AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What about Pablo?”
“We are just friends. There would never have been anything more for either of us. He loved his wife too much, and I hadn’t let go of Juan.”
Thoughts of leaving without Nana brought a lump to her throat, and she struggled to swallow past it. She rubbed her eyes to stop the tears. “I don’t want to be in England if you’re here. I’m happy for you and Juan, but I would miss you too much. And I can’t stay here if Aisha marries him. I can’t see her with him.”
“Do you think that’s what she really wants?”
Gabi noted the tremble in her hand as she sipped the juice. “My heart says no, but my head is confused.”
Nana smiled. “Then you need to find out.” She patted Gabi’s hand and then held it. “I’m sure you’ll find a way.” She leaned back in the seat.
Gabi would find a way. She couldn’t just walk up to Aisha’s front door, but there was the school, the one place she could go where they could talk for a short while.
“Would you like to visit your grandpa?” Nana asked.
Nana’s happiness cloaked the ache in Gabi’s heart. “Yes.” She still couldn’t work out where Juan fitted into her life, and her feelings, but with time, maybe that would change. “So, what are you going to do about Dad?” she asked.
Nana sighed. “I need to think it through. It’s something I can’t take back once I’ve said it. And it’s something I need to do in person.”
“He has a right to know?”
“Maybe, cariño.” Nana finished her juice. “It’s not that simple. Would you be able to cope with me not telling him just yet?”
“Can I be the keeper of secrets?” Gabi shook her head. She wasn’t planning to see him any time soon, and if Nana wasn’t going back to England, she couldn’t imagine when, if ever, she might see him again.
Nana frowned. “Yes, I suppose. I’ve never thought of myself as someone who keeps secrets so much as judging when the time is right to pass on information. Hearts are fragile, and as you know, it’s not a nice experience when they break.”
“I can let you be the judge of when it’s the right time,” Gabi said.
Nana patted Gabi’s arm. “Thank you, cariño.” She picked up her plate and started towards the kitchen. “By the way, Matías was asking after you since you didn’t go to the workshop last week. I’m sure your uncle would enjoy your company, and maybe you could pop into Juan’s for a cup of tea.”
An uncle and a grandpa, who’d have thought it? It went some way to explaining her connection with Matías and their mutual love of making jewellery. It would make their business relationship more interesting. Weird didn’t describe how she felt. At least she wasn’t as alone in the world as she’d imagined. She needed to let this new reality settle, because despite having just found them, she would be leaving them all behind. She followed Nana into the kitchen and drew her into a hug. “Thank you. For everything. I’m going to the school to talk to Aisha. No matter what happens, I have to leave here. I just hope she will come with me.”
Nana stroked Gabi’s cheek and smiled. “I know, Gabriela. And I’m not too old to travel yet, so don’t think you’re free of me just yet.”
Gabi smiled, though the tears burned the back of her eyes. She kissed Nana on the cheek. “I’ll leave on Friday morning,” she said, her voice broken.
Nana’s eyes glassed over, and she wiped a tear that had strayed onto her cheek. “So soon.”
Gabi lowered her head. Seeing Nana cry would set her off, and she had to be strong. “I can’t stay if she rejects me.”
“She won’t.”
Gabi hoped Nana’s confidence wasn’t misplaced. “If she wants to come with me, then the sooner we leave the better, no?”
Nana patted Gabi’s arm. “Yes, true. Well, we’d better find you a good hotel. Màlaga’s not too far,” she said.
Gabi kissed her on the forehead. She held her tightly and prayed she wouldn’t be leaving Granada alone. “I’m going to miss you.”
“Not for long, you won’t. Besides, I’ll come to Màlaga for a short break with Juan.”
Gabi laughed. “I’d like that.”
