or the example you set. I know you would never harm her in any way. Marisol likes you. I don’t want to find someone else to teach her when you’re already doing that so well. I feel that if I were to change teachers, it would confuse her more than if she saw us seeing each other socially.”
“Can we just spend some time together and see what happens? We don’t have to talk to Marisol about it, but we don’t have to necessarily hide it from her either. Let’s just see how it develops. Can we do that, Summer?”
Big, green eyes looked up at him, and she nodded solemnly. “I still don’t know if this is a good idea.”
“Nobody ever knows if beginning a new relationship is a good idea. That’s why people spend time together. So, we will spend time together and see if it is a good idea.” Summer nodded again. “Does this mean I no longer have to expect your letter of resignation?”
“I guess time will tell, Gabe. I think you should know that I have serious commitment issues. The minute things start to get too serious, I usually cut and run.”
“Perhaps that is one thing I find attractive about you. I had to practically beg you to keep working for me, never mind see me socially. Believe it or not, that is not usually what happens when I meet a woman. Usually, I am the one with commitment issues, and it is the woman who chases me.”
“Ha! I’ve never chased anyone in my life.”
“As beautiful and unique as you are, I believe it.”
****
Although it was customary in Spain to eat dinner around ten at night, with a four year old, exceptions were always made. Dinner was at seven, followed by bathing, brushing teeth, and story time. It was obvious that Marisol was used to the routine, and she got to pick who read her a story every night. Tonight it would be her dad, and more than likely he would be her choice for the duration of the time they were on vacation, since he usually worked too late to do so. While Gabe was occupied with his daughter, Summer decided to take a stroll in the gardens. There were a number of benches placed under trees or by fragrant flowers, and Summer enjoyed several.
She felt emotionally drained after her crying jag earlier and after telling Gabe about some of her past, but she also felt lighter somehow. Sharing her story with Gabe had been difficult, but it had also been somewhat therapeutic. It had definitely been nice to be held and comforted by someone. She thought about what he’d said about investigating possibilities. She hadn’t exactly sworn off serious relationships, but neither had she ever embraced one. In the back of her mind, she had imagined herself with her own family someday, but not once had she pursued that dream.
Gabe certainly had a way of making her think about it though. She wasn’t at all sure if that was a good thing, but she knew it scared the hell out of her. Gabe was … wonderful in so many ways. He was a great father, a good person, and he seemed to be pretty open despite the terrible experience he’d had being married. She wondered how he managed to be willing to take a risk like the one he’d described earlier that day. What if things didn’t go well between them? Marisol was already attached to her, and she didn’t want to do anything to make her sad, like have to leave her job because she had a disastrous affair with her boss who also happened to be her student’s father. She wished she could be more hopeful like Gabe seemed to be. Maybe she could work on that. Maybe being around him would help her be more open and trusting. And maybe he’d break her heart, and she’d be left alone. Again. The latter seemed far more likely at this point than the former.
“You look very serious again, Summer. May I join you?”
“Of course, Gabe. These are your gardens, after all.” She smiled shyly, and he sat
“Can we just spend some time together and see what happens? We don’t have to talk to Marisol about it, but we don’t have to necessarily hide it from her either. Let’s just see how it develops. Can we do that, Summer?”
Big, green eyes looked up at him, and she nodded solemnly. “I still don’t know if this is a good idea.”
“Nobody ever knows if beginning a new relationship is a good idea. That’s why people spend time together. So, we will spend time together and see if it is a good idea.” Summer nodded again. “Does this mean I no longer have to expect your letter of resignation?”
“I guess time will tell, Gabe. I think you should know that I have serious commitment issues. The minute things start to get too serious, I usually cut and run.”
“Perhaps that is one thing I find attractive about you. I had to practically beg you to keep working for me, never mind see me socially. Believe it or not, that is not usually what happens when I meet a woman. Usually, I am the one with commitment issues, and it is the woman who chases me.”
“Ha! I’ve never chased anyone in my life.”
“As beautiful and unique as you are, I believe it.”
****
Although it was customary in Spain to eat dinner around ten at night, with a four year old, exceptions were always made. Dinner was at seven, followed by bathing, brushing teeth, and story time. It was obvious that Marisol was used to the routine, and she got to pick who read her a story every night. Tonight it would be her dad, and more than likely he would be her choice for the duration of the time they were on vacation, since he usually worked too late to do so. While Gabe was occupied with his daughter, Summer decided to take a stroll in the gardens. There were a number of benches placed under trees or by fragrant flowers, and Summer enjoyed several.
She felt emotionally drained after her crying jag earlier and after telling Gabe about some of her past, but she also felt lighter somehow. Sharing her story with Gabe had been difficult, but it had also been somewhat therapeutic. It had definitely been nice to be held and comforted by someone. She thought about what he’d said about investigating possibilities. She hadn’t exactly sworn off serious relationships, but neither had she ever embraced one. In the back of her mind, she had imagined herself with her own family someday, but not once had she pursued that dream.
Gabe certainly had a way of making her think about it though. She wasn’t at all sure if that was a good thing, but she knew it scared the hell out of her. Gabe was … wonderful in so many ways. He was a great father, a good person, and he seemed to be pretty open despite the terrible experience he’d had being married. She wondered how he managed to be willing to take a risk like the one he’d described earlier that day. What if things didn’t go well between them? Marisol was already attached to her, and she didn’t want to do anything to make her sad, like have to leave her job because she had a disastrous affair with her boss who also happened to be her student’s father. She wished she could be more hopeful like Gabe seemed to be. Maybe she could work on that. Maybe being around him would help her be more open and trusting. And maybe he’d break her heart, and she’d be left alone. Again. The latter seemed far more likely at this point than the former.
“You look very serious again, Summer. May I join you?”
“Of course, Gabe. These are your gardens, after all.” She smiled shyly, and he sat
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