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Antonio slipped quietly upstairs not wanting to wake Gabi. He tiptoed into the bedroom to find her propped up against the pillow reading a book.
"What are you doing still awake?" he scolded her. "You are supposed to be getting lots of rest." "I know. I wasn’t tired," she whined. "You’ve been working so much recently and I missed you." Gabi held out her arms as Antonio crawled onto the bed beside her. He laid his head down against her chest. "Another long day, huh?" Gabi rubbed his back. Antonio laid his hand over her stomach. "How was my baby today?" "Behaving well," Gabi announced proudly. "I only threw up three times!" Antonio smiled sadly at her. "Well, I guess that’s better than the six times yesterday." He leaned up and kissed her nose. "Did mama come by today?" Carmen was very excited about her new grandchild. She called Gabi at least once a day to see how she was doing. "Yes, we had a nice visit actually," Gabi conceded. "She was telling me how she was so sick she was when she was pregnant with you and...and Ricardo." Gabi watched as Antonio looked down at the bed. "I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that." Antonio shook his head slowly. "It’s okay, Gabi. Has she...did she say if she..." Antonio was worried that no one had heard from his brother in so long. He hated him for what he had tried to do to Gabi, but regardless of his disownment of him on the beach that night, Ricardo would always be his brother. "No, she hasn’t heard from him," Gabi said quietly as she touched Antonio’s cheek. "I’m sure he’s fine, Antonio. Don’t worry." Time had begun to heal both of them and she too was concerned. She was concerned about what his disappearance was doing to Antonio, Maria and Carmen. Antonio stifled a yawn. "Why don’t you come to bed? You look exhausted." Antonio stood up and headed into the bathroom. Gabi pulled back his side of the bed as he came back into the room. He lowered himself slowly beside her and fell back against the pillow with a loud sigh. He reached his strong hand over and placed it against her slightly bulging belly. Gabi leaned over and kissed him on the lips. "Good night." "Good night, I love you," he said softly as he was already beginning to drift off. THE DEEP Antonio was pouring over the week’s numbers trying to finish the last of the reports. It was getting late and he promised Gabi he would be home for dinner tonight. They had spent so little time together lately and he missed her. Dr. Green had put her on bed rest until her nausea subsided. He was almost done with the last page when his door opened and Heather peaked inside. "Antonio?" He looked up. "Can I interrupt for a minute?" "Sure, Heather." He sat back in his chair. "Come in." Heather walked in to his office and placed a file on his desk. She opened it and leaned over to point out a particular figure. "I can’t determine where this number is coming from. I’ve backed it out three times and it just isn’t making any sense." Antonio could smell the sweet fragrance of her hair as it hung close to his shoulder. "I, uh, well, I guess we’ll have to pull last months RAR reports and go through each one." He glanced at the clock on his desk. "Can it wait until tomorrow? I really have to get home tonight." Heather stood up and smiled at him. "That’s right. Ben told me that your wife wasn’t feeling well. How is she doing?" Her eyes filled with concern. "She’s doing better, actually. Thank you." Antonio stood up from his chair. "I promised I would come home and cook her dinner tonight. I’ve been working so late recently." He gathered some papers and tossed them into his briefcase. "That’s sweet. It’s so romantic when a man cooks dinner," Heather picked up the file off his desk. "We’ll take care of this tomorrow. Have a good night, Antonio." Heather smiled warmly before she turned and left his office. Antonio tried to keep his attention focused on the papers in front of him, but his eyes wandered for a brief second to watch her saunter out the door. What was it about that woman that drew his attention? Antonio shook his head as he closed his briefcase and headed out the door. THE TOWNHOUSE When he opened the front door, he could smell dinner cooking. He tossed his briefcase on the desk and headed into the kitchen. Gabi was buzzing around with three pots simmering on the stove. Antonio cleared his throat loudly to get her attention. Gabi spun around with a smile, "Hi!" She headed to him quickly and planted a big kiss on his lips. "I’m glad you’re home." "What do you think you’re doing?" He put his hands on his hips and leaned towards her. "I though I was making you dinner tonight…and what are you doing out of bed?" "I feel better, Antonio. I only threw up twice today," she beamed. "I wanted to do something nice for you." "You are doing something nice for me, you’re having my baby!" Antonio took her by the hand and directed her to the chair. "Now sit down and let me finish this." Gabi watched intently as he rolled up his sleeves and took over the dinner preparation. Suddenly, Gabi let out a howl, "Oooohh!" Antonio spun around dropping the lid he was holding onto the floor. "Gabi, are you alright?" He rushed over and knelt beside her chair. "I told you you shouldn’t have been out of bed...I’m taking you..." Gabi shook her head wildly as tears filled her eyes. "No, Antonio. I just felt the baby move." She grabbed his hand and placed it against her stomach. "Here, just wait and maybe it will move again." Antonio waited patiently not moving an inch. All of a sudden he felt Gabi’s stomach tighten and then move almost like a wave rolling across her belly. Antonio’s eyes widened as he looked up at Gabi. "Did you feel that? I think it just rolled over!" "Yes, yes...I can’t believe it!" Antonio’s eyes glistened as the tears ebbed in them. "Oh, Gabi. That was amazing." He leaned over and kissed her tenderly. He parted her lips with his as he began devouring her with his kiss. Gabi began frantically pushing at his shoulders trying to mumble something. Antonio pulled away quickly. "The pot is boiling over," she shouted. Antonio jumped to his feet and ran to the stove as the water began hissing as it hit the burner. Gabi laughed out loud as Antonio turned around with a pout that quickly turned into a smile. As they lay in bed, Antonio didn’t want to move his hand off her stomach. He wanted to feel his baby move inside her again. Gabi was almost five months pregnant and Antonio was noticing how her pregnancy was enhancing her entire body, not just her stomach. Gabi was laying with her eyes closed as Antonio traced his finger over her belly up across her breasts back down over her stomach and down her thigh. She opened one eye to look at him. He sensed she was watching him and shyly turned his head up to her. "What exactly are you getting at Mr. Torres?" she asked playfully. Antonio gave her a big grin as he moved his hand slowly back up her thigh and lingered just below her t-shirt. Gabi smiled as his touch sent goosebumps down her arms. Antonio leaned and kissed her gently under her chin. He moved over and whispered in her ear, "You are so beautiful." Gabi’s entire body shuddered from the feeling of his breath in her ear. "I want to make love to you." As many times as they made love, as familiar as they were with one another’s bodies, each touch from Antonio felt like it was the first. They made love tenderly and slowly, Antonio was always concerned now about hurting the baby. Gabi slipped out of bed after Antonio fell asleep and walked out onto the balcony watching the waves crashing against the shore. Gabi sat down and pulled her silk robe around her. She rubbed her belly gently trying to settle the baby who was moving around inside. "Go to sleep now, little one." Dr. Green had told Gabi that she would feel the baby move sooner since it was her second pregnancy. Gabi took the baby’s movement as a good sign, she had never felt Michael move very much. She turned to check and make sure Antonio was still sleeping. Gabi sat smiling and rubbing her belly on the balcony for hours. She was deliriously happy; her husband, her home, her life was perfect. Gabi prayed silently for God to watch over her developing baby and bring it into the world safely. As she opened her eyes, she saw a shooting star. She knew Michael was watching her. THE DEEP "I think I should have told Antonio I was coming," Gabi said guiltily as she climbed out of Maria’s car. "He might be mad." "Don’t be ridiculous, Gabi. Dr. Green said you were fine to leave the house. Now that you’re not working anymore, you can’t just stay cooped up in there everyday!" Maria and Gabi walked to the door. "Besides, you need a nice evening out and since Antonio is working, you’ll get to see him." Gabi smiled as they walked in to the club. They headed over to a table and sat down. Maria ordered a glass of wine and a Sprite for Gabi. Gabi excused herself to go find Antonio. She made her way up the stairs to his office. She knocked quietly as she straightened her skirt and pushed her hair behind her ears. As the door opened, she heard Antonio and a woman laughing. Antonio turned around with a look of surprise. "Gabi! What are you doing here?" He ushered her into his office. Gabi’s eyes fell immediately on the gorgeous blonde sitting on the couch. She had her legs crossed and Gabi took note of how high her skirt sat against her long, shapely legs. Papers were spread over the coffee table and the woman’s jacket was draped casually across the armrest. Heather stood up quickly and stepped toward Gabi. "Hi, Gabi, it’s nice to meet you." She extended her hand as Gabi looked at Antonio with a wide-eyed expression. "Oh...Gabi, this is Heather...Heather Malone." He nodded in her direction. "She’s an auditor for Arthur Andersen and she’s working with me…with The Deep on some audits." Antonio was flustered and Gabi sensed it immediately. "I’ve heard so much about you, Gabi," Heather said sweetly. "It’s nice to finally meet you." "I wish I could say the same," Gabi directed the comment to Antonio. "Congratulations, Gabi. Antonio told me that you’re expecting," she said trying to quell the obvious tension in the room. "When are you due?" Gabi turned cautiously back to Heather. "In four months," she said flatly. "Would you excuse us for a minute?" Antonio was acutely aware of Gabi’s uneasiness with Heather. Heather bent over to pick up her jacket, Gabi’s eyes watching her all the way. "Sure, we’re done for now anyway." She walked past the door and smiled at Antonio. Antonio smiled back, which Gabi picked up on right away. He closed the door behind Heather and turned back to Gabi. "What are you doing here…did Maria bring you?" He walked over to her to give her a hug but she stood completely still. "Heather seems...nice," she said contemptuously. "Funny you never mentioned her before." Gabi stepped away from his embrace. "Come on, Gabi. She’s a business associate." Antonio followed Gabi across the room. "I never thought about mentioning her." Antonio put his arms around her waist from behind and caressed her belly. The gesture Gabi normally treasured she now interpreted as some sort of comparison between her and Heather. Her raging hormones filled her eyes with tears. She crossed her arms in front of her and turned her head away from his. Antonio leaned around to see tears streaming down her face. He turned her around quickly. "Gabi, you’re being silly." "I’m not being silly," she snapped, brushing the tears away impatiently. "I’m being pregnant." Antonio chuckled. "Don’t you laugh at me," she scolded him. Antonio took her in his arms and hugged her tightly against him. "Gabriella Torres, you are the only woman for me…ever. I love you." Antonio leaned back and tilted her head up with his finger. "I love you." He leaned over and touched his warm lips to hers. They kissed tenderly as Gabi held on to him like a lifeline. There is something about that Heather I don’t like, Gabi thought to herself as they stood in each other’s arms.
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