Forever Summer (2 page)

“How dare you insinuate …"

“Celia, please be quiet.  I asked Miss Alvarez a question, and she answered it.  There was no insinuation, isn’t that right, Miss Alvarez?”

“Having never met your daughter, I obviously cannot insinuate anything, Señor Rodrigo.”

Mrs. Rodrigo watched the entire exchange with avid interest.  Miss Alvarez could very well be the answer to her prayers, in several categories, in fact.  Before her son could dismiss her based on her beauty and spirit, she needed to intervene.

“Miss Alvarez, the job requires constant travel.  Would that be a problem for you?  Where do you call home?”

Summer had no problem smiling at the kind lady.  How could such nice parents have such a rude son?  “I realize the job requires traveling, Señora Rodrigo.  That would not be a problem.  Home at the moment is to be determined.”

She smiles at my mother and my father, but she doesn’t smile at me.
 
Odd
.  “No husband, boyfriend, or significant other that would object to you skipping around the globe?”

“Whereas my personal life is just that, personal, I assure you, Señor Rodrigo, I make my own choices and decisions.”

“That doesn’t really answer my question.”

“That’s as close to an answer as you’ll get,
Señor
.  My personal life has no bearing on my professional life and is therefore not applicable.”

“How is it that you are fluent in both languages Miss Alvarez?  Looking at you, one would never guess that you speak Spanish, yet your surname is Hispanic.  You do not have to answer if you do not wish to.  I am only curious, and it will have no bearing on whether or not you get the job.”  Gabe’s mother’s question interrupted what might well have become a battle of wills between her son and the lovely woman who intrigued her so.  Better to redirect.

“I will be happy to appease your curiosity Señora Rodrigo.  I favor my mother.  She was a typical all American girl next door with her golden hair and green eyes, which I inherited from her.  My father is from Argentina.  He owns a large cattle ranch there.  Although my father speaks English and Spanish, my mother only spoke English.  I was brought up to speak both languages not only socially but academically.”

“And your parents will not worry if you pull up stakes and travel the world?”

“No ma’am.  My mother died when I was eight.  My father remarried shortly afterwards, and he and my step mother … have their own children to worry about.”  Not what she said but what she didn’t made it clear that there was no one in her family who would miss her.

Was there pain in her eyes, or did he imagine it?  Gabe wasn’t sure, since she hadn’t been looking at him when she’d spoken.  Damn it, she continued to refuse to look at him unless he spoke directly to her.  Why he should care one way or another was beyond him, but he expected her respect and attention when he was in the room.  After all, he was her prospective employer, for God’s sake.  Just about to regain her attention, his manager and friend spoke up before he had the chance.

“Miss Alvarez, may I ask you a personal question?”

“It depends on the question, Señor Serrano.  By all means, proceed, and I’ll be sure to let you know whether or not I choose to answer.”

That gained her a small smile from the man, although he tried to cover it up.  “I assure you, it’s nothing to be uncomfortable about.  I was wondering what your career plans are.  Specifically, do you have dreams of becoming an entertainer?  A singer, perhaps?”

“What a delightful idea, Señor Serrano.  How did you know that being an entertainer is my most fantasized about dream?”  Seeing that this was exactly the answer he was dreading, she smiled widely and continued.  “Sadly, I haven’t the talent to make it come true.  Although I believe I’m an excellent teacher and scholar, the only place I sing is in the shower or in my car, along with the radio, and in complete privacy.  It’s the only way I can keep friends.”  Everyone in the room, with the exception of Celia laughed, even the stoic Gabriel Rodrigo.

“Good to know.  Forgive me, but the last person we hired had designs on becoming the next big star and neglected her duties in every other capacity.  I thought it wise to put our cards on the table.”  She nodded and continued to smile.

Celia interrupted in a string of Spanish phrases, statements, and questions spoken as quickly as possible, no doubt in hopes of tripping her up.  Summer never batted an eyelash as she responded just as quickly in complete, correct Spanish.  When she was finished, Summer raised one eyebrow at the other woman as if to say, ‘Is that the best you’ve got?’

“Ah, you did not exaggerate, Miss Alvarez.  Your Spanish is excellent.”

“Thank you, Señora Rodrigo.”

Gabriel had remained silent, watching this odd woman.  She was beautiful.  Only about five foot three, with golden hair that looked more brown than blond until the sun or light hit it, when it showed a hundred different rich shades.  Her big green eyes were intelligent and guarded.  She had high cheekbones and a straight nose and a dimple in her stubborn chin.  She was curved in all the right places, and her skin was the most beautiful shade of gold he’d ever seen.  Gently arched brows and thick lashes balanced perfectly with full, wide lips.  She had a beautiful smile, although she chose not to share if very often.

“Celia, bring in Marisol.”

“
En serio, Gabriel, no
.  You can’t be serious.”

“Celia, this is not your decision to make.  Now, will you please go get Marisol?”  Obviously displeased, Celia went through a door and brought back a beautiful, angelic little girl with long, dark, curls and light skin.  Her big, brown eyes took in all the people in the room at a glance and stood tentatively at the entrance as if unsure of her welcome.

“Hola, niñita.  ¿Te sientes mejor?”

“Sí, papa.  Lo siento mucho.”

What did the man mean, asking his daughter if she was feeling better only to have her apologize?  The child was obviously hesitant to come in any further.  Summer’s heart ached for her, her own childhood memories closer to the surface than they’d been for years.

“Marisol, I would like to introduce you to someone.  This is Miss Summer Alvarez.  Miss Alvarez, please meet my daughter, Marisol.”

“
Hola
, Marisol.”

The child crossed the distance and held out her hand.  “
Mucho gusto, Señorita.  ¿Habla usted inglés o español?

“I speak Spanish and English, Marisol.  Which do you prefer?”

“
No importa.  Estoy muy intelegente
.  I am smart, and I can speak both.”

“I can see that,
Chiquita
.  I also am smart.”

“We are both beautiful, too.  Are you one of my father’s
novias
?  He has lots of them, you know.”

“Marisol …" Gabriel started to reprimand her, but Summer intervened.

“No,
Chiquita
.  I only met your father today.  I am not looking for a boyfriend.”

“My father is very handsome.  Most women love him.”

“As I said, I do not know your father, and I am not looking for a boyfriend.  I would like to know you, however.”

“Why?”

“I am a teacher.  I like kids.  Especially smart kids like you.  Do you like to read?”

“I can’t read.  I’m only four, you know.”

“Do you like others to read to you?”

“Sometimes. 
Abuelita
reads to me sometimes, right
Abuelita
?”

“Sí, mi amor.”

“And I read to you, don’t I,
angelita
?”

The child looked at Celia.  “No.  Never.  Neither does my father very often, since his concerts are at night.  Only
Abuelita.
”  Celia turned cold eyes towards the child, and if Summer read the situation correctly, the glare included a hefty threat the child was aware of but chose to ignore.

The child’s father regained control of the conversation.  “Marisol, remember I told you I would be hiring a new teacher for you?  I am thinking about hiring Miss Alvarez.  What do you think of that?”

“
Gabriel, por favor
.  Can we not speak of this privately before a decision is made?  I believe I know Marisol as well as anyone, and I don’t think this woman is the right choice for her.”

Marisol, clever child that she was, picked up on Celia’s displeasure right away.  Since Celia was at the top of her black list of undesirables, the little girl decided in a split second that anyone Celia didn’t want was exactly who she did want and decided to work towards that end.

“Papá, I think that is a great idea.  Señorita Alvarez seems very nice, and she speaks both languages very well.  Thank you, papá.  I will try to be a very good girl for her, not like the last time.”

“
Bueno, mija
.  She will be your new teacher.”  Gabe turned towards Summer, daring her to contradict him.  She didn’t disappoint, which for some strange reason made him glad.

“One moment, Señor Rodrigo.  We haven’t discussed terms.”

“I never discuss terms, Señorita Alvarez.  I will leave that to Pablo.  My daughter approves, my parents obviously approve, and that is good enough for me.  We leave at the end of the week for London and the last leg of the tour.  Please be ready to go.”  With that, he stood and left the room, with Celia following closely, giving a last look backwards to Summer, drenched in malice.

“Welcome, Señorita Alvarez.  May we call you Summer?”

“Of course, Señora Rodrigo.”

“Oh please, you must return the favor and call us Araceli and Joachim.  Welcome to this crazy team of ours.  Marisol will no doubt keep you very busy.  She has a good heart, but she cries out for attention in bad ways sometimes.  Please be patient with her, Summer.  I have a feeling you will understand her better than others have in the past.”

“Miss Alvarez, if you’ll come right this way, we’ll discuss terms and fill out the proper forms.”

“One moment, please, Mr. Serrano.  Marisol, it looks like I’m going to be your teacher.”  Summer bent down, so she’d be at eye level with the child.  “You don’t know me yet, and you may not be sure whether or not you want to, but we’re going to get along just fine.  You don’t have to believe me right now.  I’ll prove it to you.  What would you like to learn about?  What books would you like read to you?”

“It doesn’t matter.  You probably will not be here long enough to read much of anything.”

Instead of the angry face she’d anticipated, Summer gave her a bright smile.  “We’ll see about that, cutie pie.  I’ll see you soon.”  She stood and walked with Pablo Serrano to his office, pushing aside any misgivings after meeting the little girl that so reminded her of herself.  Lost and lonely but unwilling to let anyone know it.