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Antonio rolled over for the twentieth time. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was the image of he and Heather on the TV screen. He folded his arms behind his head and sighed heavily. Gabi stirred and rolled over sleepily. She pulled herself against him and wrapped her arm over his stomach settling her head against his chest. Antonio brought his arm down and gently rubbed her back.
It would kill her to see the videotape she had been so hurt by his indiscretion already. He couldn’t forget how painful it had been to recount his actions to her in words. She would be devastated all over again to see it with her own eyes. Antonio desperately wanted to protect her from it. He was concerned after her doctor’s visit…Dr. Green told her that she should avoid stress as much as possible. Seeing that tape certainly wouldn’t help. Antonio held Gabi as she slept. His eyes never closed as he sought a reason for Heather making the videotape of their encounter. She didn’t seem like the type of girl for blackmail…besides, it wasn’t like he was a millionaire. She had appeared to be understanding when he left the hotel. She told him how lucky Gabi was. Gabi? Was this all about Gabi? Did Heather think that if Gabi saw the tape and found out about them she would leave Antonio and he would turn to her? She didn’t know that he had already told Gabi everything…and almost lost her. Antonio’s head was aching. He slipped out of Gabi’s clutch, pulled on his boxer shorts and walked out onto the balcony. The warm breeze caressed his bare chest as he closed his eyes and listened to the rolling waves. He didn’t hear Gabi come out but felt her arms slip around his waist. "Hey," she whispered as she pressed her lips against his back. "What are you doing out here?" Antonio placed his hands over hers. "Hey, did I wake you? I’m sorry." "You know I can’t sleep when you’re not beside me," she said sleepily. "Come back to bed." "I’m not tired," he said quietly. "Why don’t you go on back?" Gabi stepped around to face him as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "What’s wrong?" she asked with concern. She knew him too well. "Nothing for you to worry about," he said soothingly. "Just something that happened at work." Well, he really wasn’t lying. "Is it going to be okay?" "Yes, it’s going to be fine," he reassured her. "Now go on back to bed." Gabi kissed his chest lightly. "I’m not tired." She teased his nipples with her tongue. Antonio felt that wonderfully familiar rush as he squeezed her shoulders gently. Gabi took his hand and led him back to the bed. She knew how to make him forget about what was bothering him. She removed his boxer shorts and pushed him gently back onto the bed. Antonio lay back and watched Gabi pull off her t-shirt and climb on top of him. She leaned forward and kissed his neck. "Different positions," she whispered seductively in his ear. He smiled as their lips met passionately. Gabi took control as they made love for almost an hour. Antonio lost himself with her and completely forgot about the events of the day. Gabi rolled over and covered herself with the sheet. Antonio was covered with sweat as he lay silently next to her. "I think you made someone mad," she said with a smile as the baby kicked her fiercely. Antonio laid his strong hand firmly against her stomach. "Settle down in there," he said lovingly. "I’m sorry we woke you, your mommy was feeling frisky." Gabi socked his arm and Antonio laughed. "I think you need a bedtime story. Let’s see. Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl named Gabi." Gabi smiled as she closed her eyes. The baby kicked hard against Antonio’s hand. "Hey now! Gabi was married to this really gorgeous guy named Antonio." Gabi giggled. "They lived in a big house on the beach and were very, very much in love and very, very happy." The baby kicked again only a little less strongly. "They were going to have a baby, so they fixed up a room for him, they painted it and bought all kinds of clothes and toys. They loved their baby very much, even before he was born." Antonio looked up to find Gabi had already fallen asleep. He leaned over and whispered against her stomach. "And daddy promises to take very good care of you and mommy forever and ever. I love you." He kissed her stomach softly and lay back down against his pillow. Antonio closed his eyes and dreamt of his soon to be born son. Antonio handed Carmen her cup of coffee. "Gracias, mi hijo." She smiled at her son. She had come by for a visit with Gabi, but Gabi hadn’t felt well and was taking a nap. Antonio sat down next to his mother on the couch. "So, how are you mama?" Antonio asked genuinely. Carmen could see something was bothering him. "How are you, Antonio?" She placed her hand over his. "What is bothering you?" Antonio laughed at his mother’s ability to always know what was going on with him. Instinctive, yes…psychic, no. "Just some things, mama. Nothing for you to worry about." Carmen looked at him seriously. "Have you made up with your brother?" Antonio cringed at the suggestion. How could he make up with the man who wanted to steal his wife? And who somehow knew details of his weakest moment. "No, mama." "But why, mi hijo? Why do you fight with him?" Carmen paused. "It is Gabi?" Antonio expected his mother to know that much of it. "Yes, mama. He won’t let go of his obsession with her." Antonio was obviously frustrated. "He thinks I’m just going to hand her over to him, let him marry her and raise my son. He’s crazy, mama. That will never happen." "Si, mi hijo, Carmen conceded. "When you first left the church and married Gabi, I was sure you had made a mistake. I thought she would hurt you like she hurt your brother." Antonio dropped his eyes. She didn’t know he had been the one to hurt Gabi. "But the love between you is deep and solid. You have endured so much and it has made your love stronger." He looked up at his mother. "Gabi loves you very much…I can see it in her eyes. And you love her with the same intensity." Antonio smiled. "She makes you happy, mi hijo. You never let her go. Your brother will see, in time." Antonio was touched to hear his mother’s feelings about him and Gabi. She had never really told him how she felt before. She was accepting of Gabi and spent a lot of time with them both, but hearing her express herself in this way made Antonio feel almost relieved. Carmen had never taken sides with her sons before, either. Not ever. Antonio hugged her tightly and they visited for a long time. They talked all about the baby and Gabi’s last appointment. Antonio told her all about his latest projects at the Deep. Carmen listened intently with much pride at the success Antonio had made of his life. She was truly happy for him, but she also worried very much about Ricardo. Her cards had told her he was deeply troubled. LAMAZE CLASS "And deep soothing breaths. For the count of 10." The instructor held up her fingers to count to ten. Antonio sat back against the wall as Gabi lay back against his chest between his legs. He traced his hands in two circles over her belly. Gabi exhaled slowly for the count. Antonio leaned forward and kissed her neck. "Stop it," she whispered as she exhaled. "You’re distracting me." Antonio smiled as Gabi tried to focus on the instructor. "Good, now we’re going to puff away the contraction for 10. Ready?" Gabi held Antonio’s hand as she puffed to his slow count of 10. "Good, let’s try that one again. Ready," the teacher called out. Gabi began puffing as Antonio put his lips against her ear and counted softly. Gabi smiled as she puffed away the "pain" while Antonio nibbled her ear. The instructor walked by and stopped in front of them with an admonishing glare. Antonio raised his eyes to find her eyes reprimanding him sternly. He leaned back guiltily and finished his count. They both laughed as the instructor moved on. Antonio watched in amazement as the woman in the movie screamed and puffed through her contraction. This was the most graphic thing he had ever seen. He looked at Gabi sitting next to him with a shocked expression on her face. "Are you alright?" he whispered to her. Gabi swallowed hard and looked up at him. Antonio smiled and took her hand. He turned his attention back to the movie as they focused on the baby’s head crowning. The woman let out a blood-curdling scream and he felt Gabi squeeze his hand tightly as the baby’s head bulged out of the woman. "Oh my God," she mumbled. "I can’t do that." Antonio leaned over. "I don’t think you can change your mind now, Gabi." He laughed until he saw Gabi turn to him with her face as white as a sheet. She had given birth once, but Michael was so tiny and delivered so quickly there was almost no pain at all. This baby would be larger…much larger. "No, Antonio. I REALLY don’t think I can do that." Her voice was shaky. Antonio put his arm around her and she buried her head into his side. He stroked her hair softly. "It’s okay, Gabi. I’ll be right there beside you." He tried to reassure her even though he was a little overwhelmed by the prospect himself. "Sure, you’ll be there counting away, no problem," she mocked. "I’ll be the one dying in the bed." "No, you won’t," he pulled her closer to him. "You’re going to do just fine. I know it." She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "Oh, baby," he said quietly as he wiped away her tears. "I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise." He kissed her head as she grasped onto his shirt. He could tell she was genuinely scared and he knew he was going to have to be her rock. "And this is the neo-natal unit," the nurse announced as they approached the large glass window. Gabi moved to the window and placed her hand flat against the glass. Her eyes fell to the small plastic bubble that encased a baby who could fit in the palm of her hand. Tubes were attached to its entire body and the preemie diaper it wore nearly covered it from head to toe. Gabi watched its diminutive chest heave with each breath it struggled for. Her heart grabbed as she remembered Michael right after he was born. He had been so small, only slightly smaller than this baby. Antonio stepped behind Gabi and placed his hand softly on her shoulder. He knew what she was thinking…he was thinking it too. Gabi put her hand up and covered his. He squeezed her shoulder as they stared quietly at the tiny newborn. He leaned over and kissed her head. Gabi smiled as a tear slipped from her eye. She turned back to the group as Antonio slipped his arm around her shoulders. They finished the hospital tour in silence. THE TOWNHOUSE "I’m glad we were able to get into Lamaze so soon," Gabi sighed as she walked in the door. "Now I have plenty of time to dread labor." She rubbed her belly. "Why can’t the stork just deliver them to the door?" Antonio laughed as he followed her inside with the mail in his hand. Gabi went into the kitchen to grab some water. Antonio tossed his keys on the table and started flipping through the mail. His heart almost stopped as he came across the brown envelope with no label. "Do you want me to make a snack not popcorn!" Gabi called out from the kitchen. "Uh huh," he responded nervously as he pulled open the flap on the back of the envelope. He reached inside and extracted a photograph of him without his shirt, his arms around Heather as he pushed her blouse off her shoulders. You could see he was kissing her neck and her head was thrown back. Antonio felt his stomach knot as Gabi walked back through the kitchen door. "I’m fixing a delicious snack of carrot sticks and celery." Antonio’s eyes jumped off the photograph as he looked up at Gabi. Gabi was concerned by the expression on his face. He fumbled with the envelope and photograph trying to conceal it from her view. "What’s wrong, Antonio? You don’t look so good." Gabi walked over to him as he spun around and buried the evidence under the stack of mail. His heart pounded in his chest as Gabi’s hand reached his shoulder. "I..I’m fine, Gabi." He stammered pathetically. "Why don’t I come help you with that snack?" He was determined to get her away from that picture. He turned and ushered her back toward the kitchen. "But Antonio, what were you looking at? What was in the mail?" Gabi was trying to turn back to the living room. "It was nothing, baby," he pulled her gently in his direction. "Let’s go eat. Aren’t you hungry?" Gabi suddenly remembered how starving she was and forgot all about the mail. She walked into the kitchen with Antonio close behind. He sat down at the table with his head in his hands. He couldn’t believe Heather was doing this, and this time Gabi came too close to seeing it. He had to do something…now. As Gabi sat down at the table, Antonio jumped from his chair. "I forgot about something I have to do at the club." He kissed her cheek quickly as he headed from the table. "I won’t be long, Gabi. I’ll call you." He exited the kitchen and grabbed the envelope and photo. "Antonio?" she called after him as she heard the front door close. She shook her head with a laugh as she picked up a celery stick. She was about to put it in her mouth when she spotted the salt shaker on the table. She hesitated for a second before her hand shot like a rocket to retrieve the forbidden condiment. She covered the celery with salt and devoured it with verve. She thought it was the absolute best thing she had ever tasted. She prepared another stick with her mouth watering. THE DEEP Antonio paced his office racking his brain for his next move. He contemplated calling Heather and having it out with her over the phone. He was furious he had allowed himself to misjudge her so much. She had made him feel so comfortable that he told her stories about himself even Gabi didn’t know. He considered telling Gabi what was happening so she wouldn’t stumble across a video or picture and be sent into hysterics. He just couldn’t bring himself to burden her with another discussion of Heather. He flopped into his chair and ran his hands roughly through his hair. What was he going to do? He pulled out his rolodex to search for Heather’s business card. He didn’t have any choice. As much as he wanted to forget about her forever, he was going to have to call her and settle this once and for all. He picked up the phone and reluctantly dialed her number. What do you say to someone you almost slept with behind your wife’s back? He closed his eyes as he dreaded her answering the phone. "Hi Antonio," the sultry voice called out. Antonio was confused maybe she had caller ID, but the phone was still ringing. He opened his eyes to find Heather standing in his office a few feet from his desk smiling innocently at him. Antonio felt his blood begin to boil as he hung up the phone without looking away from her. "How are you?" she asked quietly. She could tell by the uncharacteristic rage in his eyes that everything was no where near fine.
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