Page 181 of From Rivals to I Do

They opened the restaurant and worked without saying another word about it for that day and the rest of the week. Of course, that didn’t mean that it wasn’t on Camilla’s mind. She watched him from the corners of her eyes all week, trying to conceal her interest in him. And he worked the way he always had, just a little left of her center in terms of pizza making. She’d avoided correcting him now, partially because there didn’t seem to be any point. He always kind of did things his own way.

Every night, Abel would clean until his brother came to pick him up, which only happened about half the time. The other half, Abel, just walked back home on his own. That part was a little concerning to Camilla, but then, she thought, it wasn’t like he couldn’t take care of himself. Every morning after, he showed up, clean cut, his hair tied back, and a smile for her as she opened up the restaurant.

On the Friday before their date, Rafael showed up a little early to pick up Abel. The rest of the crew was clocked out and on their way home, and Abel was still mopping the floors in back. Camilla greeted him as he walked in and thought briefly about how similar the brothers looked. Rafael was older by a couple of years, and it showed in his graying hair and the lines on his face. But they had the same soft brown eyes. Even similar builds, though Rafael was a little taller. He also looked harder somehow. His jaw was more set, and the stoic look on his face appeared much more natural than when he smiled. It was odd to Camilla since his brother had been the one to go to prison.

“Hey,” she said as he walked in. “He’ll be out in a second. He’s still cleaning.”

He smiled. “That’s great,” he said. “I’m glad to hear he’s doing so well.”

She nodded, and Rafael stood there awkwardly for a moment. “So…you have something going on for the weekend?”

Camilla smiled, thinking of Abel. “Yeah, yeah. Actually, Abel and I are going out.”

Rafael’s smile faltered a little. “You don’t say. I didn’t know you two were getting along that well.”

She shrugged. “It’s just the park. We’re taking Charlie there.”

He nodded. Something was different in his face suddenly. It was slight, almost undetectable. He was still smiling, but the shine in his eyes had dulled a little. Camilla started to wonder if she’d said something wrong, but then he said with all the earnestness of a supportive brother, “That’s great. Abel needs to get out there, you know? Have a nice normal life.”

“Agreed,” she said. “And me, too, for that matter. It’s been a while since I’ve done anything except work and take care of Charlie.”

Just then, Abel came walking out, shrugging into his jacket. His eyes jumped from Camilla to Rafael for a second, maybe sensing the oddness that she was also sensing.

“Ready to go?” asked Rafael.

“Yup,” Abel said. He turned to Camilla, walking backward as he followed his brother out the door. “See you, boss.” He winked, and Camilla’s heart fluttered.

When Sunday came, he showed up at her doorstep right on time wearing a casual T-shirt and jeans. She’d decided to wear her yellow sundress with a light jacket. It was warm but not quite at the height of summertime just yet. When she opened the door, he paused, his eyes widening slightly.

“Wow,” he said. “You look great.”

She touched the edge of her medium-length hair self-consciously. She’d styled it so that it curled up at her shoulders. “Thanks.”

Charlie ran up behind her and stuck his head out from behind her. His eyes widened, and she squeaked in five-year-old joy, “Abel!”

“Hey, kid,” he said, bending down toward him. “You ready to go to the park?”

“Yeah!”

“All right.” He put an arm out to Camilla charmingly, and she hooked hers in it. Then, with a smile, the three of them left for the park. On the way, Charlie was delighted. He bounced between them, talking about his morning at Sunday school and remarking about one of the teachers and the way she styled her hair.

“It’s just really big,” he said when Abel asked about it. “Like big and yellow like…like a beachball.”

“Wow,” said Abel with a chuckle. “A beachball? On her head? That must be something.”

Charlie nodded happily. “It’s really something.”

“Ms. Gibbons is a very interesting woman,” giggled Camilla. “She really believes that the higher the hair is, the closer to God you are.”

“Huh?” said Charlie.

Camilla and Abel laughed. “Probably shouldn’t repeat that at Sunday school, champ,” said Abel.

When they got to the park, they found it buzzing with activities. It was such a nice Sunday, and everyone in the neighborhood seemed to have had the same idea. They walked along the beaten trail, noting the scores of parents with babies in strollers and toddlers walking on unsteady legs next to their parents. The wind picked up and tossed Camilla’s hair around as they rounded the bend toward the basketball court. She happened to look up just in time to see Abel looking down at her, a strange smile on his face as she pushed her hair out of her eyes.

“What?” she asked, and his smile broadened a little. The breeze came back and pulled another tuft of hair back into her face. Abel reached over and pushed it back, tucking it behind her ear. She felt her face flush again as he touched her. His hands were remarkably soft for someone who worked with a hot oven all day, every day.

“Nothing,” he said. “You just look really good today.”

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