Forever Summer (20 page)

“Yesterday, I would’ve placed the word ‘future’ under the same category, but today … not so much.  Tomorrow is today’s future, and I plan on being here tomorrow.  I’m willing to see where this goes if you are.  All I ask is that if it doesn’t work out, unless you think it would be harmful to Marisol, I’d like to write to her from time to time, so she won’t think I’ve deserted her, and the other thing is, if you decide that this isn’t working out for you, regardless of how I may feel, you’ll tell me, so I can leave.  I need to hear it from you, not some gossip magazine, okay?  Please don’t lie to me or start seeing someone else before I have a chance to move on.  Please.”

“You have my word on both points.  Brace yourself, Summer, here we go.”

Gabe pulled into the gates of the villa amid multiple camera flashes and people banging on the jeep’s windows, shouting out questions, and pushing each other to try to get a clear shot.  His security people closed the gates behind them and stood guard at all entrances to ensure what little privacy they had left.  Instead of pulling up to the front door like he had earlier, he drove to the back of the property where a multicar garage was located and parked inside.  The walls surrounding the villa were high enough that they were able to make a quick dash for the back door before anyone else could photograph them, and Gabe held the still sleeping Marisol and Summer’s hand as he walked quickly inside.

“Good God, this little girl could sleep through anything apparently.  I can’t believe all that racket didn’t wake her up.  I was worried she’d be scared.”

“Marisol could sleep through a nuclear bomb explosion.  She hasn’t ever really been scared of the press, only shy and quiet.  I know, hard to believe, right?  I’m going to lay her down.  I’ll be right back.”

“Do you want me to come and help?”  Gabe shook his head and went up the stairs to deposit his little sleeping beauty in her room, removing her jeans and shoes.  

“Hi,
Señora
, uh, Araceli.  Did the paparazzi bother you?”

“Not really.  I don’t like them, but they are mostly after my son and rarely bother with Joachim and me.  I hope they didn’t upset you,
mija
.  They can be a little scary when you’re not used to them.”

“I don’t like them, but no, I wasn’t afraid as much as irritated.  They’re all camped out at the gate now.  They intercepted us at the carnival on our way out.”

“
Caramba.
  They just never rest, do they?  We never saw anyone until someone rang the doorbell, and I went to go see who it was.  It was one of
them
, and he asked me who Gabriel’s mystery lover was.  I slammed the door in his face.”

Having deposited Marisol in her bedroom and tucked her in, Gabe joined the conversation.  “I don’t understand, Mamá.  The only public places Summer and I have gone were on tour.  Since we’ve been here, we have only been here at the villa, the picnic, and to Andalucía to see Summer’s family home.  How could they have heard about or seen her as anyone other than Marisol’s teacher?”

“Sometimes, they see a beautiful woman and a handsome man together like you two, and they jump to conclusions.  You look so beautiful together, perhaps their imaginations – which are surely not far from the truth – did the rest.”  Araceli smiled serenely at them both.

“Still, until tonight, everyone who saw Summer thought of her as an employee only.  I don’t know what has changed that, but I think it’s more than imagination.  So much for a family vacation, Mamá.  We might as well return to Mexico.”

“Hey, wait a minute, Gabe.  What if we packed everything up and secretly went to Andalucía and stayed at my mother’s villa?  Nobody knows about it except my father and Luisa and Yolanda, and I’ll ask them to keep it quiet.  What about it?  It’s as big as yours, so everyone will fit, and it’s completely furnished and ready for guests.  We’ll probably have to get some groceries and other supplies, but you have to do that here, anyway.  What do you think?”

“I don’t know,
cara
.  It’s definitely worth considering.  Are you sure you wouldn’t mind?  You only saw it again today.  You might like to stay there yourself first without guests.”

“Gabe.”  She slid a shy look at his mother and continued.  “You and your parents have welcomed me into your family home, let me do the same for you.  I would be happy for everyone to stay there with me, and I’m sure my ladies will be, too.  They must get lonely up there by themselves.  They were always very social and outgoing when I was a girl.”

“Well … we are boyfriend and girlfriend now.”  Gabe smiled as he watched the blush spread over her entire face, and she ducked her head, so she didn’t have to look at Araceli.  “Mamá, we have Marisol’s blessing.  As a matter of fact, it was her idea, or at least she thinks it was.”  Mortified, Summer refused to look at Gabe’s mother.  Then a deep voice in the doorway interrupted them.

“And just who do you think planted the seed into Mari’s head, hmm?”  Everyone turned around to look at Joachim.  “Mamá, have you been matchmaking again?”

All eyes turned to look at Araceli.

“Mamá?”

“Gabriel, you may be all grown up now, but you will always be my son.  A mother always wants what is best for her child.  You will see this for yourself when Marisol is all grown up.  You never stop worrying, and …"

“Alright, Mamá, alright.”  Gabe smiled at his mother.  “Just reassure Summer that you don’t think she’s a gold digger or
quién sabe que
.”

If it had been possible to die from mortification, Summer was sure she’d be dead and buried by now.

“Summer!  I would never think such a thing of you,
mijita.
  Had I thought that, I would never have chosen you for Gabe.  I mean, … oh dear.  Alright, I admit, I have been … hopeful that the two of you would get to know each other.  You know, Gabriel and Summer, there is a reason that people use the saying, ‘Mother knows best’.”  She crossed over to Summer and embraced her.  “No more talk of gold diggers, as if I could ever be fooled by such a woman.”  She kissed Summer on both her cheeks.  “Welcome to the family,
mija.
”

“Araceli, … thank you, but …"

“Mamá, Summer doesn’t like to talk about marriage, weddings, future, long-term, … what else,
cara
?  It makes her nervous.”

“That only means that once she loves someone, it will be forever.  Don’t be scared,
mijita
, everything will be fine, you will see.  My Gabriel is a good man and at heart a family man.  He has needed someone like you for a long time.  I am so glad he finally found you.  He has smiled, laughed, and played  more since he’s known you in and out of your presence, than in all the years since his marriage to … that woman.  I would never say so in front of Marisol, but
there
was a gold digger.  Now, Papá and I are going to bed.  We have decided to go home to Mexico early, so wherever you decide to stay will not affect us.  We will see you when you come home.  Both of you.  Goodnight.”  She kissed both Gabe and Summer, as did Joachim, who winked at her blank, shocked face as he headed upstairs.

Summer turned her still blank, shocked face to look at Gabe, who just shrugged his shoulders and lifted his palms face up, and smiled.

“I get my determination from my mother.”

Summer blinked.  Twice.  “A couple of months ago, I was working in Mexico, living alone and happy that way.  Less than twenty four hours ago, I decided to take a chance for the first time in my life and see where this … thing … we have together leads, and now, everyone is talking about marriage and matchmaking and blond haired grandkids and seeing me when I get home to a place I’ve never even been to before, and forever and long term and commitment and …"

Gabe started laughing and pulled her into his arms.  Since kissing her seemed to be the best and fastest way to stop her from rambling on and on, he laid one on her, receiving an instant response from her.  Apparently, she agreed that the best thing to do would be to change the subject, because she gave as good as she got.

“Better?”

“I can’t think when you kiss me like that, Gabe.”

“Which is exactly the point.  Let’s go to bed.”

“Gabe!  I can’t just go to bed with you with your parents and your daughter under the same roof.  That’s not setting a good example for the baby.”

“Fine, fine.  We’ll go to Pablo’s room for awhile again, just like last night, and then I will give you a chaste kiss at your own bedroom door and continue on to my own.  Now let’s kiss some more, before that serious side of yours takes over again.”

Mission accomplished.

Chapter Twelve

“I called Luisa and Yolanda, and they are thrilled that we’re coming.  Are you sure you don’t want to bring any of your staff?  I mean, that’s fine with me, and with the ladies, also, but are you sure you’ll be comfortable?”

“Baby, I wasn’t always rich and famous, you know.  We always lived comfortably, but we didn’t have servants or big houses or fancy cars until about ten or twelve years ago.  Unlike you, Summer, I did not come from money.”

“Yes, well, that was a long time ago for both of us and kind of funny when you think about it.  I started out with money and got away from it, and you didn’t start with money but ended up with it.  I’ve always been able to make a decent living, especially after I established my reputation and I began to get the consulting contracts the last couple of years, but the money I make now is nothing like my father’s wealth.  Like you, he has several properties, cars, pretty much everything money can buy.  We had many servants, I had toys and clothes, private instruction, everything you can think of, and I never realized it at the time.  I never knew my family was wealthy.  I guess my mother made sure I was grounded.

“My mother still makes sure I’m grounded, and she continues to be involved in my life, as you could see last night.  Even now that I have money, despite what you read and how it looks from the outside, we enjoy many simple pleasures, and although we travel with help, at home, we keep it to the minimum.  We prefer privacy to being served hand and foot, and we still do a lot of things ourselves.  Mamá still prepares a lot of the food we eat.”

“Like
guacamole
?”

He kissed her again – couldn’t seem to keep from it – and nodded.  “Like
guacamole
.  Now that she knows you like it, you can expect some regularly.  She’ll spoil you in hopes that you’ll continue to put up with me.  You see, Summer?  I come with many fringe benefits.  You’d better stick around.  I’ll make sure you have all the
guacamole
you want.”

“And
tamales
and
biscochitos
?”  She smiled and kissed him back.  “What about
calabazitos
and
huevos rancheros
?”  Kiss.

“Make me a list.”  He framed her face in his hands and kissed her passionately, stealing both their breaths.  His mother was right.  He’d been happier since he’d met Summer than he’d ever been, not only since his marriage but … ever.  The more time he spent with her, the more time he wanted to spend.  For the first time in his life, aside from his family, he’d found someone who was as important and as imminent to him, his happiness and his peace of mind as his music had always been.  Having Summer in his life actually inspired new music he couldn’t wait to write. 

“Papá, I’m ready.  Kiss me, too, Papá.”  Gabe bent down to pick his daughter up and kissed her neck, tickling her and making her laugh with his growling sounds.