Revolving Doors (18 page)

“It
is
beautiful,” I admitted.

“You been before?”
he inquired.

Careful, Gabriella…

“My family vacationed there a lot when I was young,” I told him downplaying it a lot. “I try to go ever so often to visit my extended family.”

I don’t know why I decided to confide that much detail to him in that moment, but it just poured out. What could it hurt? It wasn’t like him or anyone else, for that matter, could put the pieces together. Nevertheless, I was ready to abandon the topic of
Brazil. Felt eerie, in a way.

“That’s pretty cool. You speak Portuguese?”

“I do…
fluently
.”

“Damn, I just keep learning things about you, woman. Do me a favor.”

“What’s that?”

“Tell me how you enjoyed the date and whether I have a chance at taking you out again.”

“Okay,” I smiled. “Eu gostei da data muito e gostaria de sair novamente.”

“That’s sexy as hell. What did you say? This time in English,” he laughed.

“I said…I enjoyed the date very much and would love to go out again.”

His face lit up,
“Nice…” he replied.

By the end of our evening, I had learned a great deal about Robert, including that he was undeniably, a ‘street’ success story.

A former felon – a detail he was reluctant to provide – he worked hard to clear his destructive path and ventured into the world of entrepreneurship.

He owned two nightclubs before his arrest that were subsequently closed since they were purchased with questionable funds.

Two years after his release from prison, Robert developed a business proposal for
3 Swords
, an educational software program, an idea he got after talking to his sister about his niece’s struggle with Algebraic word problems.

He created a tool that provided algorithms for an area of Math that seemed to be a problem for most. With its success,
3 Swords
was implemented in 30 elementary schools nationwide.

Though it took two years to execute, Robert initiated all aspects of the launch – from locating investors, to the logo, to the packaging.

His proven business savvy caught the attention of a well-known Philanthropist, and together they built
YESterday, Inc
., a company with subsidiaries catering to building businesses. Their tagline:
Use yesterday’s mistakes to build tomorrow’s plan
.

I thought his story was inspirational, and
was sold on the idea that the man who sat before me was a brilliant individual.

~*~*~

Before we rose from our table, I gave him both home and cell contact numbers.

When he walked me to my car, we shared a passionate kiss that lasted for more than just a few minutes. It was nice and sweet, thanks to the mints we both grabbed on the way out the door.

“Thank you for a nice evening, Robert,” I said to him when we pulled apart. “I enjoyed myself.”

“So did I.”

When I deactivated my car alarm and the doors unlocked, he reached to open my door for me.

“Wow, chivalry isn’t dead, after all.”

“My mama raised me right,” he gushed.

As he closed my car door, he made a small request.

“Call or text to let me know you made it safely. I’ll wait to hear from you.”

“That is so sweet of you. I will send you a text as soon as I’m behind locked doors.”

While I was driving home, it dawned on me that Robert’s mention of Brazil had me shaken. Why, I didn’t know. It’s a country visited, fantasized about and loved by many.

Maybe it was that I had a whole other life there that I didn’t want anyone to know about and him mentioning it made me feel intruded upon, and that I could be found out.

But Brazil was definitely large enough for me to go undetected, so it was really a null issue, and all I needed to do was allow that moment to pass.

By the time I hopped in the shower and turned the TV on, I was back to normal.

I had a momentary lapse, after which the regret about not inviting Robert back to spend the night was setting in.

I lifted the receiver of my house phone and dialed his number.

“Hey Gabriella, I was just about to call you,” he said as soon as he answered the call.

“Did I take too long to call?”

“I figured you must have made it by now.”

“You were right. I made it in a little bit ago, but took a shower first.”

“Oh, okay. Well, I’m glad you made it in safely. Thanks for calling to let me know.”

“You’re welcome. But Robert…”

“Yes?”

“That’s not why I was calling…”

CHAPTER 32

~*~*~

My alarm sounded just before noon. I deliberately set it fifteen minutes to the hour so that I could use that time to acclimate, see Robert out and get ready to rise and move ahead at full speed. 

Although I had gone to bed a few hours earlier, I knew it would be a challenge, but that day was far too important for me to let a good love down deplete me of all my energy.

Get in gear, girl!
My inner voice commanded.

What a mistake it was to have a full on lovemaking session the night before so much to do.

But damn, it felt so good. Too late for regrets!

I realized something important – Robert couldn’t disappoint even if he tried. He was a true performer in the bedroom.

I wasn’t ready to make him my man, but I was certainly willing to allow him to explore whenever the urge hit him. Both me and my body had unanimously voted in favor of that option.

After seeing Robert to the door, I went back to my bedroom and opened the blinds so the summer sun could invade my room.

If there was one thing that gave me life, it was the sun. Even after having a long and productive night, when the sun appeared, I was all anew. Then I put the music on, and that was all she wrote. I was in full swing. 

Sunlight and my music…the combination that made it possible for me to deliver the magic.

Fortunately my iPod provided the hits I could dance to while I made my way from room to room, multi-tasking between cleaning and cooking.

Four hours later, my house was sparkling clean and my mental space was a weird mixture of spent and energetic.

When I first began planning, I considered using caterers, but decided against it because I wanted my personal touch on the appreciation dinner I had planned for the wonderful people who filled my life.

Had I used caterers, I would have had not just more oomph, but more time to sleep as well, but everything was coming together nicely. 

I covered all the food with aluminum tops to keep it warm, and ran to complete my last minute runs which included picking up a cake at Costco and stopping by the store to get balloons.

I thought I had time to spare, but around 6PM, panic set in. I’d gotten so caught up adding decorations around the kitchen and on my newly completed deck, that when I finally looked up, I had twenty-five minutes before everyone was expected to arrive.

Disaster would come swiftly if I didn’t hurry. I hated an event that didn’t get pulled off with flying colors – especially when it was my own.

My mother was generally the first to arrive anywhere, so that was one time I hoped that my father was dragging his feet like he sometimes did, because it would buy me time.

Shit!

I bolted for the shower as fast as I could, pulling clothes off along the way. When I emerged from the shower, I had ten minutes to spare.

Whew!

I was comfortable in shorts, a halter, and sandals. My hair was pulled into a slick ponytail, and my favorite sterling silver hoop earrings.

Checking myself out in the mirror, I was satisfied with what I saw.

“Damn, you’re pretty, girl!”

I heard the door unlock as I made my way to the front of the house.

“Alexis, and Gabriel!” I skipped to the door like a kid and pulled my parents into a group hug. They looked nice in their matching white – my father in white linen shirt and pants set, my mom in a white cotton summer dress with teal accessories and a pair of white wedge heels.

“Damn, y’all are a stunning couple!”

“Why thank ya, ma’am,” my mother beamed.

“It sure smells good in here!” my dad yelled looking around. “Perfect setting… Got the music going. My kinda music at that!” bobbing his head to The Gap Band’s
Outstanding
. “We used our key because when we heard the music, we knew there’d be no way you could hear us.”

“Daddy! That’s why y’all got a key…to
use
it! Stop it! Besides, the music isn’t
that
loud
.”

“Who’s in there cookin’ little girl?” my mom chimed in.

“The cookin’ is done for your information. Don’t be jealous I didn’t call you over to help with the menu items?”

“Please! Why would I be jealous because you
catered
some eats?”

The two of them erupted in laughter.

“
Ha-ha-ha
! Very funny! I cooked myself,
I’ll have you know
.”

“Of course you did baby,” my mom said, winking at me.

“I’ll bet if I went outside to your garbage bin, I’d see some nice containers from one of the fancy restaurants around here!”

I walked off waving my hand in the air.

“Okay, this is a lost cause. I’m done trying to convince you two.”

“Hey! Wait a minute, you. Come back here!”
my dad shouted after me.

“Yes, papa…what ya got? More jokes?”

“Aww, she’s mad at us,” my mom whined, as she made her way next to me rubbing my shoulders.

“Y’all sure are acting silly today. Drinking before you got here? What’s going on? I need to get in the kitchen and prep a bit more before everyone else gets here.”

I had already ignored my dad’s request to remain in the front room and was headed to the kitchen.

As I rounded the corner to disappear into the kitchen I heard, a familiar voice.

“Hey Gabriella!”

Oh my god! I know that voice!

I turned around and when I was sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me, I went running back toward my front door, screaming the entire way.

“No…way! No…way!”

“Yes…way!” she yelled as she ran to meet me.

I couldn’t believe she was there, but she was.

As my parents looked on, Natalia and I hugged for an eternity there in my doorway, crying into each other’s shoulders.

Thank god I didn’t have enough time to apply makeup after my shower because I would no doubt need to reapply – especially, the eyes. 

I took a few baby steps back and stared at her in disbelief.

“You look so beautiful! When did you get here?” I drew her back into another hug. “Oh my god! I can’t believe you’re actually here in my living room! How long you staying?”

“So many questions, menina!”

“What?” I said innocently and shrugged my shoulders. “They’re valid questions!”

“And on that note, I’ll be heading into the kitchen, where I can plead the fifth in peace,” my father announced. “My job is done!”

My mother breathed a sigh of relief.

“
Whew
! I’m so happy this is over. Keeping secrets is
no fun
!”

“…Says the woman who was on hunting expedition trying to figure out daddy’s secret location for the house way back when! Now you see what daddy went through.”

“Okay!” my mom announced, “That’s my cue to leave!”

Talia and I cracked up thinking back to the memory.

“And in answer to your question…” she yelled, as she took off in the direction of the deck, “Talia’s been at the house since yesterday afternoon when we picked her up from the airport.”

“
Yesterday
, girl? I said aiming my gaze at Talia. “Really?”

Had I known she was in town, my date with Robert never would have taken place, and I sure as hell wouldn’t have awakened with the beautiful aches that plagued my body.

So worth it. 

“Yep!” Got here late yesterday afternoon. You had to know I would come for the opening of your club! I had to be here for you. That’s huge. I was tempted to call you last night and ruin the surprise, but major jetlag ruled the moment.

“I know the feeling! And it’s been so long since you were last here, you probably forgot, so I understand.”

I linked my arm in hers, as we joined my parents on the deck.

“I’m soooo glad you’re here, irmã.”

“Me muit, irmã.”