The Pull of Destiny

by Hotcheri

  Say 'I love you'...and really mean it

  Celsi’s Point of View

  After my mini disagreement with Luke, the last thing I expected was for him to call me up and ask if I wanted to go out to dinner with him a few days later.

  More proof that Luke is the King of Randomness.

  Still, despite a niggling feeling that maybe Luke had some kind of 'intervention' planned, I was just glad to get out of the apartment for a while. The tension was tangible. Nate was in foul mood after foul mood which meant that I had taken to hiding out in my room to stay out of his way. And I don't know if my mind was playing tricks on me, but I was almost positive that Aunt Kelly was acting weird around me. It wasn't anything that I could actually put into words, but sometimes I saw her shoot me little side glances when she thought I wasn't looking and occasionally she would open her mouth like she wanted to tell me something then abruptly close it again. And she didn't even trip when I told her I was going on a date with Luke. Just said 'have fun'.

  I met Luke outside Nino's Deli once I'd finally decided on an appropriate outfit. Since Luke hadn't gone into details about our 'date', (even though he had called it a date, which was a plus) I didn't know what to wear. Finally, I settled on a pair of skinny jeans, a top, blazer and flats. It would have helped if I knew where he was taking me, but that was part of the surprise.

  I guess.

  Luke was sitting on a sidewalk bench outside the deli as I approached, staring at his hands intently. He didn't spot me and I slowed down, trying to gather my thoughts. Although we hadn't exactly left each other on bad terms that fateful day, I wasn't proud of the way I had reacted to him when he told me to tell Aunt Kelly what was going on with Nate. He doesn't understand. Okay, that was true, but it still didn't give me the right to bite his head off like that when he was just trying to help. I acted like a jerk that day, and I was going to suck up my pride and apologise.

  He looked up as my shadow fell over him, his eyes brightening. “Hey,” he said cheerfully, getting to his feet and hugging me close.

  I hugged him back, inhaling the clean, fresh scent that rose from his body. “Hi.”

  “How are you feeling?” he asked, stepping back and brushing the hair gently out of my eyes. The compassion in his voice almost brought tears to my eyes. He really cared! Of course he does, Celsi, don't you know this by now? Well, maybe... “Are you okay?”

  I nodded, touched by his concern. He looked pale and tired, like he wasn't sleeping well. I knew the headaches were screwing up his life, but he still was looking out for me.

  “I'm fine. Are you okay, though? You look exhausted.”

  He ran a hand through his hair, choosing that moment to yawn widely. “Oh yeah, I'm good. I was up late, getting stuff done.” Shrugging, he shot me a cute grin. “You know, figuring things out.”

  Well, that makes perfect sense. Not!

  “Okay, then,” I muttered dryly, suddenly glad that Nino's was closed as Luke lowered his head till his lips were on mine and kissed me. I closed my eyes, savoring the way he tasted. What would Nino have said or done if he had seen what was going on right outside his store? Luke's hands tangled in my hair as he bit softly on my bottom lip, making me shiver.

  “You ready to go?” he whispered, his lips grazing mine as he spoke.

  I nodded; trying to act like the feeling of Luke's lips on mine didn't turn my legs to jelly.

  “I'm ready. Not like I know what I'm ready for,” I replied slightly breathlessly, as Luke hailed down a cab.

  He gave the cab driver the name and address of the place we were going and grinned cheekily at me. “All in good time, beautiful,” he said. “Oh, and you look really nice today, by the way.”

  I glowed with pleasure. All these compliments got a girl nervous! “Thanks.” I pointed nervously to my outfit. “I'm not overdressed am I?”

  Since you won't tell me where we're going and all that jazz. Mr. Mysterious.

  Luke didn't seem to get the hint. “Not even,” he replied sunnily.

  We sat in awkward silence for a few seconds. “So, what's the occasion for this 'date'?” I finally asked, feeling curious.

  “I don't know,” Luke replied evasively, not looking me in the eyes. “I just felt like making your day. You know, bringing a smile to that pretty face.”

  He caressed my cheek gently. Don't make me jump you!

  “Oh...”

  “Is it working?” he whispered, leaning in closer to me.

  “Yes,” I murmured back, just before he kissed me softly on the lips and leaned back in his seat, looking self-satisfied.

  “You ain't seen nothing yet.”

  Aaaand we're back to Luke talking in riddles!

  “What's that supposed to mean?”

  “It means you ain't seen nothing yet,” Luke replied, grinning inscrutably. Ooh, boy, you make me so mad!

  I threw my hands up in the air in mock frustration. Well, there was some real frustration in there, but for the most part I was just playing. “Luke!”

  He looked smugly at me, the grin on his face fading as his eyes locked on my cheek. Although the cut under my eye had healed, the scar still showed lightly against my skin. Uneasily, I shook my hair over it, letting out a sigh. Luke didn't say a word but as I turned to stare out of the window, I could feel his eyes on me.

  Damn you scar, for turning the moment so awkward.

  It was the reason for all the drama we'd had a few days ago. I didn't want to fight with Luke or have him mad at me because I wasn't telling Aunt Kelly about Nate.

  The cab stopped at some traffic lights and I snuck a peek at Luke, only to find that he was sneaking a peek at me. Say it! Apologise for acting like a jerk! “Luke, I just- I wanted to- I'm sorry for being so difficult the other day.” I swallowed hard, looking into his suddenly serious green eyes. “I know that you're looking out for me, and I'm happy you are. It's just that, if you were in my shoes, you would understand how scared I am to say anything to anyone.”

  I hung my head, embarrassed that I had to let him know that I was scared. I was so used to putting on a happy front that letting my guard down was frightening for me. Celsi, its Luke. He's seen you at your lowest. Point noted.

  Sighing, Luke leaned his head against the headrest, closing his eyes. “I know,” he replied, his hands clenching into fists. “I'm not happy about it but I know what you mean.” Opening his eyes, he patted my hand. “I'm sorry about attacking you when I should have comforted you instead.”

  “That’s okay,” I whispered.

  He grinned. I grinned back. Unnecessary drama resolved. High five to us!

  “So what did you get up to today?” Luke asked me curiously, lightly grazing my palm with his fingertips, making me feel all tingly inside.

  “I spent the afternoon reading to my neighbor’s mother. She's bedridden.”

  Pastor Weeks was the nicest neighbor anyone could ever want to have. He checked up on us weekly, bringing us food parcels, soap, shampoo, etc. In fact, he was the person who bought me my winter jacket two years ago. His mother was one of the sweetest, kindest women I had ever met.

  “Damn. That sucks,” Luke muttered.

  I nodded. Ma Weeks never complained about anything, though. That was the one thing I loved about her, there was no negative energy coming from her at all. “Yeah. She gets lonely, so I like to go chat with her whenever I can.”

  Luke gazed at me, his expression one part wonderment, and two parts admiration. Giggling, I asked, “What's that look for?”

  “I'm just thinking about how selfless you are,” he shrugged.

  “It's not a big deal,” I said casually, secretly pleased. He thinks I'm selfless? Score! “She used to babysit me when I was younger and she likes my company.”

  “Huh.” Luke tapped his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face. “I actually don't think I even know any of my neighbors.”

  I couldn't stifle my giggle, even though I tried. “Really?”

  Luke shot me a
n indulging look. “That's what I get for living such a sheltered life,” he said wistfully. “I mean, I've lived in that building my whole life and I don't know anyone there! Course, the fact that our elevator is private doesn't help.”

  “Well, that's gotta change for sure.”

  “I know. That's why it's on my list. 'Get to know my neighbors'. I put it on two years ago but I never got around to doing it coz I was 'busy'.” Luke ran a hand through his hair again, tousling it up. “Now I got nothing but time.” He gave me one of his token endearing looks. "Hey, you wanna help me make cookies to give to my neighbors?”

  “Pretend you just moved in?” I joked, liking the idea already.

  Luke grinned. “Yeah, something like that. We can play pretend.”

  I nodded, trying not to seem overeager. “Sure.”

  ***

  We got to the restaurant and I walked in behind Luke, trying hard to act as though I belonged there. Elegant couples were being seated, the women dressed in fur coats and dripping with diamonds. I looked down at my outfit and sighed internally. Looking a little frumpy there, Celsi. Well, Luke said that I looked nice, and that was the most important thing. My eyes darted this way and that, trying to drink everything in at once. The decor was minimalist but very expensive looking. A gleaming grand piano stood in the corner of the entrance room and I couldn't take my eyes off it. Gorgeous!

  “It's so nice in here,” I breathed to Luke, who was scrutinizing the restaurant goers like he was looking for someone.

  He nodded absentmindedly, his eyes lighting up as he apparently spotted somebody across the room. Tightening his hold on my wrist, he said, “Come over here, CiCi,” excitedly. “I have someone I want you to meet.”

  I followed Luke obediently (like I had a choice, since he was practically dragging me), throwing him a side eye nonetheless. Someone he wants me to meet? Who could that possibly be? I didn't run in this kind of social circle, and I'm pretty sure I didn't know anyone who did.

  He stopped in front of a tall man with short cropped hair who had his back to us. “Sir,” he started, sounding nervous as he cleared his throat, “I'd like you to meet Celsiana Sawyer.”

  Okay, what's going on here?

  Confused, but deciding to play along regardless, I put a smile on my face. Luke would no doubt explain this later on. All I really had to do was go along with it. It's probably something to do with his list.

  Stretching out my hand, I started to say, “It's nice to meet you, sir,” as politely as I could.

  The mystery man slowly turned to face us and I froze, the word 'you' sticking in my throat as my voice trailed off. Wordlessly I looked up into the man’s face, staring into a pair of eyes almost identical to the ones I looked at every day in my mirror at home. I wrapped my arms around my body, feeling faint as my brain tried to come up with an answer for what I was seeing in front of me. Is this man who I think, hope he is? And if so, how could this be?

  “Oh, my God,” he muttered, his eyes on my face. An expression of shock flitted onto his face.

  Placing his hand bracingly on my shoulder, like he knew my legs were about ready to give out, Luke said “CiCi, this man is Enrique Garcia.” He paused and swallowed. “Your father.”

  ***

  “I had no idea I even had a daughter,” Enrique explained to me once we were seated at a window booth. Luke had discretely disappeared, saying he would be back. I appreciated the fact that he knew I needed space to think, to absorb this massive surprise. Shock had rendered me emotional and all I could do was stare at Enrique. Dad. It seemed unreal to me. I couldn't even figure out what to call him. “The thought never crossed my mind! I met your mom the summer I was 17 and I was visiting my uncle here. She told me she was older and I believed her. It was nothing more than a fling. I haven’t seen or heard from her since. And now, 18 years later, I find out about – about you.”

  His voice broke as he patted my visibly trembling hand.

  “How did you find out about me?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. It had something to do with Luke, that was certain. Now I know why he was acting so shady when I asked him where he was taking me!

  Don't get me wrong, I was ecstatic beyond belief that I was sitting opposite my father at that moment, with the chance to ask him all the questions Aunt Kelly wouldn't have answered, but I was still curious enough to wonder how Luke had contacted him. And what would Aunt Kelly say if she found out that we had met? All my life, she'd been keeping me from him.

  She'll freak the hell out!

  “Your friend, Luke. He found me on Facebook.” Enrique laughed shakily. “Of all places, right? He sent me an old picture of me and Sharon, then one of you. When I saw that picture of you, I thought you were my little sister, Mariela. She looks just like you.” He swallowed and I blinked back tears, hardly able to breathe. “We Garcia's have the same eyes.”

  “Where did he get the picture of you and my mom?” I asked, confused. I had never seen a single picture of Enrique in our house. Where had Luke gotten his hands on one?

  “From your Aunt Kelly.” I raised my eyebrows in surprise as Enrique continued. Aunt Kelly had a picture of mom and Enrique that she had never shown me? “He apparently had to go through quite the interrogation just to get my name from her. But he finally convinced her that you meeting me was for the best and she broke down.” His voice turned thoughtful. “I remember Kelly. Real tough cookie, she never trusted me. She's really protective of her family, I can tell.”

  I nodded slowly. “She is,” I whispered.

  It was wrong of Aunt Kelly to hold me back from meeting my father. She’d sworn up and down that she had no idea where he was or If he was even alive. She even lied to my face that she didn’t know his full name, but I knew that she was just, in her own way, looking out for me. I can't fault her for that. I loved her too much. It was just amazing to know that, for the first time in my life, Aunt Kelly wasn't the only person I had to fall back on. I mean, if Enrique didn’t want to be in my life, he wouldn’t be here, right? Right.

  “She should have told me about you, though. I missed so much of your life.”

  The questions from me started, hesitantly at first, then quicker as I realised that Enrique loved to talk almost as much as I did.

  “What do you do? Do you have a family? Where do you live? How did you meet my mom?”

  I wanted to know everything, but unfortunately, Enrique had to be on the 9.30pm plane back to L.A., so we didn't have much time to bond.

  As our conversation went on, I discovered that he was an accountant with a fairly uneventful office job, which was 'just how I like it' as he said. He met my mom through his cousin, who went to the same school as her. “I was only in New York for a couple of weeks, but we spent a lot of time together. She had a wild spark in her. But she was totally hilarious. Do you remember her much?”

  For a second, I thought of telling him that mostly I remembered my mom for her terrible mood swings when she was high, but I decided not to. He obviously didn’t know what made her abandon me, and just letting that bomb drop on him right now would be enough to send him running to the nearest exit.

  “Not really,” I murmured, content to listening to him as he continued.

  He lived in Glendale with his long time fiancé.

  “We're getting married next year,” he told me shyly. “Maybe, after we get all the minute details settled, you would like to meet her?”

  Wordlessly, I nodded.

  Enrique had one younger sister who he was very close with. His mother had been black and his father Puerto Rican.

  “We got our hazel eyes from the Puerto Rican side of the family. Sharon thought my eyes made me look exotic.” He smiled. “She was a sweetheart, despite her faults.”

  When I tentatively mentioned that I liked playing the piano, he was amazed. His sister, Mariela, was a music teacher. “Creativity must run in the family,” he enthused. “I showed her your picture, she was stunned! She hopes to meet you if all goes we
ll.”

  This was almost too much for me to bear. A new father and a new aunt? And Aunt Kelly knew about this and was okay with it? Am I lucky or what?

  “I would love to meet her,” I replied softly.

  When I told him that I went to Dalton, he was impressed, although he sounded concerned when he asked if Aunt Kelly could afford it. When I told him that she did the best she could, he asked, “Do you think she would let me help? Seeing as I haven't had the chance to contribute to your upbringing thus far.”

  I thought about Aunt Kelly's fierce independence and sighed. We needed all the help we could get, but I just didn't see her sucking up her pride to ask anyone for it. Maybe if Enrique asks her...

  “It wouldn't hurt to ask her,” I said, trying to sound as diplomatic as possible. I don't know about her reaction, though!

  Enrique glanced at his watch and sucked in a breath. “My time here is almost up.” He placed his hands over mine and smiled. “I'm so overwhelmed by this, Celsiana. You must mean a lot to Luke, for him to go through all this trouble to get me to come here. He did a background check on me before he let me anywhere near you because he didn't want to see you hurt. Bought the plane tickets, made the restaurant reservations- he must have spent quite a lot of money, just to see you happy.” My eyes widened as Enrique spoke. Luke did all that? For me? “Is he your boyfriend?”

  Don't I wish!

  “I'm not sure. I mean, I think we might be at that in between stage right now,” I said honestly.

  Enrique nodded, the expression on his face showing that he understood perfectly. “I see. Well, he's a special kid, anyways. And here he comes, right on cue.”

  He smiled as Luke slipped into the seat next to me.

  “I hate to be a buzz kill, but your cab is waiting outside, Mr. Garcia,” he said politely.

  “Call me Enrique, son,” Enrique said expansively. “I do owe you, after all. More than you can ever imagine. You've given me a present that I never would have expected.”