Shock held Gael rigid, then he replied tersely, ‘English, please. My wife doesn’t speak Spanish.’
Both Tomas and Evita started.
‘Your wife?’ His father recovered first, his gaze swinging to Goldie.
‘Sí,’ Gael responded.
After observing her for a few charged seconds, he inclined his head. ‘I’m Tomas, and this is my wife, Evita.’
Goldie’s smile was a little guarded, but sincere. ‘Hello, I’m Goldie.’
Gael’s smile felt tight. ‘Now that we have the pleasantries over and done with, enjoy the rest of your day.’
His father opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something. Then he glanced down at his wife and shut it again.
More bitterness dredged through Gael. Tightening his hold on Goldie, he led her away.
‘I thought you were going to talk to him?’
‘So did I, but I find that even that isn’t worth doing any more.’
They walked through the salon’s French doors and out onto a wide terrace. Beyond the large white columns rolled a sea of green grass, and in the centre was displayed the wedding arch where the ceremony was to be held. Fifty white-linen-draped chairs were divided on either side of the arch for the guests, the first of whom were appearing in limos and luxury cars at the bottom of the long driveway.
‘Are you sure?’
Gael was certain the answer was yes until he opened his mouth. ‘Maybe not.’
‘He looked like he wanted to say something. So maybe let him do the talking?’
He glanced down at her with a slight frown. ‘Only a short while ago he loomed large over my life, dictated my choices without me realising it.’ He shrugged. ‘But not so much any more.’
Gael suspected the feeling had something to do with the woman in front of him. Yet another thing to be examined later.
‘All the same, you have a chance to get rid of the toxin once and for all. Do you want to look back and wonder if it would’ve been better to reconnect, to find some answers for yourself?’
Gael remembered hinting at something similar to Alejandro last year. At the time he’d blithely dropped a suggestion that his brother reconnect with the parents he’d walked away from. He knew Alejandro’s visit to Seville hadn’t been easy. Just as the contemplation of today hadn’t been easy for Gael.
Slowly, he nodded. ‘Maybe. Now, enough about this. You owe me a dozen kisses. Make good on one of them now, please.’
He was seconds from losing his mind from a kiss alone when footsteps pulled them apart.
Alejandro, followed by his parents, had stepped out onto the terrace, followed by the first of the guests. Waiters were serving mimosas and champagne to keep the guests refreshed until the organ struck up.
When it did, Gael led Goldie to the front row and stepped beside his brother.
The ceremony went without a hitch. Elise smiled widely when Gael welcomed her into the family. Then he watched as his new sister-in-law and his wife fell into instant friendship.
All through the ceremony he’d caught his father’s eyes on him. And after countless trips to the dance floor with Goldie—because he didn’t want to miss any opportunity to hold her in his arms—she pushed him towards Tomas.
‘It’s time, Gael. Come and find me when you’re done.’
He caught her before she could walk away. ‘No, you come and find me in ten minutes. I’m guessing that’s about how long I’ll be able to stand it before things head south.’
She nodded. ‘Okay—deal.’
He watched her sway off the dance floor and immediately be accosted by Elise.
His father was looking his way when he turned.