Page 50 of Never Again
“Mi amor, I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Forgive me, please. I’m losing my mind without you.Please.”
She nodded, unable to speak because of the glut of emotion in her throat. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she squeezed them shut.
She didn’t know how long they stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s arms, but she finally looked up at him with watery eyes. “You’re really here for good?”
He nodded. Keeping her in the circle of one arm, his thumb wiped away a tear at the corner of her eye. “I missed you. Damn, I missed you.” He kissed her cheeks and lips and chin.
She’d wanted to punish him, but how could she, when he’d uprooted his life for her? When he stood here, in the flesh, begging for forgiveness. When she missed him so much that night after night she prayed for sleep to get a small respite from the ever-present ache in her chest.
Carmen smiled. “I missed you, too. Come up?”
“Absolutely.”
21
Carmen was more nervous than Carlos. But of course she was. He was accustomed to having showings over the years, and this was the first time she would attend one with him.
She was so proud of him. He had worked hard to establish a reputation in Toronto. Fortunately, he already had a strong portfolio, a website showcasing his work, and eventually found an agent here in Canada who helped him get established.
Six months had passed quickly, and his hard work paid off, culminating in tonight’s exhibition at a prestigious gallery. The walls displayed work he’d completed since his arrival and paintings he’d had shipped from the United States. The show had not officially begun yet, but people had already started trickling in. Off to the side, Carmen watched Carlos engage a potential buyer. The woman nodded as he spoke, and he gestured toward the painting, waving his hand across the width of the canvas as he explained.
His mother and siblings would arrive later, and Carmen’s mother had promised to come, as well. Alfred, however, had been noncommittal in his response to the invitation. When he’d learned Carmen had forgiven Carlos and they were not only back together but Carlos had returned to Toronto, he hadn’t been pleased. At least he hadn’t disowned her or forced her to leave the company.
When the woman walked away, Carlos strolled toward Carmen and she admired his leisurely gait in ripped jeans and a vintage jacket over a white V-neck T-shirt. He’d added a few more silver rings and another bracelet to the collection on his wrist.
He took her hand and smiled. “I think you’re more nervous than I am.”
She squeezed his fingers. “I am, but I’m also very proud of you.”
“I can’t wait for my family to get here, my mother especially. This will be the first time she’ll see me at a show.”
“I know she can’t wait. She could barely contain her excitement at dinner the other night,” Carmen commented with a laugh. She’d eaten dinner at the Hortados two nights ago. Carlos had still not received an invitation to the Reeves home.
They spent a few minutes chatting with a local artist. Carmen sipped punch as she listened to her and Carlos discuss technique when movement near the door drew her attention. She froze when her father and mother entered the gallery. She and Carlos had expected Graciela to come, but not Alfred. She kept an eye on them as they scanned the walls filled with his paintings.
The gallery owner greeted her parents and handed over one of the flyers. Then Carmen and her father made eye contact, and he and Graciela excused themselves and started in their direction. Alfred’s grim expression didn’t bode well for the conversation to come. Her mother had probably dragged him there.
“My parents are here,” Carmen announced, her stomach knotting up.
Carlos twisted around, and his relaxed pose stiffened somewhat. “Excuse us,” he murmured to the other artist, giving her a brief smile.
“Sure. We’ll catch up later.” She sauntered away.
When her parents stopped in front of them, both couples greeted each other.
“What are you doing here?” Carmen directed the question at her father.
“Last I recall, I was invited,” Alfred said.
“I didn’t think you’d come.”
“Well, I’m here.”
“Please don’t start anything.”
Graciela jumped into the conversation. “He won’t. He’s genuinely interested in Carlos’s work. Isn’t that right,papi?”
Alfred looked at his wife and then looked at Carmen and Carlos. “That’s what your mother wants me to say.”
