Blossom in Winter (Blossom in Winter #1)(65)

He stares at my neck, his face intrigued. “I’m glad to see you’re wearing the pearls I gave you. But…” he seems hesitant.

“But what?”

“Do you really need to wear your pendant with it?”

I instinctively touch it. “I won’t remove it.”

“Alright, I won’t insist. Shall we?”

Cipriani Restaurant is closed for a private event. More precisely, for the welcoming reception of Mr. Marques and his future wife, Anabela, a native Carioca. From what Dad told me, she’s a former real estate agent who’s been with Paulo for eight years. It’s her first marriage, but not his. Mr. Marques had been married previously and has twenty-year-old twins, Luiz and Miguel, with his first wife.

As we enter, we see Paulo entertaining guests alongside his wonderful thirty-two-year-old fiancée while the restaurant is quickly filling up. Oh, I recognize him now. That’s the man who was with Alex at the Et Al lounge. The atmosphere feels posh, selective. A bossa nova singer is crooning, and her musicians are playing in the background. Some guests are already seated at their tables, while others remain standing, glasses in hand, laughing and eating blinis with smoked salmon and caviar. Children are running around, and waiters are trying hard not to trip over them.

“Ah, Roy, Petra. So happy to see you guys.”

“Paulo. How are you?” greets Dad happily.

“Good morning, Mr. Marques. Congratulations on the occasion. It’s really beautiful,” I add.

“Not as beautiful as you, Ms. Van Gatt. Let me introduce you to my future wife, Anabela.”

“Hi, Anabela, I’m very glad to meet you. Can’t wait for tomorrow.”

“Many thanks, Ms. Van Gatt. It’s a pleasure to meet you too,” replies Anabela, kissing my cheek.

“These are my twins, Luiz and Miguel, and this is Claudia, Miguel’s girlfriend,” continues Paulo.

“Hi, nice to meet you all.” I smile and shake hands with all the three. The twins look quite different. Miguel’s more athletic and taller with short brown hair, while Luiz’s skinnier with longer hair and a more casual, less polished look.

“Miguel, Luiz, Claudia, this is Petra Van Gatt, Roy’s daughter. I hope you will be amiable enough to show her Copacabana after lunch—she doesn’t know anyone here.”

“Are you seated with us?” asks Luiz.

I look around at the many tables. “Not sure…”

“There’s a seating chart at the entrance,” adds Claudia.

“Oh sure, I’m gonna go check.” I go to the entrance of the restaurant and read the table seating chart. Each table is composed of nine guests. I’m at the head table. I read more carefully the other names seated there: Paulo and Anabela, Roy, Petra, Alex, Rafaela, Luiz, Miguel, and Claudia. No, no! Terrible! I don’t want to spend the entire lunch with him and his new girlfriend! But I suddenly remember Luiz, the single twin. He’s at my table. Perfect! I’ll spend the entire lunch talking, laughing, and flirting with him. Then, after the gathering, we’ll excuse ourselves and go to the beach. Wonderful plan! Alex is definitely not expecting that.

I go over to my father, who’s happily talking with Anabela and the rest of the group gathered near our table. “So, Anabela, I heard the wedding tomorrow will be the most magical event ever held in Rio?”

“Oh.” She rolls her eyes. “You have no idea how stressful it’s been to get everything done the way I wanted, Roy. We are renting the Parque Lage, which has splendid views of Christ the Redeemer. You’ll love it. We’ve prepared a very special fairy-tale setting.”

I swallow hard. Nervously hard. Alexander and Rafaela are standing at the entrance looking at the table seating chart, holding hands, and wearing matching styles. He’s sporting a light-blue linen blazer with a silk pocket square, a white shirt open at the collar, and navy pants. She’s in a light-blue sheath dress. Oh God, she’s really beautiful. I look discreetly at myself in the mirror and sigh. Rafaela seems like an elegant and mature femme fatale, and I? As Emma would say, I look like a girl going to the prom.

I feel them coming toward us, and before I can run away… “Alex! Finally. You’re late,” shouts Paulo jokingly, giving him a friendly hug and a clap on his back. “Rafaela, wonderful as always. My God, you both look great.”

“A perfect couple,” says Anabela.

Ugh!

“Maybe they’re next in line,” teases Paulo.

Everyone bursts into laughter but me.

“My dear friends, now that we’re all here, let’s sit. Lunch will be served in a minute.”

Dear Lord. I’ll need a lot of caipirinhas to handle this. Or at least one. I know Dad is against me drinking alcohol, but maybe if I ask him in front of everyone, he’d be less likely to decline. “Dad, can I order a caipirinha? Everyone’s drinking one,” I dare to ask.

He swallows hard. He never thought I’d ask such a thing and seriously considers the question.

“Oh, Roy, c’mon, let her have a drink. It’s totally legal here in Brazil,” chides Rafaela.

While Alex gapes at her words, I instead smile joyfully at having found an ally.

“I’m Rafaela Lima, by the way.” She shakes my hand. “Your godfather told me a lot about you.” Seriously? Now I’m even more surprised.