Chapter Seven

 

 

Filipe had been waiting all day for Celeste and Lucas to arrive. That was part of his problem, since they wouldn’t be getting to the reception until later. She’d sent him a text saying they’d be a little longer than she’d thought as they were having lunch with her father and taking Lucas for a tram ride around the city of Porto.

Filipe sat at the table closest to the entrance, his chair sideways so he could keep an eye on the party and not miss anyone newly arrived. His jacket draped the back of his chair, and he’d loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves to his elbows. Every few minutes he checked his phone for incoming messages, but nothing showed on the screen.

He almost wished he’d gone with them, but of course he wouldn’t miss Matias’s wedding and the Romano get-together. He wasn’t worried Celeste wouldn’t come; he only wanted her to come sooner so they could spend more time together.

The reception had started two hours before for family and close friends with a sit-down dinner. Everyone else would start trailing in soon for the buffet dinner, with the dancing expected to last until much later. Of course, the bride and groom would leave before then. Matias had told Filipe he had a surprise for his bride and they’d be leaving on a private boat for their honeymoon. The perks of being a river boat captain.

In the morning, the wedding had gone smoothly, as far as he could tell. Matias and Vanessa only had eyes for each other, despite the throngs of onlookers and journalists waiting outside the church. As the granddaughter and heiress to the cruise ship magnate António Valadares, Vanessa attracted the attention of the media, and the wedding had been dubbed the most anticipated of the year at the national level. It seemed no expense had been spared. Of course, the media loved to photograph Matias and Vanessa on any occasion—the way they cut such contrasting, attractive figures, him with dark hair and her with blonde—and even more so on their wedding day.

At least the event had brought the Romanos together, along with hordes of other cousins. There was nothing the lot of them liked more than a family reunion—the more the better—especially under the excuse of a wedding with lots of food, drink, and dancing into the night.

Matias appeared calm enough, aside from the slight twitch of his jaw every once in a while. He’d confided in Filipe that he would have preferred a smaller, more intimate ceremony, but with Vanessa’s grandparents planning and hosting the wedding, that was a hollow wish on Matias’s part. Vanessa looked radiant, unfazed by all the attention, with genuine happiness in her expression. If Filipe didn’t like Matias and Vanessa so much, he would have had a hard time being patient, if not a little jealous of them for finding each other.

Not to mention his other cousins who’d tied the knot recently. Catarina had been the first one, on the first day of the year. She and her husband Afonso and their baby girl Carlota were happy as well. Jacinta and Knox had married less than two months ago, and they had the same lovesick look on their faces as the bride and groom. It must be something contagious.

If only Filipe could catch the same.

He’d thrown it all away when he was young and stupid. Now he’d found Celeste again, but it was too late for them. Wasn’t it?

His mom approached and took the chair next to him. “Still waiting on that girl of yours?”

She wasn’t really his girl. He only wished she were. “She’ll be here soon.”

“Have we met her before?” his mom asked.

“Do you remember Eduardo Quintano?”

“Your friend from high school? That poor boy. Such a tragedy.” She made the sign of the cross. “And his poor family too.”

Filipe winced at his mother’s gesture, as appropriate as it was. “It’s his sister, Celeste. The girl who came with me.”

His mom’s eyes went wide. “Celeste Quintano is your date to the wedding? How did that happen?”

“She works at the aquarium that was included with the purchase of the hotel in Peniche, and her surname is Ferreira now.”

“Such a small world,” his mom said, a sense of awe in her words. “Why did she change her name?”

“Celeste is divorced and has a five-year-old son.”

“How good are things between you? Any long-term plans?” Just like his mom, to try and find everything she could in one sitting.

“It’s complicated.” Filipe rubbed the back of his neck. “Please don’t make any comments when she gets here. It’s not the right place or time for that kind of suggestion.”

His mother raised her palms in a placating gesture. “I won’t suggest anything. But I’d like to greet her.” From a nearby table, his aunt Glória gestured at his mother, and she rose.

“Mãe,” he called, and she stopped. “One more thing. Don’t ask about her parents. Her mother passed away a year after her brother and her father has health issues.”

She brought a hand over her chest. “The poor girl,” she said, then left to see her sister-in-law.

If Filipe hadn’t said anything to his mother about Celeste’s family, she would have surely asked Celeste about them. It was easier to avoid a few awkward minutes this way.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, and Filipe hurried to retrieve it.

We’re here. Can you come meet us at the entrance?

Celeste. His heart tripped.

Be right there.

He grabbed the suit jacket from the back of the chair, straightened his sleeves, and quickly slipped the jacket on as he made his way to the front of the hotel.

Celeste and Lucas stood in the lobby, and at the sight of them, Filipe’s expression widened in a grin.

Celeste wore a pink floral dress with short sleeves and a flowy hem that grazed her knees and showed off her shapely legs. Her hair was down in simple waves, almost brushing her shoulders, as she used to wear it when she was younger. Only this was a woman beside him, and he liked the way she’d aged into soft curves and gentle planes. Motherhood had changed her appearance, and it looked good on her. The way she’d felt in his arms last week was not enough—he wanted more. Would she dance with him if he asked?

“Your favorite people are here, Filipe,” Lucas said.

His mother chuckled, and Filipe joined her. “I’m so glad you are.” Something in Celeste’s eyes made him pause. “How did it go with your dad?”

She met his eyes. “It was good. I’ll tell you more later.”

He’d have to wait until she was ready to talk. For now, he steered them in. “Come on, let me introduce you to my cousin and his new wife.”

Celeste leaned toward Filipe. “You didn’t tell me your cousin’s new wife is the heiress to the Gold River Cruises,” she whispered in his ear. “Good thing I googled it. This was the best I could do on short notice.” She gestured to Lucas and herself.

Her breath touched the side of his ear and his skin broke into goose bumps. Filipe placed a gentle hand at the small of her back and urged her forward, trying to put some distance between them. As much as he wanted to get closer to her, their relationship was not there yet. “You and Lucas look great. Don’t worry about it.”

“I didn’t bring a gift either,” she added.

Filipe glanced at her. “I took care of that.”

She arched an eyebrow in reply but quickly got distracted when they entered the reception room.

Lucas’s attention shifted immediately to the dessert table, which offered American candy and sweets and an ice cream bar with all the toppings, along with the traditional Portuguese wedding desserts.

As Lucas tried to make a run for it, Celeste grabbed his arm. “Not so fast, little guy.” She crouched to his level and tipped her chin toward the newlyweds. “We’re going to meet Filipe’s cousin first. Then you’ll get some dinner, and if you eat all your vegetables, we’ll talk about dessert.”

Lucas’s shoulders slumped for a moment, but he soon perked up when he saw some of his favorite food laid out on the buffet.

After meeting Matias and Vanessa and waiting for Celeste and Lucas to fill their plates, Filipe took them to a table, and they sat down to eat.

“Big wedding,” she said as she looked around.

Filipe agreed. “Lots of family on both sides. Speaking of which.” Filipe’s mom and Tia Glória approached, and Filipe stood to make introductions.

He should have known they’d be too curious not to come over.

If only he and Celeste weren’t pretending to be together.

 

* * *

 

Celeste could hardly keep up with the names of Filipe’s cousins and other family members who came to introduce themselves. Matias and Vanessa were the newlyweds; she remembered that well. In spite of having Portuguese family, the bride had been raised in the United States and was still learning Portuguese.

One of Filipe’s girl cousins had married an American who’d moved to Porto, and Filipe’s sister Luciana was there with her American boyfriend. The American and Portuguese international relations were in good standing with this family. Another of the girl cousins had married the classic pianist Afonso Cortez, and they had a darling baby girl whom Celeste wished to hold but didn’t have the courage to ask.

There were too many of the single cousins to remember their names. Filipe also introduced her to his grandparents, and his parents remembered her well. From the look on their faces and lack of questions about her family, Filipe had most likely told them about her mom and dad. Probably better that way. It wasn’t the best place to talk about depressing subjects.

Despite some brief, uncomfortable moments, when people assumed she and Filipe were a couple, Celeste was glad she’d come. They stuck to their story that she was Filipe’s date, and nobody questioned it, taking it as completely normal.

Lucas thrived with the attention. Other than the baby girl, Filipe’s siblings and cousins didn’t have young children, but there were plenty from other branches of the family and Vanessa’s as well, which included boys and girls close to Lucas’s age. Filipe took him around to meet the other children and stayed with him until Lucas felt more at ease. The way Lucas laughed and played with them lifted her worry for him.

While she looked around the room, observing the people and the way they interacted, the atmosphere was loud and even somewhat disorganized. But the love and care they had for one another trumped anything else, resulting in a light, happy mood.

This was the kind of family she’d always wanted. As obnoxious and intruding as large families could be, the support they gave one another made up for the inconveniences. In truth, only people with large families complained about large families. The rest of the world admired and envied them from afar, just as she did right now, and from the way she kept to herself and didn’t socialize much, no one would guess that of her.

Eduardo’s accident had changed everything.

The emotion hit her, knotting her chest tightly. Celeste rose from her chair and forced the maudlin thoughts away, postponing them for a private moment of self-pity.

She went to the bar and asked for a cold bottle of passion fruit soda, keeping her eyes on Lucas and Filipe. Just then, Filipe turned and locked his gaze on her, the corner of his mouth raising in a smile. He winked, then talked to the young women in the group and introduced Lucas to them.

As she wondered what Filipe was up to, he crossed the room to her.

Celeste’s pulse quickened at the way he watched her, and her cheeks flamed at the intent she saw in his eyes. And that dark-blue suit he wore—it should be a crime for a man to look that good. He should have definitely worn it more often.

The tailored cut emphasized his wide shoulders and trim waist, and the rich tone of the fabric enhanced the color of his eyes. All the Romano men wore matching suits and they looked like Italian models at fashion week.

Filipe leaned close to her and tipped his chin toward Lucas and the young woman. “Those are my cousins Anita and Susana. They’re taking the little kids to one of the suites to watch movies. They love little kids. Lucas is in good hands.”

“I trust you,” she said.

“Come dance with me.”

“I haven’t danced in so long,” Celeste said.

“It’ll come back to you.” He took her hand and led her to the dance floor, where they joined other couples already there.

The live band wrapped up a popular song with a fast beat and quickly segued into a slow dance. When Filipe rested a hand on her waist, Celeste shivered. She lifted a hand to his shoulder, and Filipe brought her closer to him. Through it all, Filipe kept eye contact with her until they settled in each other’s arms and started dancing.

She’d never danced with Filipe before he left all those years ago, and not for lack of wishing. That last summer they spent together, their relationship had been escalating from the adolescent friendship they’d had for years to something more that neither of them was ready to acknowledge. Not until the night when everything had changed.

How many times had she danced with Hugo? Maybe a couple of times before her pregnancy with Lucas, then once at their wedding. None with the emotional charge she felt right now.

“Finally,” Filipe murmured in her ear. “I’ve been wanting to dance with you since you were fifteen.”

She pulled away to glance at him. “That long, huh?

“Why the skepticism? I had a crush on you since the day we met.”

She swallowed. “You never said anything.”

The corner of his lips quirked. “Of course not. I was a teenage boy infatuated with my best friend’s little sister. I couldn’t let anyone know, least of all you.”

She’d felt the same way for a long time and hadn’t confided in anyone either. So much time wasted.

Filipe nuzzled the side of her neck, and a deep warmth spread from her chest. His scent enveloped her, tightening the pull toward him, a deep wave of attraction rising within her. The music became an afterthought as her mind and heart focused on the man holding her.

Why did it feel so right?

What about her mom’s prediction about her and Filipe ending up together?

Gradually, Filipe guided them past the double doors, and they danced away to a more secluded corner. Even after the music changed back to something with a faster beat, they remained in each other’s arms, swaying gently to a silent song.

The night was warm, and a half-moon hung in the dark-blue sky. The hotel stood on a hill at the edge of the city and the view extended to the Douro River below. From a nearby garden, the heady scent of wisteria carried in on the gentle breeze. It was the perfect kind of night for a wedding reception, one that would stay in the memories of the bride and groom.

When Filipe brushed his lips along her jaw, Celeste held her breath. Something warred inside her for a moment, a feeling between wanting to be closer to Filipe and needing to preserve her heart intact. But as he kissed her in the spot behind her ear, she tipped her neck to give him better access and pushed her worries away.

Filipe pulled back a fraction and hesitated to give her time to push away, to ask her for permission—whatever it was, she didn’t want the distance. Celeste grabbed his lapels until his lips met her mouth.

Finally.

This was what she needed, what she’d always wanted.

A blast of sensations rushed through her—the pressure of his lips on hers, his hands holding her hips, the scent of his cologne all around her, on her.

“It’s been so long,” he whispered against her mouth.

Celeste tightened her arms around his neck, holding on to him on unsteady legs.

It was new, and it was coming home, all rolled into one.

She couldn’t say how long it lasted, a string of shorter kisses leading up to a longer one. When the heat between them intensified, Filipe slowly spaced his kisses until they stopped, then rested his forehead against hers.

“I should have never left you,” Filipe said.

But he had. He’d left her without a word, without ever looking for her or making any contact in all the years that followed.

Celeste dropped her hands to his and pulled them away from her waist. “Why did you leave?”

She had to know. What would she do if she fell for him again and he left like he had before? And this time, there was more than only her feelings to consider. Lucas was involved as well, and she wouldn’t tolerate another man who was quick to put him aside.

As she took a breath and glanced away, Filipe tried to catch her eye. “I’m sorry. Maybe it’s too early for a kiss, but I—”

“Not just the kiss,” she interrupted. “This thing. Between us. I’m not ready to pick up where we left off twelve years ago without an explanation.” Celeste took a step away from him, already feeling the loss of his body against hers. “Maybe coming was a mistake.”

“Why would you say that?”

“You pushed me to come to the reception, to do this weekend with you when I wasn’t ready.”

“I wanted you to come, yes. I thought I could help you by offering you a ride with me, thought it could be more fun. But I didn’t push you to do anything you didn’t want to yourself. We’re consenting adults, Celeste. And I’m pretty sure we both want the same thing.”

He was right, of course. Somehow, she didn’t feel any better about it.

“Maybe I don’t know everything I want, but I know I don’t want you to hurt me again. I don’t want to wake up one day and find you gone.”

“I didn’t plan it that way.” His voice lowered an octave. “I was scared and feeling guilty—”

“You left me at the time I needed you the most. First, my brother was gone, and then my best friend. How did you think that made me feel?” She paused to take a breath, the meaning of his words finally registering. “Wait. Guilty? Why did you feel guilty?”

Filipe turned around and hung his head, then rubbed the side of his forehead.

Celeste stepped in front of him. “Guilt for what, Filipe?”

He let out a long breath. “I guess it’s about time I tell you.” He started pacing, hands in his pockets. “That night. I asked you out, and I had it all planed.” He scoffed. “Nothing was getting in the way of me kissing you.”

Celeste stood to the side and nodded, encouraging him to go on. She remembered how excited she’d been when Filipe had asked her out. He’d been very insistent it was a date, but he didn’t want Eduardo to know. Up until then, the three of them had always done everything together, and, despite her reservations, she’d agreed to go with Filipe.

He had been nineteen and she’d just turned seventeen, and had been dreaming of going out with him since she was fourteen. Deep down, she knew he was planning to kiss her, and she wanted the same. She would have agreed to almost anything he’d asked.

“I’d been lying to your brother all summer, you know? He knew I had feelings for you, but I denied it every time he asked.”

“He never said anything to me,” she said.

“He wouldn’t have. It would have changed everything between the three of us. That night, Eduardo called a few minutes before I was leaving to pick you up. He wanted to go somewhere with me and take the car, but I told him no.”

Filipe had shown up on time, and if he’d been nervous, she hadn’t noticed. Somehow, she’d guessed he’d planned to kiss her, and that was all she could think about.

“Of course you didn’t go with him,” she said. “We met, and you drove me to the hill in your grandparents’ village. And you kissed me there.”

Filipe passed a careless hand through his hair. “Don’t you see, Celeste? He took the motorcycle because I had the car. If I’d gone with him…”

If Filipe had gone with Eduardo, would that have prevented Eduardo’s death? Or would both of them have died? A drunk driver had run a red light and crashed into Eduardo. It had been that quick. If Filipe and Eduardo had been crossing that intersection, they both would have been hit.

Filipe closed his eyes and drew in a ragged breath. “He died because I didn’t go with him, Celeste. I let my best friend get on that motorcycle, and I was glad he did because I wanted to be alone with you.”

Did he even know about the investigation? The police had taken a month, and by then Filipe had been long gone.

“Filipe, there was more than just letting Eduardo on the motorcycle. The drunk driver never even tried to brake.”

He frowned. “What drunk driver?”

This time it was Celeste who led him by the hand to the closest bench. They sat down, knees touching, hands still clasped.

“The police investigation of the accident concluded that a drunk driver ran the stop sign, and he didn’t even try to slow down or brake, let alone stop.”

“So it wasn’t Eduardo being reckless?” Filipe asked.

“No, he didn’t drive recklessly that night,” she replied. “A drunk driver hit him and fled the scene. It took the police two weeks to find him and another two for the final report to come in. But by then you were gone already.”

Filipe turned to her, the shock of the news filling his eyes with myriad feelings as he clearly struggled to process the information.

“I never knew—”

“Excuse me?” A voice interrupted them.

Celeste and Filipe turned and found one of his girl cousins holding a teary-eyed Lucas by the hand.

“Is everything all right, sweetie?” Celeste walked over and knelt by her son.

Lucas rubbed at his face. “I got scared when I woke up and didn’t see you.”

He must have fallen asleep and woken up disoriented.

She pulled him close for a hug. “I’m here.”

Celeste rose and took Lucas’s hand. When she looked back at Filipe, he motioned for her to go, and she nodded.

They’d have to finish their conversation later.

Lucas fell asleep almost immediately after she put him in bed in their hotel droom.

If only sleep could come that quick for her.

After changing into her pajamas, Celeste sat on the sofa and pulled her knees up, trying to comfort herself as memories of the evening flashed in her mind. Everything had been near perfect—Filipe’s family was perfect, flaws and all, and they treated her and Lucas so kindly.

This is what she’d always wanted for her son—doting grandparents, aunts and uncles who spoiled him, an enormity of cousins to play and grow up with. And even brothers and sisters to love.

The Romanos were the example of what it was like to have two parents living together and loving each other and their children—exactly what Celeste wanted for Lucas. For her.

It was fate teasing her, to have it all so close and so out of her reach.