Forever Summer (7 page)

“Gabe, I’m so sorry.  I had no idea … no wonder you’re so suspicious.”

“It’s hard not to assume the worst of beautiful women, and you’re very beautiful.  May I ask you – and this is curiosity rather than accusation – why you applied for this job?  You are great with Marisol, and you’re well qualified, but you’re an heiress.  You don’t have to tell me, unless you don’t mind, but I have to wonder why a woman of your means works at all.”

“It’s a long story that I prefer not to get into right now.  Suffice it to say that my … family and I are estranged for the most part.  I’ve kept in touch with a couple of people, but for the most part, I’m on my own and have been for a long time.  My father hasn’t supported me, other than paying for my education, for years.  I know it sounds cliché, but I happen to like working.  I took this job, because I thought it would be nice to travel for awhile and it sounded interesting.  Although my previous jobs allowed for some travel, I haven’t been to most of Europe since I was a child, and I knew you were touring here.  To tell the truth, shortly after the interview started, I’d decided to decline if the job offer was made, but when I met Marisol, I reconsidered.  She really is a sweet child.”

“She can be, true, but she can also be a terror.  The day of the interview, she’d had quite a tantrum, and I sent her into the next room.  Listen, I’d like to start again.  I don’t want there to be tension between us.  Marisol will pick up on it right away, and besides, I want regular updates on what you two are doing.  Again, I apologize for my past behavior, and I will try to remember that you are not a gold digger out for money, fame, or a husband, alright?  Can we please forget the past few days and call a truce?”  He ambushed her with the dimples again and was Gabe instead of Gabriel Rodrigo.  How could she resist?

“Alright, Gabe.  I’ll try to reign in my temper, although you might have noticed that I tend to lean towards verbal assault when I’m angry.”  She offered her own tentative smile.  “I really am sorry for what you went through with your wife.  I misjudged you also.  I guess I have my own baggage I carry around from the past, and I assumed you weren’t a good father because of … well, anyway, I can see you love Marisol.  A truce, then.”

Summer held out her hand, and he enfolded it in his own, and she felt a jolt go from her hand and spread to the rest of her body and felt the heat of another blush light up her face.  Gabe felt a frisson of awareness at her touch as well and was momentarily stunned not only by the odd feeling but by the beauty the combination of Summer’s smile and the pretty blush in her cheeks evoked.  She was absolutely stunning.

“Come to dinner tonight.  I mean, with the family.  We have a favorite restaurant we always go to when we’re in Paris.”

“Thank you, but no thanks.  I have plans.”

“I see.  Another time, then.  I’ll go back and let Marisol know you’ve forgiven me, so she will do likewise.  She’s quite fond of you already.  She’ll probably come back to keep you company, if you don’t mind.” 
Plans?  What the hell kind of plans could she have before she’s even landed in Paris?  And why the hell did it bother him so much?

“I have books all ready for her.  Please do send her back.”  He nodded and left.

Gabe rejoined his daughter and told her of his apology to Summer and granted her permission to join her teacher.  As he watched Marisol jump, skip, and hop to the back of the plane, he felt the beginning of a new challenge taking shape in his mind, and he was stunned to realize that he hadn’t felt this motivated to succeed and conquer anything since he’d been a teenager and decided he wanted a singing career.  He felt the same kind of determination where Summer Alvarez was concerned and decided to dedicate his energies towards figuring the woman out, finding out about her past, and winning her over in the future.  Summer Alvarez had just become his new goal and focal point.

If he could overcome the odds and make it to the top of the entertainment world despite his humble beginnings, surely he could gain the trust and respect of one woman.  He smiled as he began to strategize.

Chapter Five

Summer took a cab to her grandmother’s home as soon as she got settled in her hotel room.  As usual, she was greeted with open arms, and the two of them had a wonderful time over dinner, catching each other up on the latest happenings in their lives.  Summer told her all about her new job and her new boss, and as always, her
abuelita
was intensely proud of her and enveloped her with all the love only a grandparent can give.  She told her all the latest family gossip and gave her the address of her favorite cousin in Rome and promised to look him up when she got there the following week.

Although her grandmother was still healthy, it occurred to Summer that she was now in her mid eighties.  She had more aches and pains that she shrugged off, and she moved more slowly than she used to.  How much longer would she have this dear woman with her and what would she do when she was no longer alive?  She’d replaced the support and affection of her mother and father, and had been the rock that Summer had depended on since she’d been a small child.  She’d never known her mother’s parents, who had died before Summer was born, and her father’s father had died long ago.  She was Summer’s only living grandparent and for all practical purposes, her only parent as well.  She was friend and confidant, and Summer loved her above all others.

“
Abuelita
, why do you live alone?  I worry about you being all by yourself.”

“No need to worry,
Chiquita
.  I am well.  I like Paris.  Once in awhile, I miss Argentina, but Paris is now my home.  Your grandfather bought me this villa shortly after our honeymoon here, because I loved it so much.  It reminds me of him, I suppose.”

“Don’t you get lonely though?”

“Not often.  I miss you and my other family sometimes, but I feel at peace here.”

“Do you see my father often?”

“For years, I rarely saw him after he married Isela.  He would come by to visit when he was in town for business, but if Isela and the girls were with him, he rarely came for a long time.  But the last ten years, he’s been better about keeping in touch with me.  Truly, I think it took him that long to come to terms with the loss of your mother.  I think perhaps he sees how wrong he was to abandon you and me and everyone else who was part of his life while Sunny was here.  Perhaps he wishes to reach out to you, also, but doesn’t know how.  A mother never turns her child away, and well he knows it.  It was shortly after I contacted him about paying for your school that I began to see a change.  Isela was furious, but for the first time, he held his ground and dismissed her protests and silly reasoning about it being good for you.  For awhile, I lost my son, just as you lost your father, and that was very hard.”

“I’m sorry,
Abuelita
.”

“There is no need,
Chiquita
.  I have a rich life.  I know your father has always loved me, as he does you.  Isela is very demanding and jealous of everyone who is connected to her husband.  She has always been threatened by you and by me.  It is best to pity someone like her.  She will always be afraid of losing Diego.  Sadly, if she ever does lose him, it will be because he finally realizes that he allowed her to isolate him from his family.  By then, whatever my son decides to do will make little difference.  The damage that has been done will never be reversed, and he will have to live with that.  Whether or not he lives alone or not will not matter, and it will not erase the guilt he will carry.  He is my son, and I love him unconditionally.  Someday, he will realize that he has failed you as a father, if not already.  I hope you can forgive him someday for your own sake,
mi vida
, but he will never forgive himself.  And if he ever sees your mother in Heaven, she may not forgive him either.  Sunny loved your father very much, but you were above even him in her heart.”

“I remember her well, Grandma.  She was a great mother, and she always made sure I knew she loved me.  We were a happy family once.”

“I loved your mother, Summer.  She was beautiful inside and out, just like you.  She made Diego very happy, and he was devastated when she died.  Many thought since he married Isela so quickly afterwards that they had been having an affair, but that is not true.  He married Isela, because he could not stand to be alone.  He was never as happy as when your mother was with him.  I don’t think he has ever fully recovered from the loss.  Unfortunately, rather than sharing his grief and offering comfort to you, his daughter, he chose to look elsewhere.”

“I always wondered, Grandma.  I’m glad you told me.  I will try to feel sorry for Isela, but I don’t know if I can.  She made me a stranger in my own home.  I was so lonely without Mama.  When they married, I actually thought it would be nice to have someone to talk to and to spend time with.  She never wanted anything to do with me.”

“Pray for her,
mi vida
.  That is the road to forgiveness.  Despite all you have suffered, you are still kind and giving, just like your mama.  You will find happiness someday, because you are so good and loving.  You have so much love in you,
querida
, and you’ve had no one to share it with.  When you find someone, you will love them forever.  Give yourself the chance to share your love.  Trust that it will be returned.  Don’t let your father’s mistakes keep you from finding your own happiness.”

“I don’t know if I will ever find someone I’m willing to trust that way,
Abuelita
.”

“Of course you will, Summer.  You will be afraid, but your love will defeat your fear.  Now, tell me about Gabriel Rodrigo.  How is he to work for, and is he as handsome as he is in his pictures?  I enjoy his music.”

“Really, Grandma?  Would you like to go to his concert tomorrow?  I might be able to get us tickets.  I’ve never seen him in concert, but I hear he puts on a great show.”

“That would be so nice,
Chiquita
.  I haven’t been to a concert in years, and to go with you would be so wonderful.  If you can get the tickets, I would love to go with you.”

****

It was nearly eleven when Summer got back to the hotel.  She was just putting her key in her door when the room across the hall opened, and Celia stepped out with Gabe.  Celia gave her the usual snide dismissal, but Gabe paused beside her.

“Good evening, Summer.  Just now getting in?”

“Yes.  Gabe, by any chance, do you know if there are any remaining tickets to your show tomorrow night?  I’m looking for two.”

Gabe didn’t know if he felt more pleased, because she wanted to attend his concert or curious as to whom the other ticket was for.  “Sure.  I’ll let Pablo know to leave them for you.” 
And they’ll be front row seats with back stage passes, so I can see exactly who you’re keeping company with
. 
Just out of curiosity.

“Oh, thank you.  I’ll be happy to pay for them.”

“No, don’t worry about it.  It’s part of the contract that I have a certain number of guest passes.”

“Alright then, thank you again.  Oh, and I’d like to take Marisol sightseeing again tomorrow morning, if that’s alright.  There is so much to see in Paris that I think she would enjoy and that I can turn into an educationally fun outing.”

“I hardly think sightseeing is what you’re being paid for, Summer.  And considering what a short time you’ve been working for us, I hardly think it appropriate to ask for free tickets.”

“Actually, I didn’t ask for
free
tickets, Ms. Chavez, and I assure you the outing tomorrow will be a learning experience for Marisol.”

“Celia, Summer doesn’t work for
us
, she works for me, and I have no problem with her taking Marisol, not to mention I offered her tickets in London, which she declined, so she is perfectly welcome to tickets for tomorrow’s show.  I’ll see you tomorrow, Summer.  Oh, and I’ll arrange for a car to drive you and your guest to the concert.  Goodnight.”