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Ricardo pushed open the door to Gabi’s room. Gabi was lying in the hospital bed with her eyes closed. Her left arm was bandaged and Ricardo could see a bruise forming above her right eye. Antonio stepped into the room behind Ricardo. He felt a pang of hurt when he saw Gabi lying bruised and bandaged in the bed.
"I can’t believe she didn’t tell me," Ricardo said with profound disbelief. Gabi stirred upon hearing their voices. Her head pounded as she opened her eyes to focus on their faces. "Ricardo...Antonio," she spoke very softly. Ricardo rushed over to her side, taking her hand in his. "I’m here, baby." He couldn’t help grinning at the word. "How do you feel?" Gabi tried to sit up but winced at the pain she felt. "No, no. Lie back down. You need to rest." Ricardo said reassuringly. Antonio walked slowly to the foot of Gabi’s bed. Gabi looked up into his deep, brown eyes and saw a strange look that she couldn’t quite read. "Gabi, what were you thinking driving on a night like this? I can’t believe you would be so careless now." Ricardo hesitated. "Now, what do you mean?" Gabi asked. Ricardo was smiling from ear to ear. Gabi looked to Antonio who was now staring at the floor. "Gabi, Tyus told me." Ricardo said sheepishly. Gabi felt a hot flush of her skin. This wasn’t supposed to happen...they were never supposed to know. Gabi watched Antonio’s face trying to read his reaction. He wouldn’t raise his eyes to meet hers. Of course, she thought, he thinks it’s Ricardo’s. Gabi felt the tears stinging her eyes. Ricardo sat down on the side of Gabi’s bed. He put his hand under her chin and lifted her face. "Gabi," he spoke softly. "I know we are going to have a baby. Why didn’t you tell me, baby? Did you think I would be upset with you? How could you think that?" Gabi didn’t know what to say...her heart was sinking as she felt Antonio’s eyes on her and Ricardo. She glanced to Antonio and instantly saw the look in his eyes...it spoke volumes. "Gabi, I love you. I can’t believe this is why you left the wedding. Honey, I know we talked about waiting a while, but you have to know that I want this baby." Ricardo placed his hand on Gabi’s stomach and a chill ran up her spine. "I want this baby more than anything. I don’t know why you thought I wouldn’t." Gabi closed her eyes, wishing Ricardo would just stop talking. She felt Antonio’s pain...it ripped through her heart, too. She wanted to say something, anything to make Ricardo stop. "Gabi," Ricardo continued. "I don’t know why you thought you had to leave our wedding because of this." He smiled at her gently. "Don’t you know how much I love you and how much I will love this child…our child, Gabi. Our child. This baby that we created because we love each other so much." Ricardo was looking down at Gabi’s stomach so she turned her eyes to Antonio. She could see his eyes filling with tears. She knew it was killing him to hear Ricardo say these things about her. She knew Antonio still loved her. She knew it with all her heart. "Gabi, as soon as you’re better, as soon as you get outta here, I want us to get married. Antonio can do the honors again, right T." He didn’t give Antonio the chance to answer. "I want to marry you right away, Gab. We have so much to do to get ready for our baby." Gabi closed her eyes tightly trying to shut out Ricardo’s voice. He won’t stop talking...why won’t he stop talking, her head was screaming. "And then we need to figure out where the little guy...or girl...is gonna sleep cause there isn’t much room at the loft. I know, maybe we can take a look at those..." Gabi felt her blood pressure soaring. She couldn’t take anymore ... she just couldn’t take another word. "It’s not yours, Ricardo," she spat the words at him. Ricardo stopped dead in his tracks. Antonio’s head snapped up to Gabi’s eyes. The room was completely silent for what seemed an eternity. Gabi couldn’t breathe as she waited for a response from either one of them. Ricardo’s eyes glazed over with fury. He ripped his hand off of Gabi’s stomach which startled Gabi. "What do you mean the baby’s not mine?" Ricardo spoke venemously. Things started spinning through Antonio’s mind. Tyus had said Gabi was three months pregnant...three months...the cave-in...three months. Antonio looked at Gabi in complete shock. No, it can’t be...no. Gabi was staring at Ricardo with a blank expression. "Gabi, answer me!" Ricardo’s voice was growing louder and angrier. Gabi was so frightened by the hateful look in his eyes, she couldn’t make her lips move. Antonio was watching Ricardo as Gabi was searching for something to say. "I said, the baby isn’t yours," she managed to say in a whisper. Ricardo jumped off the bed and began to pace furiously with his hand to his temple. Antonio glanced quickly to Gabi with a questioned look in his eyes. Gabi wouldn’t look at Antonio, she never took her eyes off Ricardo. Ricardo stopped next to the nightstand. He was looking at the ceiling with his hands on his hips. "Ricardo..." Gabi began quietly. Ricardo whipped around to face Gabi and threw the lamp off the nightstand sending it crashing to the floor. Gabi jumped noticeably in the bed. Antonio sensed Gabi’s fear and stepped towards Ricardo. "Ricardo, take it easy." Ricardo glared at his brother. "Get out of here, T. I need to speak with Gabi." "But Ricardo...I" Antonio didn’t want to leave them alone. "OUT!" Ricardo shot a mean eye at his brother. Antonio looked back to Gabi seeing the tears fill her eyes. She shook her head yes slowly. Antonio gave her a worried look. "It’s okay, Antonio," she said choking back her emotions. Antonio reluctantly walked to the door. He turned around to find Ricardo staring out the window and Gabi looking down with her hands folded in front of her. He didn’t want to leave…this involved him, too. He couldn’t leave Gabi to face Ricardo alone. "Leave, Antonio." Ricardo called without looking back. Antonio stepped out into the hall and stood next to the door, just out of sight.
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