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Santiago didn’t respond. He’d never before considered the possibility that Gabriela had seen Eric as a way out of the family home. He’d thought his sister had married for love, only to have it turn sour.
“Oh my God,” Gabriela said softly. “You have got to be both the smartest and the stupidest person I know. How is that possible? How can you be so intelligent, and yet so clueless when it comes to relationships?”
“Hey,” he said sharply. “I don’t need a lecture.”
“Apparently, you do,” she shot back. “You found love. Do you have any idea how rare that is? But rather than hold on to it, you threw it away because you were afraid.”
“Aren’t you?” Santiago asked. “No one in our family has had a good relationship. No one.”
“So what?” Gabriela shrugged. “You think I’m going to let other people’s failures dictate how I live my life?” She shook her head. “Hell, no. Mom and Dad made our childhood miserable. I’m not about to let them steal the joy from my future, and you shouldn’t, either.”
Santiago didn’t reply. Gabriela’s words washed over him, sinking into his mind and taking root. He hated to admit it, but she made some good points.
His mind drifted back to the retreat. Ainsley had said as much to him, hadn’t she?
You’re a good man, Santiago. I know you don’t see it, but I do.
She’d been so understanding that night, when he’d told her about his parents and the troubles in their marriage. He’d never talked about his childhood with anyone else, never opened up like that before. Partly because he didn’t like thinking about his childhood, but mostly out of fear. He’d always assumed that once people heard about his family, they’d know he was damaged.
But Ainsley hadn’t thought that.
“You’re not Dad.” Gabriela’s voice broke into his thoughts. “And even though I’ve never met her, Ainsley isn’t Mom. You guys aren’t doomed to repeat history.”
“I...” Santiago trailed off, shaking his head as a new memory popped into his brain.
I could tell by the way she was looking at you that your wife still loves you.
It’s clear you’re in love.
Brody’s words echoed in his ears. His parents had never looked at each other with love, never shown affection of any kind. What did it say about him and Ainsley that Brody Woods, of all people, thought they were in love?
“I’m going to head out,” Gabriela said. She gathered up the remnants of her meal and stood. “It’s clear you have some thinking to do.”
Santiago nodded, feeling shell-shocked. “Thanks for stopping by.”
“Of course.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks again for everything. You and Ainsley make a great team.”
“We do, don’t we?” He’d always thought so, but he liked hearing his sister say it. And now, for the first time, he began to hope ther
e might be a way for them to stay together...
Gabriela nodded. “Not everyone gets a second chance,” she said. “I’d hate to see you throw away yours.”
Santiago smiled, a sense of peace filling him as he thought about Ainsley and allowed himself to dream of a future with her. Gabriela was right; he wasn’t his father. She wasn’t his mother. And he wasn’t going to give his parents any more control over his life.
“I’m not going to,” he assured her. “I’m going to make this right.”
“Good,” she said, moving to the door. She stopped and turned back. “Oh, and one more thing.”
“What’s that?”
Gabriela wrinkled her nose. “Take a shower.”
Three days later
Ainsley scrolled down the computer screen, looking at the pictures and reading the short descriptions attached.
He’s cute, she thought. A little on the young side, though.
