Mateo Hernandez had always been handsome. It was a fact of life. The sky was blue. Coconut trees were green. Mateo’s face belonged in magazines. Abigail hadn’t forgotten, but for some reason she couldn’t look away.
As she greeted Santi, she peeked past his torso to spy on the man coming down the stairs. From this distance, she could see the breadth of his shoulders and the determined way he walked, as if the world owed him for the favor of his presence.
It was a confidence that was different from Paul’s. Mateo was self-assured, needing nothing and no one to validate his strength and worth as a man. He strode closer, his head high and his lips downturned as if he’d just had an upsetting conversation.
Santi hugged her and she hugged him back, taking the opportunity to observe Mateo’s face—the wavy black hair, the scruff around his pink lips, the strong nose, and the chocolate brown eyes that could cause an entire graduating class at the local girl’s academy to swoon.
“Santi, is it the first time you’ve seen a girl?” Mateo said. Santi narrowed his eyes and stepped aside so that there was nothing standing between them.
She smiled at the young boy who had grown so much and then glanced at Mateo. When his eyes edged up to meet hers, she felt a colliding spark that supercharged her heart. Her fingers tingled and she hid them in the pockets of her dress.
“Hello,” she said.
Mateo’s shocked expression nearly drove all the courage from her body. His face paled like he was seeing a ghost and his arm banded tighter around Ida. Abigail remained frozen in place, afraid to move, afraid he would disappear as he did in her dreams.
“Am I… missing something?” The girl with the black hair and pretty eyes murmured, breaking the spell. Her name was Mira or Moriah, something like that. Abigail had been too nervous to pay attention during their introduction.
Ida chuckled and patted her son’s cheek. “Abigail used to tutor Mateo in chemistry. They were really close before she left for the States, but now she’s back to get married.”
“Oh,” Moira said.
Mateo blinked and seemed to get over whatever thoughts had invaded his mind when he first caught sight of her. “Abigail, it’s good to see you again.”
“You too.”
She shifted awkwardly, wondering if she should open her arms for a hug or wait until he made the first move. When Mateo walked toward her, she extended her hands, expecting him to wrap his arms around her.
To her surprise, he strode right past her and loped his arms over the other girl’s shoulders. Feeling embarrassed, Abigail slowly crossed her arms over her chest and pretended that he hadn’t just brushed her off.
“Okay then,” Ida said. “Abigail, come this way so I can introduce you to everyone. You haven’t forgotten Nick, right?”
Abigail shook her head and followed Ida in a sort of daze. Children danced around the living room and a happy, carefree air filled the house, but her limbs were heavy as if she were moving through sludge.
“Abigail!” Nick Lee stood and clasped her hands. The strength in his grip shook her from the stupor and she looked properly at him. The man had obviously been working out as his muscled biceps and flat stomach could attest.
Abigail searched for Melissa, knowing instinctively that the personal trainer had a lot to do with Nick’s continued success in healthy
living.
“He looks good, doesn’t he,” Melissa said, tapping her husband’s shoulder. “Come here, Abigail! It’s been too long!” The beautiful woman stooped to hug Abigail tightly and she smiled, recalling her last trip with the gang, just before Nick and Melissa had gotten together.
“It’s good to see you, Melissa,” she said. “Where’s Maria?”
“She’s in Orange Walk. She’ll be down next week for a visit,” Ida said.
“Abigail, have you met my kids?” Melissa tried to tug Abigail away, but Ida held on to her other arm.
“Mel, the girl’s on information overload. You can do your proud mama routine later.”
“What ‘proud mama routine’?” Melissa grumbled. “I just wanted to show off my perfect children who would never be rewarded for breaking the rules.” Melissa eyed her husband who scratched his head and looked away. Abigail was sure there was something going on there, but Ida was right, she had too much processing in her brain to worry over it.
“Hey, Abigail,” Santi said. She turned to find the boy shoving a plate of nachos in her face. “I thought you might like this.”
Abigail smiled and shook her head, gently rejecting the teenager’s offering. “I’m okay, Santi. But thanks anyway.”
“He’s grown so much, hasn’t he?” Ida said as the boy returned to the kitchen. “Thanks to those knuckleheads,” she jerked her chin at Parker and Mateo who were just entering the living room, “he wants to be a doctor too.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Melissa asked.
“Not if it means another eight years without my babies while they’re studying. I’m going to do my best to get the rest of the kids to look at something other than the medical service profession. It takes too long and they spend too much time away from me.”
“But doctors are the best!” Nick declared and Mateo high-fived him.
Abigail’s eyes caught on Mateo’s, but he quickly looked away and turned to find his girlfriend. Ida and Melissa beamed when he sought her out and Abigail figured that the couple was either seriously dating or engaged.
“Mom,” a little girl with pale skin and crimpy brown hair ran to Melissa. She had narrow eyes and pink lips. “I’m hungry.”
“Just a minute, Reagan. Ida, is the lasagna ready?”
“Sure! Go on in and eat up!”
The stampede for food began. Abigail had been to a few of Ida’s family dinners, and each time had been a race for the corner pieces. Adding children in the mix had only fanned fire to the chaos.
While the others filled their plates, Abigail hung back and watched their interactions. Even before her father had banished her from Belize, she had never experienced something like this in her own household. Family harmony had been thrown out the window the day her mother died.
The first time she’d seen this group interact over ten years ago, she’d been surprised and a little overwhelmed. But that didn’t keep her from coming back. Like a highly addictive drug, Abigail found herself accepting all of Ida’s invitations until she spent more time at the little bungalow than the huge mansion by the sea.
Suddenly, a plate bearing a huge mound of lasagna surrounded by lettuce and garlic bread was shoved at her. Abigail focused on
Ida, who remained in place until she grasped the plate. “You’re too thin,” Ida said. “Eat up.” Thin?
Abigail looked down at the green dress. This material had more slimming properties than she’d given it credit for, but there was no way she could eat all of this. The bread alone was worth a million calories.
“Ida,” Abigail followed the short woman to the fridge, “I can’t eat this.”
“Why? You allergic?”
“No.”
“Mom!” One of the little boys hopped up to Ida and tugged on her shirt. “Micah hit me!” “Tell your father, Jonny.”
“Okay.” Jonny rubbed his eyes and went out in search of his father.
“What were you saying now, Abigail?”
“Um…” Before she could complete the statement, the patter of feet announced an incoming Park offspring.
“Mom,” the older son came to defend himself, “I didn’t hit Jonny. I just tapped him.” The little boy smacked Abigail’s shoulder as example. “Like this.”
“Ow!”
“Micah William Park, you apologize to Ms. Abigail right now!”
“It’s okay,” Abigail said.
Ida’s fiery eyes had her son cowering in fear. “Now go to your father and let him deal with you.”
“Sorry, lady,” the adorable little boy said before running off. Lucky kid. Even Abigail wanted to get the heck out of dodge and Ida hadn’t been turning those intense eyes on her.
“Now,” Ida set soda bottles on the counter, “what were you saying?”
“Nothing.” Abigail held up the plate. “I’ll eat every last crumb.”
“You better.” Ida tossed her a smile. “Could you excuse me?”
Abigail squished herself to the cupboard so that Ida could pass. When she looked up, she spotted Mateo with his date. The woman laughed at something he said and as Mateo’s lips pulled up in that devastating smile, even she was affected.
No, she couldn’t be swayed by him. Mateo was happy and his girlfriend seemed like a wonderful person.
Plus, there was Paul and their upcoming marriage to consider.
Now that Abigail had seen Mateo getting along well, now that she had seen his face after ten years, she would keep her distance. It was the best thing for both of them.