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Gabi smiled shyly at Ricardo as the waiter refilled her wine glass. She had to admit she was enjoying herself. The wine was relaxing her and Ricardo was making her laugh with silly one-liners from the boys at the station. It had been a long time since she had smiled, too long.
"So I told him, no way! If you want to lose your badge, Spence, that’s your problem." Ricardo shook his head with astonishment. "I can’t believe he is so crazy." "I know, he never ceases to amaze me," Gabi smiled. "It’s good to see you smile, Gab." Ricardo said softly, his dark eyes staring at her deeply. Gabi dipped her head, "Thank you, Ricardo. I’m having a nice time." Ricardo felt a rush seeing the way Gabi was responding to him. He was getting through to her and he knew it. "So, Gabi? How’s Antonio’s job going?" He broached the subject with his usual casualness. "Fine." Gabi averted her eyes. That’s just what I wanted to hear, Ricardo thought hearing the tone in her voice. "Gabi, is everything okay...with you and Antonio, I mean?" Ricardo touched her hand softly. He was pleased that she didn’t pull back from him. Gabi took a deep breath. "Things aren’t so good, Ricardo," Gabi began, surprised at how comfortable she felt talking to him about Antonio. "We haven’t seen each other much lately…or even spoken, for that matter." Ricardo couldn’t help himself, it was even better than he hoped. "I’m sorry, Gab. I had no idea!" Gabi shook her head. "How could you? I’m sure Antonio hasn’t told you...has he?" Ricardo could hear the concern in her voice so he prepared to tell her an outright lie. "Well, I talked to him earlier today and he said everything was good." "Good?!," Gabi exclaimed as she dropped her arm to the table. "If that’s his definition of good, I’d hate to see bad." Gabi took a sip of her wine. Ricardo marveled at the way she handled the glass. If only I could feel her hands on me… He pulled himself quickly back to the present. "Gabi, I wasn’t going to say anything, but...no, nevermind. I really shouldn’t," Ricardo shrugged his shoulders. "What, Ricardo?" Gabi sat forward with interest. "Well," he paused to gauge her reaction. "Antonio told me that lately he’s been thinking a lot about his decision to leave the priesthood." Ricardo had always been so convincing at lying when the situation warranted it. Gabi sat back in astonishment. "What?" she said quietly. "He told me that lately he’s been...well, he’s been regretting some of the choices he’s made." Ricardo looked down at the table. Gabi felt a stabbing pain in her heart. "Some of his choices? What’s that supposed to mean?" "I don’t know, Gab. He didn’t say. But he got really upset when we were talking and he made me promise not to say anything." Ricardo raised his eyes to meet Gabi’s. "But I thought you should know." Gabi felt a mix of emotions rising up inside her. "I wonder if I’m one of those choices," she said bitterly. Ricardo didn’t like upsetting her like this, but he knew he would be there to pick up the pieces. "Maybe you need some time apart, Gabi. You know, just give each other some space to think about things." Ricardo’s voice stemmed with concern. Gabi looked up at Ricardo, his eyes full of feeling. "Maybe...you know, it’s getting pretty late, Ricardo. I should probably get going. It’s almost midnight." "Sure, let me just get the check and we’ll get outta here." Ricardo stood up to go find the waitress. Gabi sat pondering what Ricardo had told her. If Antonio was regretting his choice to leave the priesthood and marry her, she certainly wasn’t going to burden him the rest of his life. If he wanted out, she would let him go. She would have to. Ricardo returned with the check, dropping it on the table. "You ready?" He smiled as he helped Gabi from the booth. "Yes. Thank you, Ricardo, for being so honest with me. I thought Antonio was always honest with me, but I guess I was wrong." Gabi turned and walked toward the door. Ricardo smiled victoriously. THE APARTMENT Antonio couldn’t sit still. It was almost midnight and Gabi was nowhere to be found. He paced the room for the thousandth time imagining Gabi and Ricardo driving away in his car. He hated the jealous rage that was coursing through him. He hadn’t felt this way about Ricardo since…since he and Gabi stood before him to take their vows. It seemed like so long ago, but with everything that had happened recently… Antonio shook his head at the thought. Gabi had been thinking all the way home about giving Antonio some space. She was getting tired of the painful distance between them lately. She decided not to go. She wanted to talk to Antonio soon to determine if she truly was one of the choices he regretted. Gabi came through the door tossing her purse onto the floor. She flipped on the light and was startled to find Antonio standing in the middle of the room. They stood staring at each other, waiting to see who would speak first. "What are you doing here, Antonio?" Gabi asked as she sat down casually in the chair. "Did I surprise you, Gabi? You were expecting me to be at work, huh?" His tone was accusing and took her by surprise. "Yes, you are always working this time of night," she replied matter-of-factly. "This time of night? Right," Antonio said smugly. "Is this the time you always get home?" Gabi was taken aback by the way he attacked her with the question. "No," she answered just a little too defensively for his taste. "Oh, I see. Only when you go out with Ricardo, then?" Antonio wasn’t going to back down now. "How did you..." she stopped herself quickly. "Ricardo took me to dinner, is that okay with you?" Antonio was beginning to fume at her obvious lack of concern with the situation. "Dinner is fine, Gabi…with Ricardo? I don’t know." "We were just talking, Antonio," she said defiantly. "Talking?" he said incredulously. "So you’ll talk to my brother, your ex-fiance, but you won’t talk to your husband!" Gabi turned away from him as she exhaled in disgust. Antonio rushed over and grabbed her by the arm turning her around roughly. "Look at me, Gabi. Answer me." He shook her slightly. "Don’t be ridiculous, Antonio," she said trying to pull her arm from his strong hand. Antonio got a wiff of the alcohol on her breath. "Had a few drinks, did we? How cozy!" "Are you jealous, Antonio?" she asked daringly. The question hit a little too close to home for Antonio. "What’s the matter with you, Gabi? What are you doing with Ricardo?" The pain in his voice was evident. "I told you, Antonio. We we’re just having dinner. Now would you please let go of my arm, I’d like to go take a shower." "Hiding something, Gabi? Maybe trying to wash away your guilt?" Antonio regretted the words the second they left his mouth. Gabi stepped back as she reached up her hand and slapped him hard with all the strength she had. Antonio’s head jolted to the side. He turned back slowly to find Gabi’s beautiful brown eyes spilling tears. His heart ached – he couldn’t believe what he had just said to her. "Gabi, I...I," he was desperately searching for something to say...anything to excuse what had just happened. Gabi ran from him into the bedroom slamming the door and locking it behind her. Antonio followed her quickly down the hall. He put his forehead against the door and placed his hand on the knob. "Gabi, honey, please...open the door." He jiggled the knob. "I’m sorry, Gabi. I didn’t mean it. Please baby." He pleaded desperately as he heard her sobbing inside. He thought seriously about breaking the door down to get to her. His heart was breaking as he knocked again. "Gabi? Gabi." Suddenly, the door flew open and Gabi was rushing past him with her suitcase in her hand. "GABI! Where are you going? Wait," he called after he as she ran down the hall to the door. "Leave me alone," she screamed without turning back. She reached down for her purse, but managed to drop it again. Antonio reached for her grabbing her by the shoulder. "Gabi, please. Don’t leave. Don’t do this to us." He fought to turn her around. "Gabi, I love you. Don’t leave me, please." She stared icily at him, her eyes cold and full of anger. Antonio loosened his grip reluctantly, his face stinging from Gabi’s slap. Gabi leaned over to grab her purse. "Are you going to him?" Antonio closed his eyes as he whispered the question. Gabi swallowed hard trying to hold back the sob that was choking her. She looked up into his deep brown eyes finding them begging her for an answer. Gabi reached out her hand and lightly stroked his cheek where she had slapped him. He closed his eyes tightly and leaned in to her touch. Without a word, she turned and walked out, closing the door behind her.
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