CHAPTER 6

An outdoor sitting area with a built in barbecue,nice for summer to entertain guests,a wet bar is built inside the pool Abby saw another private seating area with a fire pit in the center.She stood still and admired the view it's so quiet,peaceful the smell of fresh flowers made her feel at ease...at home.Where did that thought come from? Shaking her head she followed Mariana and Amanda she heard Mariana telling her the guest quarters was on their right,it was fully equip and has two bedrooms with en-suite.The house has seven bedrooms with eight full bathrooms a second lounge is also upstairs all the bedrooms has balconies, build in wardrobes with en-suite bathrooms.Abby wondered how many people were staying in this house it's big,spacious and beautiful with it's floor to ceiling glass windows.Mariana didn't take them inside the bedrooms Abby understands those were private spaces but what they've seen so far is only the best,modern furniture and decor made the house even more perfect no expense was saved to make this house so beautiful and strange enough Abby felt at ease here something that has never happen before.

"Thank you so much for welcoming us into your home Mariana."Abby said.

"You welcome.Stay,let's have some tea out on the patio."She offered.

"I'm sorry,we can't.We have to get back to the cafe."Abby said apologetically.

"Please,I insist.You've come all this way think of it as my way of thanking you for getting everything done on time and I do have to pay you."

"It's okay Abby.I'll manage the cafe I do remember you saying your feet are killing you.Rest for a while a cup of tea won't kill you."Amanda added.

"I don't know-....Abby began.

"Stop thinking.I'll see you tomorrow."Amanda gave her a hug before going.

"I like your friend she's very open minded."Mariana said.

"There's no one like Amanda."Abby agreed,Mariana led the way out to the patio the moment they sat down a woman came out holding a tray with tea and cakes.

"Thank you Ana."The woman nodded,and silently left."You very beautiful Abigail.Are you seeing anyone."

Abby almost choked on her tea."Uhm..."

"Sorry for being so blunt dear."

"No,no it's alright."Abby reassured her."No I'm not seeing anyone."

"How did you and Alejandra's father part ways if I may ask."

"Well...uhm...I-I found out he was marrying someone else the woman he loves so I left without telling him."

"He never knew you were pregnant?"

She shook her head."I was gonna tell him the night I found out he was marrying someone else."Just thinking about it now makes her heart ache because she should've been that woman and no one else."

"You never talked to him to find out if it was true or not."

"There was nothing to find out because I over heard how he told his brother everything."

"Do you know who this woman was?"

"No,I don't."Mariana gazed at her for a long time.

"Did you love him?"

"More than myself."Mariana can see the love is still there although it's hurting.So she's the reason why her son refuses to marry now that tells her a lot.They will not acknowledge it but they carry each other in their hearts that's why none of them never did find anyone else.Mariana thinks it's time for them to meet,she doesn't know Abigail but knows she's the right woman for her son and a mother knows best.

"Abigail dear I'm not one to lead people around the bush I like things straight forward so therefore I'm gonna be honest with you."

"About what?"Abby didn't know what to expect.

"I think you would be perfect to marry my son."

"What?"She said softly."What."She said again when she could find her voice. "You hardly know me?"

"This few times we met showed me enough,and a mother is never wrong?"

Abby felt her head spinning."Mariana with all due respect I cannot possibly marry your son.I don't know him or this family."

"You might not know this family but you know him well enough."

"What do you mean?"

"Give me a minute."Mariana left and returned a few minutes later Abby saw she was holding two pictures in her hand,she set one down in front of her before sitting down again,Abby looked at the photo and caught her breath it's as if she's looking at her daughter a few years from now.Her eyes met Mariana's again opening her mouth she tried to talk but closed it again.

"I don't understand.Why are you showing me this?Who is this woman."

"She's my grandmother.Your daughter's great great grandmother."Abby jumped up so fast from the chair that the table shook,holding her forehead she shut her eyes and breathed deeply in and out,she could feel dizziness wash over her and she hasn't had anything for the day.She wasn't hearing this Mariana didn't just say what she's just heard,no it isn't possible.

"No,Alejandra isn't your granddaughter if that's what you implying."Abby said facing her.

"I know this might come as a shock but it's true."

"No."She shook her head."It's not.Thanks for the tea but I have to go."Abby rushed back inside the house.

"Abigail wait!"Mariana caught her at the foot of the staircase."Take a look at this."She took the photo Mariana held out to her,immediately all the air left her lungs as she look at the one man she never thought she'd ever see again, feeling numbness grip her knees she held onto the railing for support.No!was all her mind screamed.Arturo and Sofia is also in the picture along with Mariana,that should be their father.

"I think I'm gonna be sick."She whispered."I need to sit down."In a daze Mariana led her to the living room."This can't be happening?"

"You in shock so was I when I first laid my eyes on Alejandra."Mariana said.

"Alejandro."His name a soft whisper."He's your son."She stood up again."This isn't true,none of it is."Mariana walked over to her and grabbed her wrist.

"Come with me I'd like to show you something."Without waiting for Abby to say anything she dragged her back upstairs,down the hall last door on their right Mariana stopped and gently shoved it open.Abby went inside the room was a bit dark the curtains were drawn only partial light filled the room.Abby saw a man lying on the bed she walked closer,he looks old...too old."My husband."Mariana said making her way in."Suffered a heart attack six years ago,now he's confined to that bed and a wheelchair."There's no mistaking the sadness in her voice Abby's heart went out to her,it must be hard.

"I'm so sorry,I truly am."She said sincerely.

"So are we,he's paralyze on his left side and can barely talk.Alejandro never spends much time at home anymore he might not say it out loud but I know he blames himself for his father lying there."

"But why?How is it his fault."

Mariana gestured for her to sit down on the chair next to the bed she came to sit down on the bed before Abby."Alejandro's father wanted him to marry the daughter of his best friend,Vicenté said it will be a good business investment but knowing my son the way I did he refused Alejandro is a man of his own doesn't want to take orders from anyone.He told his father no his dad threatened to buy him out of the business they started together when he was twenty Alejandro didn't care,he said Vicenté can do whatever he wanted but he won't marry someone he doesn't know.The argument went on for a while until Alejandro stormed out of the house,we didn't see him for three days.I ask Arturo about his whereabouts but he was too loyal to his brother to say anything."

"He never married."Abby asked stunned,a thousand questions were beginning to run through her mind and she didn't like her train of thought...could she have misunderstood everything that night.

"No.Eventually when he did answer my calls,he told me the truth.He said mother I am in love with someone and she makes me happy with her I'm complete she makes me whole that's why I cannot marry anyone else."Abby gasped.

"No..."The word inaudible."That's not possible I over-....."The words choke in her throat.

"Whatever you heard was wrong,you thought he was talking about another woman but he was actually talking about you Abigail."Abby gasped again she couldn't have heard wrong..or could she.Has she made a mistake all these years thinking that Alejandro is married to another woman,no...fate couldn't possible be so cruel unto her.She shook her head this wasn't true.

"No,he's married I overheard him myself saying-...."

"What exactly did you hear?"Mariana asked.Abby opened her mouth but no words came out."Arturo is married,his wife is in hospital she's about to give birth at anytime Sofia is engaged and getting married in two months Alejandro is the only one who never got married because the one he wanted to marry left him without saying anything?"Abby got up from the chair and moved to the window,her mind is spiraling out of control she has no clue what's the truth or not?

Mariana went quiet for a long while before talking again."After your departure he changed became a different man,I lost my son six years ago."

"Mariana please.."Abby begged,knowing she had misjudged Alejandro for all these years is breaking her up from within,knowing she's the cause of them not being together killed her."This isn't happening.It can't be?"

"I heard him tell Arturo if only he hadn't defied his father then maybe he would never have had that heart attack.Everyday he carries that guilt around inside of him,that's why he's never home he can't bear to see his father in this condition,he's slipping away from me day in,day out."

"This is all my fault."Abby said eventually."Mr Àlvarez is lying there because of me if Alejandro didn't fought with his dad none of this would've happen,but he chose me over his family and...and I...I-...."Abby couldn't even finish her sentence tears threaten to engulf her.

"None of us could've forecasted what would happen.Don't blame yourself."