“Gab, I have the most amazing weekend planned for us. But before I tell you about it, there’s something I have to show you.” Ricardo said excitedly. Gabi had to grin at his enthusiasm. This was the most upbeat she had seen him since…well, since his stroke. He was rapidly regaining his strength, his voice was back to normal, almost better than before, and he could now walk short distances without the aide of the wheelchair that Gabi still insisted he use some places, even though it was more of an embarrassment than a help.
“What is it, Ricardo?” She asked, as she packed the picnic basket he had requested that she prepare for them. “Come on, don’t keep me in suspense!”
“Sorry, baby. It’s a secret! Now, hurry up with that lunch. I can’t wait get going.” He was excited about this, but not for the reasons that Gabi was thinking. Ricardo had something special planned for his beautiful wife, and it was going to be exactly what she deserved.
“Okay, okay. I’m done. So…let’s go!!!” Gabi said, excited, heading toward the door.
“Wait! First you have to put on this blind fold.” He held up a strip of black cloth. Frowning, she asked him what it was for. “This is a surprise, baby, and I want to keep you in suspense until the very last minute.” He grinned at her as he tied the cloth over her eyes.
“Okay…I can’t see. But you’ll have to show me the way!” She grabbed onto his arm as they made their way to the door.
“That’s what I was planning on doing.” Showing
her the way…just like she had showed him.
Antonio looked around the room tiny room he had just straightened up. It looked pretty nice. Very romantic. Flowers placed carefully in vases on the table, slow love songs playing in the background…the perfect mood for reviving a relationship put on hold…Ricardo and Gabi's relationship, of course.
“Ricardo will be pleased…” He muttered as he started to walk out, onto the deck. The deck of the boat that Ricardo had bought two days ago. For Gabi. He had even named it after his wife. The name GABRIELLA was painted in proud, dark letters on the hull of the white boat for everyone to see.
And now they were about to take a romantic daylong trip out to an island not too far away. It made Antonio ill to think of his brother and Gabi getting ‘romantic’. And, of course, those feelings only served to impound his guilt.
Antonio glanced down at his watch, realizing that he had been here longer than he had meant to be. It would only be a few more minutes before Ricardo and Gabi arrived.
He gave the room one last look, to be as thorough as possible and noticed a tape sticking out of the VCR. His curiosity getting the best of him, he walked over and pushed it in. His eyes grew wide as the fuzzy images of himself and Gabi appeared before him, and slowly grew clearer until every detail could be seen clearly. His heart was somewhere in his throat and his jaw around his chest.
His eyes were glued to the screen until footsteps jarred him out of his shocked reverie.
"T? You still here?" Antonio, unsure of what to do but knowing that Ricardo knew, called back as he pushed the stop button on the VCR with trembling hands.
"Yeah...I was just about to…to go." Antonio answered as his brother walked down the stairs. Thanks to his residual limp, it took him longer than usual to come down, giving Antonio enough time to get the tape back to its original state.
"Great. Gabi's waiting in the car, I just wanted to make sure everything was set before I take her out…this is going to be a wild trip, if you know what I mean." Antonio felt like he had been punched in the gut. He knew that Ricardo knew about him and Gabi. He could tell immediately by the almost maniacal look in his brother's eyes. It was something unmistakable; Antonio didn't see how he could have missed it before.
"I bet…I guess I'd better be going then…um…you two have fun." Antonio managed to get the words out before bolting past Ricardo.
"Thanks, T…T?" Ricardo called out as Antonio sped past him. "Bye…" He called out, but Antonio was already gone. "Gee, T, I was hoping to have a little more time to fill you in on what I plan to do to your lover, but I guess you'll have to wait, huh?" Ricardo grinned to himself as he began back up to the deck of the ship.
Antonio had figured out that Ricardo probably wasn't taking Gabi on this trip to seduce her. Knowing that his brother's intentions were less than truthful, Antonio knew that he couldn't allow Gabi to be alone with her husband. Glancing around quickly, he slipped into a storage room off the side of the boat just as Ricardo emerged from the room underneath. He heard his brother walk past him, off the ship; presumably to get Gabi.
After a few minutes, more footsteps could be hears. And voices. Gabi and Ricardo.
"I can't believe this, Ricardo! You got this boat for me!" Gabi was exclaiming, what sounded like true happiness in her voice. Antonio felt jealousy grip his heart. Gabi was truly happy with Ricardo, she really did love him. But Ricardo couldn't still love her, Antonio reminded himself. Not if he knew that Gabi and Antonio had done. Could he?
"Why don't we set sail? I took a few lessons from Casey on how to work this baby, he says I'm practically a pro." Ricardo boasted.
"Yeah, lets get going! I can’t wait to get to the island you told me about. This is going to be so amazing. I love you so much, Ricardo." The words that Gabi spoke were tearing Antonio apart inside. If only he could know that they did the same to Gabi…
As Gabi explored the boat, she couldn't help but wish that it were Antonio taking her off on this exotic adventure. As much as she enjoyed spending time with her husband, she wasn't exactly prepared for what he must be expecting her to do. It would be the first time they were as husband and wife since before his stroke. Gabi was nervous, but more than that. She was actually dreading being with him. As much as it pained her to admit, Gabi didn't want to be Ricardo's lover any more than she wanted to be his wife.
“Ricardo?” Gabi called out as he disappeared around the corner. There was no answer, so she decided to explore a little on her own. As she was walked past a small closet, she heard something…a…a cough, it sounded like. “Hello?” She said softly, and the door opened a little, Antonio wanting to be sure that Gabi was alone. “Antonio! What-“ Antonio quieted Gabi by pressing his finger to her lips. He listened to the soft roar as the engine started…they had already set sail…he wouldn’t be able to get Gabi off now! “Antonio, what are you…what?” Gabi whispered in a angry but quiet voice. Antonio looked at her, her onyx eyes sparkling with confusion and frustration.
“Gabi…you have to listen to me. Ricardo knows.” Antonio whispered, keeping his voice as quiet as possible. “He has the tape. He…I don’t know, he’s gone crazy or something…Gabi, he’s not bringing you out here for a romantic trip, he’s-“ Suddenly, Antonio stepped back, against the wall. Gabi was about to ask why he had hidden when she saw Ricardo standing by her.
“Gab…I thought I heard voices…?” He said, looking suspiciously at her. Gabi’s immediate reaction was to tell him about Antonio…but something stopped her. If he was right…then…she decided, though she wasn’t sure she believed him, that she wouldn’t tell about Antonio.
“Oh…I was just talking to myself…” Gabi lied with the assured ease that came from practice. “Um…Ricardo? I’m a little thirsty…do you think you could get me something?”
“Sure, babe, whatever you want. This day is for you.” He leaned over to kiss her lightly on the lips and then went below to get Gabi a drink. When he was safely out of sight, she pulled open the door to the closet.
“Gabi, thank God…look you have to believe me, Gabi. I was in here earlier setting up this for you…Ricardo asked me to. I know that he knows. If you don’t believe me, then go downstairs and watch the tape that’s in the VCR.” Gabi’s eyes widened as she realized that he was telling the truth…Ricardo really did know that she and Antonio had made love!
“Antonio…I…I don’t…oh God, how did he find out…how…when, why…if he knows, why is he doing this…?” Gabi had so many questions, and Antonio had so few answers. He shook his head helplessly.
“I don’t know, Gabi, I wish I did.” He reached over and grabbed her hand. “But I do know that Ricardo isn’t doing this because he’s forgiven you. Whatever his reasons, they’re not good. You have to get out of here, Gabi, we both do, before something happens.”
“Like what, T?” Antonio and Gabi jumped guiltily as they finally noticed Ricardo standing just around the corner, Gabi’s water in his hand. “What do you think I’m gonna do? Go postal on my favorite little pair of lovers?” He had a crazed glint in his eye, an unhealthy humorous little gleam. “C’mon Gabi…you trust me, don’t you sweetheart?”
“R-R…Ricardo…” Gabi stuttered, gripping Antonio’s hand tightly. He squeezed her fingers to reassure her as Ricardo stepped forward.
“Gabi…it’s me…your husband. The one you vowed to love,” his hand tightened on the glass of water as a stream splashed out onto the deck, “and honor…” Another step closer to the frightened pair,” and…trust!” The water went flying behind Gabi, mere inches away from hitting her. Glass shattered on the wall behind them as Ricardo lunged forward, hands outstretched, reaching for Gabi. Like a wolf going in for the kill, he easily regained his footing when Antonio pulled Gabi out of the way and pivoted fluidly around, grabbing her arm with a strength unusual for a man still recovering from a stroke.
“Ricardo, what the hell are you doing?” Antonio shouted as the boat tipped to the right, sending them all tumbling against the wall. Gabi grabbed onto Antonio and he held her tightly against him as water sloshed over the side. Ricardo charged at them again as the harsh waves crashed against the boat once again. Antonio managed to swing Gabi out of the way, thanks to his quick reacting as the boost that the rocking gave them, but Ricardo got a strong hold on his brother’s neck. Gabi was screaming, first for Ricardo to let go of Antonio…and then because she was the only one to notice the rocky cliff that the boat, unmanned now, was heading directly for.