence but not quite touching her. "Gabi?" he queried. "I, uh…" she fumbled and closed her eyes tightly. "You must just resemble him." "Gabi," he groaned. "Don’t you find it odd that I would resemble a priest with the same name as me? I find that a little…I don’t know, ironic." "I guess so," she said casually hoping he wouldn’t push the issue. "Stranger things have happened, Antonio." "Well, maybe you can tell me why there are no photographs of you and I together in this house." He was challenging her cautiously. When she didn’t answer, he continued. "You mean to tell me we have no wedding photos…no pictures from when we were dating or engaged? And no pictured more recent than five years ago – my sister’s wedding?" Gabi turned around to face him and a tear slid from her eye. Antonio could see she was upset and regretted that he was causing it, but he had to know. "I don’t mean to upset you, Gabi, but I was searching for anything…" "You aren’t supposed to be searching," she blurted out. "I mean, the doctor said you should let it happen naturally. Remember?" She immediately regretted the word she chose as Antonio walked away from her and tore open the door. He stepped onto the porch and walked to the edge of the railing. Gabi came out behind him slowly and touched her hand to his back. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that." "Remember," he huffed with a laugh. "That’s just the problem, Gabi. I can’t remember." With a rough swipe of his arm he sent a planter crashing off the balcony onto the pavement below. "I can’t remember!" Antonio pushed past Gabi and ran down the stairs. Gabi called after him but he ignored her and walked away quickly. "He was asking questions," she said in a panic gripping the receiver tightly. "I didn’t know what to say." "It’s okay, Gabi," Ricardo hushed her with his tone. "I’m sure he’ll be back soon. It’s getting pretty late." Antonio had been gone for almost three hours and Gabi was worried. "Do you want me to go look for him?" "I don’t have a clue where he is," she said sadly. "I’m worried." "I’m gonna take a walk and see if I can find him." Ricardo checked his watch. "You try and relax and I’ll either call you back or I’ll be over there." "Okay," she took a deep breath and smiled. "Thank you." She hung up and nervously walked out onto the patio. She held her arms across her chest as the warm evening breeze blew through her hair. "Where are you?" she mumbled quietly as she searched the night sky with her eyes. Ricardo made his way down the long pier to the hunched figure sitting on the furthest bench. Even with his head buried in his hands, Ricardo knew it was his brother. Stepping up quietly beside him, Ricardo placed his hand on Antonio’s shoulder. "Hey," Antonio looked up with a start. "Oh, Ricardo." His expression was tired and confused as he gazed wearily at his brother. "What are you doing here?" "Gabi called me," Ricardo said as he took a seat on the bench. "Are you okay?" Antonio stared out on the water as the full moon reflected from its surface. "No." Ricardo’s heart went out to Antonio…he couldn’t imagine what it must be like. He wanted so badly to tell Antonio the whole story of his life to help him, but giving him the details wouldn’t help him remember, it would only be a script. "Were we close, Ricardo?" Antonio turned to his brother with a questioning look. "Have we always been?" Ricardo studied his brother’s face and saw that he needed answers. He needed the truth. "We’ve had our moments," he admitted. "You know how…" he paused awkwardly. "I mean." "It’s okay…you mean how brothers fight and then get along." Antonio smiled as Ricardo nodded. "What about Gabi?" he ventured noticing Ricardo tense at his question. "What about Gabi?" he sat back and raked his fingers through his hair. "I don’t know," Antonio sighed. "Just tell me about her…she seems so wonderful, so caring…what does she see in a guy like me? What kind of guy am I for that matter?" Ricardo’s heart broke listening to Antonio wonder so deeply about his life. "She sees in you what we all do," he took a deep breath. "You’re a sensitive, emotional person who gives himself completely to anyone who needs you. You would never turn your back on a friend and you would bend over backwards for the people you love." Antonio was embarrassed by Ricardo’s accolades. "Come on." "Really," Ricardo said strongly. "You’re the most generous person I know, Antonio." Antonio raised his eyes to Ricardo. "So, if you like me so much, what did we used to fight about?" Ricardo couldn’t help but be brutally honest. "Gabi." "Gabi?" Antonio cocked his head in confusion. "What do you mean…you don’t like her?" Ricardo let out a laugh. "Just the opposite." He turned to find Antonio wide-eyed in amazement. "You heard me," he nudged Antonio with his eyes. "You…you mean you like her." Antonio needed clarification. "Is that what you mean?" "I mean," Ricardo started with a sigh. "I mean that Gabi and I…well, we used to…" Antonio’s eyes were begging for the answer. "I mean that I was in love with her." Astonished by Ricardo’s admission, Antonio’s eyes fell the gold wedding band on his finger. "And how did she and I end up together?" There was a long pause until he spoke. "She loved you more," Ricardo said as he dropped his head. "I loved her, but she loved you." The brothers sat in silence for awhile, Antonio staring at the ocean and Ricardo staring at the floor of the pier. "I had no idea," Antonio said quietly. "Yeah, I know," Ricardo smirked as he punched Antonio in the arm. Antonio turned his head and laughed at his brother. "She’s pretty worried about you now…you should probably get back…home." "So, you’re okay with me and Gabi now though, right?" Antonio watched as Ricardo stood up. "I mean, since we’re married." "Yeah," he answered noncommittally. "But you may not be for long if you don’t get your butt back home." Antonio rose from his seat and they walked together off the pier. Ricardo bid him goodnight and watched as Antonio made his way up the beach and back to Gabi. THE LOFT Gabi had finally dozed off into a fitful sleep, the developing child in her womb sapping her last ounce of energy. Antonio opened the door quietly and slipped inside. He neared the bed and gazed adoringly at the woman curled up in a ball clutching his pillow. His wife…the woman that had chosen him over his brother. He stood silently at the end of the bed. Gabi felt a presence in the room and sat up with a tremendous start. "Ahh," she called out as her heart jumped into her throat at the sight of the figure in the darkness. "It’s okay, Gabi," Antonio said, startled himself by her reaction. "It’s just me." Gabi leapt off the bed and threw herself into his arms. Surprised by her embrace, Antonio deftly slipped his arms around her waist and nuzzled his nose into the side of her neck. Her skin was soft and smelled like warmed peaches. "Oh, Antonio," she interrupted his pleasure by holding him at arm’s length. "I was so worried about you when you left. Are you alright? Where did you go?" "I’m fine, Gabi," he interrupted her gently. "I’m sorry I left so abruptly. It was a bad day and I just needed to think." His strong hands rested against her slightly rounded hips and her hands gripped the corners of his shoulders. "Actually, Ricardo found me on the pier." His eyes searched hers from some reaction. "We talked for awhile and then I came home." Gabi’s eyes darted back and forth across his face. "Don’t leave me like that again, okay? She scolded him like a child who had disappeared in a crowded store. "Ever." Gabi’s dark eyes glistened with tears as she pulled herself against his chest and wrapped her arms under his and around his back. The scent of her hair was intoxicating and the feel of her hands caressing his back slowly teased all his senses. Gabi could hear his heart thumping against her ear as she closed her eyes and lost herself in his strong embrace. Antonio’s hands instinctively moved up her torso as he cupped her face. She pulled herself back enough to look up into his deep eyes feeling her own pulse quicken from his touch. Bringing his mouth down on hers, Antonio’s warm lips enveloped hers in a sensual, tender kiss. A small breath escaped her as she parted her lips and invited him into her mouth. Antonio slid his tongue delicately across the threshold and began exploring her sweetness. Gabi’s hands drew up his chest and sought out the buttons of his shirt. She wanted him so badly that she had to restrain from tearing his shirt off immediately. As her fingers slipped open his buttons, Antonio lowered his hands to the bottom of her t-shirt and slid it up just over her hips. His firm grasp on her waist sent a shiver of anticipation up her spine. Antonio’s thumb slipped inside the waistband and slid her panties off slowly, following them teasingly down the outside of her thighs with his fingers. Gabi moaned in pleasure as his hands returned up her body and slipped easily inside of her shirt. She wrestled his shirt off his muscular shoulders and down over his arms. Their kiss intensified as her hands sought out the waist of his pants. Antonio devoured her with fierce shyness as Gabi teased him hungrily into a deeper kiss. Approaching a place from which he did not want to return, he forced himself to pull back, his voice hoarse and his breathing rugged. "Do you want me to stop?" Gabi wrapped her hand around the back of his head and coaxed his mouth back down to hers. Her hand curved around the back of his neck and began sensually stroking his nape. A deep groan escaped him as she slid her free hand over the fly of his pants, answering his question with her gesture. Antonio wanted her, he needed her and allowing himself to have her was all the he could imagine. Picking her up into his arms, he carried her around the side of the bed and gently laid her against the sheets. Gabi pulled her t-shirt over her head revealing her entire self to him as he shed his pants and boxer shorts to the floor and lowered himself carefully onto her. Their eyes locked passionately as he brought his mouth down to within inches of hers. "I love you," he whispered softly, his warm breath fanning her lips. Gabi smiled at hearing him speak those words; words she hadn’t heard since the morning of his accident. Her hand traced the outline of his jaw and she trailed her finger across his swollen lips. "I love you, too," she said almost inaudibly as a bittersweet tear slipped from her eye. Antonio caught it with his thumb as he brushed his lips against hers softly and began to make love to his wife.
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