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BEN & MARIA’S
Gabi stood at the patio doors listening to the thunder rumble out over the water. She turned to find Ricardo’s head bobbling forward as he sat in his chair, the empty glass of juice on the table in front of him. Finally, she thought as she walked over to him. "You look tired, Ricardo. Why don’t we get you to bed?" She wheeled him into the bedroom, his body like dead weight against her as she helped him into bed. He mumbled something incoherent as his head flopped back against the pillow. For a moment, Gabi was afraid maybe three pills were too many, but she had to be sure he would be completely knocked out. She covered him up with the blanket and returned to the living room. "Ricardo and I are going to bed," she reported to Maria. "We’ll see you in the morning." "It should be a good night to sleep," Maria replied. "They said on the news there’s a big storm coming." "Good night," Gabi said quickly as she returned to the bedroom. Ricardo was in an acute state of unconscious from the medication. Gabi turned off the light and walked through the patio doors. A flash of lightning illuminated the sky as she closed the doors silently behind her. Her chest reverberated from the loud crash of thunder that followed. She searched inside to make sure Ricardo was still out before she turned and started for the Mission. THE MISSION Antonio stood at the window observing the lightning and heeding the approaching storm. Father O’Brien was out of town for the weekend and the Mission was deserted except for Antonio. He gathered some candles and matches in case they lost power later. The news report had said Sunset Beach was expecting a dangerous storm. Antonio secured every window and door in the rectory and the church. The wind howled outside blowing the branches rhythmically against the glass. He returned to his office just as the small room lit up from a flash of lightning. Antonio sat down behind his desk as he began toiling on some Mission business. He was deep in solicitude when he thought he heard restrained footsteps in the hall. He elevated his head and listened for a moment, then returned to his papers when he didn’t hear anything more. Gabi stood silently in the doorway. Antonio was working diligently on the task before him and didn’t hear her arrive. She watched him for a few seconds before she spoke. "Antonio?" she called out as she entered his office. Antonio raised his head with a jerk as his heart hammered in his chest. "Oh my...Gabi," he said as he reclined in his chair. "You scared me half to…" he gazed directly at her. "What are you doing here?" "We need to talk," she said mildly as she walked close to his desk. She stared into his eyes searching for some inkling of his reaction to seeing her. He braced himself for the conversation he anticipated. "We don’t have anything to talk about, Gabi," he said simply as he rose from his chair. They stood facing each other only a few feet apart. "I think we do," Gabi said boldly, not breaking his gaze. "I need to know what happened ... with us." "You married Ricardo, Gabi," he insisted flatly. "That’s what happened." Gabi felt his declaration dig into her heart. "Antonio, we agreed..." she began as a deafening crash of thunder shook the foundation of the Mission. "Gabi," he interrupted her. "I know, there’s nothing more to say about it. I think you should head back home before the storm starts." He walked past her to the door but she didn’t follow him. "Gabi?" he uttered impatiently as he held the door for her. "I’m not leaving until you talk to me." Her determination was one thing he had always found so irresistible about her. She crossed her arms in front of her and leaned against his desk in an act of defiance. Antonio slammed the door and leaned against it with his hand. "I mean it, Gabi. There’s nothing to talk about." He directed his eyes to her. "It’s over." "It’s not over, Antonio," she challenged him. "I don’t believe you." Antonio was becoming frustrated. It was almost impossible for him to lie to her. "Gabi...you’re married to my brother and I am a priest. I don’t know what could need explaining. I told you there’s nothing else to say." He held his ground. "Except that you love me," Gabi spoke quietly, her dark eyes glistening. "I..." his voice faltered. "I love God and the church, Gabi. You have always known that." "You love me, Antonio." Gabi slid off his desk and moved toward him. "I know that you still love me." She extended her hand to him and Antonio raised his eyes slowly. "Tell me you love me." Antonio was having a hard time maintaining his composure with Gabi in such close proximity. It was so much easier to convince himself that he didn’t love her when he wasn’t looking into her eyes. "Gabi…no," he said sternly as he backed away from her. "I think you should go." The hurt in her eyes was more than he could endure. She stepped away from him as the rain began to pound fiercely against the window. A tear slipped down her cheek as she challenged him once more. "You still love me," she spoke haltingly as if trying to persuade him. Antonio looked at the floor so she wouldn’t see the truth. "No, Gabi," he shook his head deliberately as the lightning flashed outside. "I don’t." He managed to take a quick breath. "Let me drive you home." He started for the desk to find his keys. "It’s really pouring…" He heard the door hit the wall and turned quickly to find Gabi gone from the room. He could hear her sobbing as she ran down the hall of the rectory. His heart was breaking…he had to go after her. He bolted from the room and departed down the maze of hallways. The thunder crashed loudly as he called after her. Gabi heard him behind her but refused to slow down. She reached the front door and yanked it open. The powerful wind and intense rain assaulted her. She took a deep breath and stepped out into the storm. The wind almost knocked her off her feet and the rain drenched her instantly. She stopped to get her bearings when she heard Antonio calling her from just inside the door. Antonio could see Gabi standing in the downpour. He called her name and she took off toward the beach. "Gabi!" he yelled into the wind as he ducked his head and headed after her. Lightning flashed wickedly across the sky and the thunder rumbled ferociously. Gabi ran as fast as she could across the beach, her heart pounding and her legs feeling like they were about to buckle underneath her. Antonio could hardly see Gabi only a few feet ahead of him. His long, sturdy strides caught him up to her in a hurry as he stretched his hand out and grabbed her shoulder. He accidentally knocked her to the sand and stumbled over her, falling to the ground beside her. Gabi scrambled to her feet but Antonio was already upright and seized her squarely by the shoulders. "Gabi, let me take you home." He was shouting at her to be heard over the raging storm. "Let me go," she demanded as she fought to release herself from his grasp. "I hate you, Antonio." Her words tore through him as the countenance on his face drained completely away. She stopped struggling with him and hung her arms limply at her sides. Gabi’s bottom lip began to quiver as she stared into his deep, dark eyes. "I hate you," she spat venomously as the tears rolled freely from her eyes. Antonio shook his head slowly as he searched her soul with his eyes. "No," he whispered as his own eyes stung with tears. "No." Gabi balled up her fists and started swinging against his solid chest. "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you," she sobbed as she flailed her arms wildly. Antonio dropped his arms and stood before her accepting his punishment. He deserved it for lying to her and making her believe he didn’t love her. He had turned her away and broken her heart. She would never forgive him for that. "I hate you," she screamed one last time before she slumped against him and fell to the sand taking him down with her. Antonio wrapped his arms around her as her body wracked with sobs. He held her tightly as tears began to fall from his own eyes. The rain assailed them as they huddled together on the beach. Fearing they might get hurt somehow, Antonio stood and lifted Gabi into his arms. She slipped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his chest. Putting his head down to shield his face from the rain, Antonio carried her back to the Mission, running through the storm. He pushed the heavy door open and entered the building, closing the door with his foot. The electricity had been knocked out and the inside of the Mission was completely dark. He carefully maneuvered the halls back to his office to find the candles. Supporting Gabi with one arm, he retrieved the candles and matches from his desk. He exited his office and headed to his modest room at the back of the Mission. Gabi held him tightly never lifting her head from his chest. "Hold on," he murmured quietly as he hurried down the hall. He had made his way through the building so often, he knew the way well. Entering the room, he set Gabi down gently and proceeded to light the candles. The flickering glow brightened the small confines enough for him to see Gabi’s pained expression. He moved hesitantly towards her as she stood trembling. Gabi was still crying as Antonio took her hands in his bringing her knuckles to his lips. "I hate you," she whispered as he kissed her fingers. His eyes bore into hers, as he shook his head no softly. "I…hate…you," her voice was growing softer. Antonio stepped within inches of her. His lips parted slightly and his voice was shaking. "No," he said quietly as a tear slid from his eye. Gabi clenched her jaw as she made a futile attempt to repeat herself. "I...ha." Antonio’s lips met hers with an intensity she had never felt before. His hand slipped behind her head as he twisted his fingers in her wet hair. Gabi’s breath caught as he tilted her head back and pushed his lips aggressively against her neck. His tongue grazed over her throat, as he tasted the rain that soaked her. Gabi’s hands clutched the sides of his shirt in a desperate effort to keep herself upright. His passion was uncontrollable and she could feel her anger dissolving. She pulled the hem of his shirt out of his pants as her fingers feverishly sought out his buttons. Her hands made their way to the top of his shirt when he pulled his lips quickly away from her. His breathing was accelerated and uneven as he ran his tongue over his swollen bottom lip. Their eyes never left each other’s as his fingers deftly slipped his clerical collar from his shirt and laid it on the dresser. Antonio took the bottom of Gabi’s shirt and gently pushed it up over her head. She lifted her arms as he slipped it off tossing it in a wet heap to the floor. She swallowed hard as his eyes fell to her bra. He leaned forward and touched his lips softly to her breast just above the silk. Gabi pushed his shirt off his shoulders as he slipped her bra strap off with his thumb. His fingers found the front clasp and snapped it open releasing her breasts into his eager hands. Gabi moaned softly as the warmth of his hands made her wet skin tingle. Antonio parted her lips with his as his tongue slipped into her mouth. Their kiss was deep and sent goosebumps all over Gabi’s body. Antonio tugged her skirt off her hips and slid his fingers into the waist of her underwear. Gabi unbuckled his belt and hastily lowered his zipper. Her hand found him as she pushed his pants to the floor. Antonio stepped out of his trousers as he bent over and swept Gabi up into his arms. He carried her back to his small bed and lowered her on to it gently. Gabi settled back into the pillow as Antonio climbed carefully on top of her. The storm raged outside the window, as their desire grew more intense. They kissed each other deeply and passionately; they wanted each other so badly. Their hands roamed over one another frantically. Antonio entwined their fingers and pushed Gabi’s hand up over her head. She cried out his name as his body joined with hers. She tasted the salty sweat on his chest as he moved himself slowly inside of her. He whispered her name over and over as his lips danced over her breasts. Gabi opened her eyes to find Antonio supporting himself with his arms watching her as he made love to her. Their eyes locked as Antonio’s rhythm increased. Gabi bit her lip as she ran her hands over his chest. Antonio deepened his movements as he sensed Gabi was about to lose control. He allowed himself the same pleasure as they cried out simultaneously, Gabi’s fingers digging into his muscular back as his body convulsed in ecstasy. Tears slipped from Gabi’s eyes as Antonio rolled himself off her and slid his arm around her. Antonio fought to catch his breath as he pushed Gabi’s wet hair off her face. She draped her arm and leg over him as he covered them with the sheet. Gabi traced his chest lightly with her finger as he raked his fingers gently across her back. The rain pounded the window as the candlelight flickered from the draft that blew softly through the room. Gabi raised her head to look into his eyes. Her eyes spoke the question her lips were too scared to ask. Antonio smiled softly as he put his thumb under her chin. "Yes," he whispered his voice raspy and raw. "I love you." Gabi stretched up to touch her lips to his. She pulled back and his thumb swiped the tears that fell from her eye. "I love you, too," she murmured as her lip trembled. Antonio brushed his lips tenderly against her forehead as she lay her head against his chest. "I know," he said as he stroked her hair softly. "I know." Gabi closed her eyes and held him tightly as his eyes rose to the crucifix on the wall. He took a deep breath as he realized that he had just made love to Gabi, his brother’s wife, in his room at the Mission, the place he served as a priest. Antonio lay silently staring at the ceiling as Gabi slept peacefully in his arms. He dreaded the coming day…
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