Finding Isadora(113)

“Nope. But she’ll feed it to you any time you come in.”

He reached for his wine glass and took another drink. I watched his hand, so long-fingered, with that unique combination of grace and strength that was Gabriel.

“Will you play the guitar for me?” I asked.

He frowned, clearly not following my train of thought. “The guitar?”

“I was looking at your hands.”

He glanced down at them, still frowning. “My hands? What?”

One day I’d tell him how sexy those hands were. “You do play, right?”

“Sure. Often before I go to bed. It’s a way of relaxing, mellowing out.”

“Folk songs?”

“Mostly Portuguese ones. Sometimes in a group we’ll get going on old folk songs, protest songs.”

“Richard says you have a good voice.”

“He does?” He frowned. “That doesn’t sound like him.”

“When he was out with Caroline and Eric, he remembered how you’d play the guitar. How you and Diane sang with him. It was a warm memory. He’s softening, Gabriel.”

“And now I have to tell him about us,” he said glumly. “If anything’s guaranteed to harden him again…”

“Once he gets over his first negative reaction, he’ll think about it,” I said, praying it would be true.

“Sure hope so.”

“You’re really worried about talking to him.”

“Scared shitless,” he confessed. Then he gave a rueful shrug. “But maybe that’s an improvement over the way things used to be. Before Friday night, I can’t remember the last time Richard and I really talked. I felt like I’d lost him and I didn’t know how to fix it.”

“You once said you hate doing things you’re not good at.”

“Yeah. So I didn’t try. Now, at least I’m trying. And he was too, last night.”

Maria bustled up. “How is soup? Good, yes?”

“Very good,” I told her as she topped up our wine glasses.

When she hurried away to greet new customers, Gabriel said wryly, “At least someone approves.”

“Janice approves. She thinks you’re hot.”

He kinked an eyebrow. “The lady has good taste.”

“And you have a big ego.” I sent him a teasing grin. “Though I’m not saying she’s wrong.” I thought about my friend and shook my head. “Poor Jan’s had bad luck with relationships. She’s just starting out a new one, and I sure hope it works. Her parents won’t approve—Martin is Cree, younger, way less educated—but he’s a wonderful man. He works as an assistant at the clinic and he’s studying to be a vet.”

Gabriel was watching me closely, and I broke off. “You don’t want to hear this.”

“I do. I like Janice. I look forward to knowing her better.”

“We could double-date.”

He grimaced. “God, Isadora, it sounds so high school.” Then he shrugged. “But sure. Think they’d like to try Portuguese food?” Then he snapped his fingers. “Wait a minute, Martin is the guy you told me about, right? The one who turned his life around, partly thanks to the Multicultural Center?”

When I nodded, he said, “I’ve been thinking about that idea you had, about involving some of the success stories in the fundraising. Martin would be perfect. Do you figure he’d be willing to come along to lunch with a donor who’s looking to get more involved at the hands-on level?”

“He’d be flattered to be asked. But Gabriel, he’s quite shy. This donor isn’t too high-powered?”

“I’m not sure I’m the best to judge that.” There was an I know something you don’t know teasing note in his voice.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. She phoned yesterday, saying she’d like to do something more than just write a check every year and show up for the AGM.”

“Sounds good.” But why did he sound so smug?

“You’ve been recruiting again.”

“What?” And then it dawned on me. “Not Althea Fitzsimmons?”

He nodded. “It’s amazing the influence you have on people.”

“No more than they have on me.” I smiled to myself, thinking of my conversation with Althea. If we hadn’t talked yesterday, would I be here with Gabriel now?

“She and Martin would be a perfect match,” I said. “They’re both a little reticent, but their mutual love of animals would get them over the initial awkwardness.”

Thinking of awkward conversations, I finished the last spoonful of the delicious soup and reached over to thread my fingers through his. “How did it go with Jimmy Lee this afternoon? At first you looked like you were having an argument, but then you shook hands.”

“He was being a protective dad.” He shrugged. “Says he likes me, but he’s not sure I’m the best person for you.”

“Because?”

“Well, he started out by reminding me you’re from a different generation and—”

“Damn it, I told him not to be ageist.”

He laughed. “Thanks for defending me, but that wasn’t his point. He wanted me to know you weren’t in to all that free love stuff.”