Guadalupe clapped my shoulder. “I think you two have got this, so I’m going to go grocery shopping. I’ll get cake, a vegetable and fruit platter, some refreshments for us to enjoy. It’ll be wonderful.”
Ginger scurried to my door. “I’ll tell Margo out front to start applying the discounts!”
The spa erupted into one massive celebration for Camila and her new addition to her family. Margo put up streamers and balloons she found in the back storage room, and Guadalupe came in with bags filled to the brim with cups, ice, sodas, juices, finger foods, and all sorts of sweet treats. Our customers celebrated with us and rejoiced in happiness while reveling in their discounts. Our stock flew off the shelves so quickly that we had to restock not once but three separate times that day.
But, no amount of celebration wiped my mind of my memories.
I have to talk with Gavin about what happened between us.
I clocked out right at two in the afternoon and blazed a trail to his place. Not only did I want to tell him the good news about Camila, but I also needed to tell him about the lie his ex-wife had spewed. Part of me thought it wasn’t my place, but the other part of me felt Gavin had a right to know. He seemed so stressed that his ex had just swept in and terminated someone without his knowledge, and I didn’t want that hanging over his head any longer.
If he’s going to torture himself, it might as well be with the truth.
I pulled up to the house and really stopped to take a look at it. The crisp, clean white exterior was dotted with bright-yellow shutters, giving the place a very summery sort of feel. The columns attached to the wrap-around porch were unlike anything architecturally seen in this area, and I knew it had to have come from nowhere else except Gavin’s upbringing. I smiled at the idea of baby Gavin being raised in a house similar to this one. Beautiful plantation-style columns and running around playing tag on the porch while his parents and grandparents rocked the day away in rocking chairs fit for kings and queens.
But, a stark knock on my window pulled me from my trance. And I saw a stoic Gavin standing on the other side.
“I gotta go. Asia’s inside,” he said through the glass.
I opened the door and slipped out, but he was already booking it toward the garage.
“I have something to tell you!” I called out after him.
He held a thumbs up in the air. “We’ll talk soon, then!”
And like a lightning bolt, he was gone. No kiss. No acknowledgment of what had happened last night. Not even a hug. Just him, a command, and then an empty space before I felt my heart sink to my toes.
“It’s okay. Daddy does that sometimes when he’s upset,” Asia said.
I felt her hand slip into mine, and I looked down at her. “Any idea why he’s upset?”
She shrugged. “Usually, it’s Mom. I heard them yelling this morning.”
I crouched down as the garage opened off in the distance. “Well, why don’t we go inside and find something fun to do, yeah?”
She nodded with a smile. “I like that idea. Can we paint? I like painting.”
“Of course, we can. And then, we can figure out what to—”
The peeling away of tires interrupted my statement before smoke kicked up into the air. I stood up and whipped around, catching the backend of Gavin’s canary-yellow sports car as it tore down the driveway. I heard his tires squealing as he hit the road, trying his hardest to get out of here as quickly as he could. I wasn’t sure what had him in such a rush, but something told me I didn’t want to be around when he got home.
“Come on, pretty girl. Let’s go find something to paint,” I said.
I led her back inside, but I was only partially there. I kept racking my mind as to what I could’ve done to make Gavin treat me so coldly. Last night had been phenomenal. A bit awkward, maybe, but still amazing. And today, it felt like he wanted nothing to do with me. But, once Asia and I started painting, a text rolled through my phone, and it made me feel a little more comfortable with things.
Gavin: I’m sorry for being in such a hurry, but I had to be on set earlier than I thought.
I quickly texted him back while Asia hogged all the paint colors.
Me: Thank you for messaging. And I totally get that, no worries. But, I did figure out something I thought you should know.
Those three little dots started bouncing before his reply popped up.
Gavin: Oh? What happened?
I sighed before I started in on the message.
Me: I saw Camila’s aunt at work today, and she informed me that Camila is pregnant. That’s why she quit; she wasn’t terminated. I just wanted to let you know that your ex-wife didn’t fire anyone, that’s all.
