Chapter 3: An Early Gift
"Why? Why would you do that? I know you're mad at me for what happened between Antonio and me, but that, that was just cruel." Gabi said more mad now then scared.
"I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry." A pitiful Ricardo said.
"You're sorry. Your sorry!" Gabi was starting to get mad, "You have a very funny way of showing it. Sending me decapitated baby dolls covered in red paint."
"What?! I sent you earrings. I went over to Surf Central while you were out with Maria nd left them in your mailbox. What was that about a baby doll?" Ricardo asked concerned about Gabi wellbeing.
"Nothing. Never mind, Ricardo. I have to go. Bye." She hangs up before Ricardo could respond.
'Well if it wasn't Ricardo, who was it?' Gabi wondered to herself. 'Who would want to scare me that much.'
Ding-Dong. Ding-Dong. Ding-Dong. Ding-Dong. Ding-Dong. Ding-Dong.
"Oh god. That better not be another package."
"What do you wa…" Gabi stopped short when she saw who was standing in front of her. "Antonio. Hi. Come on in. What's up?"
"Nothin, Gabi. What's this?" He picked up the baby doll head.
"Just an early Christmas present somebody sent me."
"They sent you a baby doll covered in paint?"
"Ya. Don't…Don't ask. What are you doing here? I never thought I would see you again."
"I could keep myself away. I had to see you."
"Antonio, I…"
"You what?"
"I don't think you should be here."
"Do you want me to leave."
Without a moment of hesitation Gabi replayed, "No. No. I don't want you to go. "
Antonio placed his hand gently on Gabi's cheek. "That's all I needed to hear. I know you need time to get over what happened with Ricardo and decide what you want. I just wanted you to know that I already know what I want."
And with that Antonio left.
'Oh Antonio.' Gabi thought, 'I know what I want to.'
*******************************************************************
A mysterious woman sat in a hotel room talking on the phone.
"Yes. Um huh. Ok. Thank you very much."
The woman picked up a picture that lay on her dressing table. The smiling couple in the photo never looked happier. 'Don't worry. It won't be that way for long. Just as soon as I'm in Sunset Beach everything will really fall into place.' The woman looked at the happy couple unable to control her anger any longer. 'No more smiles.' She thought as she picked up the frame and throws it across the room glass shattering everywhere.
"When I'm through, every body in Sunset Beach will feel like this she said as she lightly touched the bits of broken glass. Especially my dear friend Gabi."