Forever Summer (3 page)
Summer’s instructions were to meet her employer’s entourage at the airport at the scheduled time the following Saturday. She carried two suitcases and had sent other items ahead in the mail to Spain, the ending destination after the tour was over in a few weeks. Pablo Serrano had assured her that all accommodations as well as flight reservations would be taken care of, and all she had to do was show up in the right place at the right time. The problem was, he hadn’t mentioned a gate or a flight number, so although she was at the airport, she had no idea where to go from there. Just when she was about to go to the public assistance desk, her cell phone rang.
“You are already late on your first day, Ms. Alvarez. I hope this isn’t indicative of your future job performance.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Gabe realized how harsh he sounded. He generally wasn’t so forbidding, but for some reason, this woman seemed to bring out the worst in him. She was much too beautiful, too smart, and too … memorable for his own peace of mind.
“
Buenos días a usted, Señor Rodrigo
. I am currently at the airport and have been for quite some time, but have no idea at which gate to wait. Nor do I know which airline or flight number. Perhaps you would be so kind as to give me that information?”
“Pablo did not tell you?”
“Apparently not.”
“I see. You will find us in the private terminal for international travel. It is beyond …"
“I know where it is, Señor. I will be there directly.” She hung up the phone and headed to the same place where she had met her father over a year ago on his way back to Argentina. It had been the first time she’d seen him in years, and she suspected the only reason their paths had crossed was because his wife hadn’t been traveling with him. She hadn’t meant to just hang up on her employer, but the memories of her visit with her father were still bothersome, and she was more brisk than she’d intended to be. In any case, Gabriel Rodrigo had been rude. He could’ve at least asked for an explanation before he’d launched into a reprimand.
Wheeling her suitcase behind her and carrying her computer along with her purse and overnight case, she arrived at the gate reserved for private jets some five minutes later and continued outside onto the tarmac, as that was where everyone seemed to be waiting for her.
“
Buenos días, Señorita Alvarez
. I’m so sorry I didn’t mention the gate. I am so travel weary, I’m afraid I think everyone has traveled as much as we have. Gabe has his own plane which we take when we’re on tour. Right this way.”
Pablo led her to the stairs leading up to the plane, and she followed. He took her large suitcase and gave it to the steward, who stowed it along with her other luggage. She entered and saw that everyone who’d been at her interview was also seated on the plane, including her charge. She smiled at the grandparents, winked at Marisol, and nodded a cool greeting to her boss and his girlfriend.
“Next stop, London. Ready,
querido
?” Celia licked her lips suggestively to Gabriel, although he seemed immune to the whole ‘come and get it’ routine. Summer couldn’t care less one way or another.
Summer pulled a couple of picture books out of her carry on and flashed them at Marisol on her way back to the rear seats. She lifted her eyebrows in invitation as she passed by the little girl, who smiled. Marisol looked across the aisle at her father and Celia, who was draped over him, and followed Summer to the back of the plane.
“Buenos días, Marisol. ¿Como estás?”
“
Muy bien, gracias, Señorita
. May I see the books you brought?
“Of course. I brought them especially for you,
Chiquita
. Maybe you have seen them?
Where the Wild Things Are
, and
I Wanna Iguana
?”
“
No, Señorita. Abuelita
has only read books in Spanish to me.”
“You may call me Summer. Would you like me to read one to you, or would you like to look them over by yourself?”
Obviously not used to having a choice in matters, Marisol looked up at Summer with big, brown eyes. She reached for the books, and Summer relinquished them immediately. She began reading her own book, as the child flipped through them, looking at the pictures.
“Read them to me.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said, read them to me.”
“Marisol, I will be happy to read them to you if you ask nicely and with the good manners you have no doubt been taught. I will respect you, and you will respect me. Now, if you’d like me to read you a book, all you have to do is ask nicely.”
Marisol continued to look up at her with her big brown eyes, no doubt wondering who this strange woman was who dared not give her way immediately, especially in full view of her father and grandparents.
“Perhaps Celia will respond to your demands? You are welcome to take the books with you.” The scowl on the little girl’s face was comical, as she obviously had no intention of asking the other woman to read her a story. She flipped through the books briefly and finally asked Summer again.
“Señorita Summer, will you please read me a story?”
“I would be very pleased to read you a story. Which do you prefer?”
“This one, please.” She held up the book with the picture of a green iguana on the front.
“I knew you had excellent manners. Thank you for using them. Now, let’s read the story. It’s one of my favorites. Have you ever seen a real iguana?” Before she began reading the story, they exchanged stories about the iguanas they’d each seen in their lives, and what they looked like. Then she read the book with enthusiasm and exuberance, and Marisol was enchanted and laughed throughout. She then asked very nicely for Summer to read the next one, and she happily complied.
“Do you have any more books, Summer? I liked both of these a lot.”
“As a matter of fact, I do. I brought another one of my favorites with me. Have you ever seen it?” She pulled out a copy of
Animalia
and showed it to the little girl. “I like this book, because it has such wonderful pictures, and because it has all the letters of the English alphabet. Let me show you.”
Summer opened the book and flipped through the pages with the little girl by her side. The captain came over the intercom asking everyone to buckle up and prepare for takeoff. Summer helped her charge with her seatbelt and fastened her own.
“Do you like to fly,
Chiquita
?”
“It’s okay. We fly all the time, so I’m used to it. Papá sings all over the world, you know. Do you like to fly?”
“Not really, but it doesn’t scare me. It just gives me a headache most times and makes me tired. I have heard your father’s music. I like it, do you?”
“It’s okay. I like American music better. Do you like Madonna?”
“Yes, I do. I like all kinds of music, really. Do you ever listen to Maná?”
“Oh, yes, I love Maná! Papá met them once, and he got them to sign their picture for me.”
“My favorite song by Maná is
Rayando el Sol
. Do you know it?”
“Sí, es mi favorita!”
They smiled at each other.
“I actually met them once a long time ago. I was a teenager, and they seemed very nice.”
“Really? I want to be a teenager, too. I want to wear makeup and high heels and wear fancy clothes.”
“You’ll get there soon enough,
Chiquita
. You should enjoy being four as long as you can, because you’ll never be four again, you know.”
“But I don’t get to do anything now. I hate being four.”
“What do you mean you don’t get to do anything? You get to travel all over the world with your dad! Most kids aren’t that lucky.”
“So what? Papa is always too busy to take me to see anything, so who cares? It’s always been that way.”
“We’re going to London. What have you seen there?”
“Nothing. Just the hotel room. Have you been there before?”
“Not since I was little, so I don’t remember much. Maybe we can go see a few places while we’re there. Would you like that?”
“Really? You mean instead of having classes?”
“No, I mean after classes.”
“But, you are only supposed to be with me in the mornings for classes.”
“I know. But after classes, I would like to do some sightseeing. If it’s alright with your father, I would be happy to take you with me, as long as you continue to use your good manners and do what I ask. Unless you really don’t want to go?”
“Oh
, sí,
I would love to go. I will ask Papá. Maybe he will pay you extra money to take me.”
“I don’t need extra money, silly. I think it would be fun to have you along for company. I usually do things all by myself, and it would be nice to have you along.”
“Really, Summer?”
“Really.”
****
The flight was a long one, and Summer dozed off and on with Marisol by her side. At some point, Marisol climbed up into her lap, and they both fell asleep for at least a couple of hours. The sun was setting on the horizon when Summer awoke abruptly when someone lifted the child from her arms. She looked up into the dark eyes of her boss as he brought the baby’s head up to rest on his shoulder.
“Señorita Alvarez, my daughter has obviously taken a liking to you, which is very out of character for her. As you’re not officially on duty until Monday, I do not wish you to feel duty bound to entertain her.”
Summer blinked until she was able to focus and meet his eyes. “It’s not a problem, Señor Rodrigo. I find your daughter delightful. It seems we share the same taste in music.”
He smiled indulgently. “I didn’t realize you were a fan. If you’ll remind me, I’ll make sure you get an autographed copy of my latest CD.”
“That’s so very nice of you, however, I’m afraid I was speaking of someone other than you,” Summer responded dryly.
Oh brother, get over yourself, please
. “Your daughter and I both enjoy Madonna and Maná.”
“Ah. The two ‘M’s’.”
She certainly put you nicely in your place, didn’t she, Gabe? When was the last time you were around a woman who was so obviously unimpressed?
“In any case, please don’t feel that you must entertain her.”
“As I said, Señor, your daughter is delightful. It’s not a problem, I assure you. Besides, you seemed … busy with your … friend earlier. It gave me a chance to get to know Marisol a bit. If it’s alright with you, I’d like to take her sightseeing with me in London when we’re finished with the day’s lessons.”