At her next doctor’s appointment, almost twenty-five and a half weeks into her pregnancy, Catarina was still measuring small. But with the growth keeping consistent and the measurements within the projected curve, Dr. Paula told Catarina not to worry.
Catarina tried not to. As she left the medical office and took the elevator down, she thought how she’d been feeling better than she had in a long time—she was eating well, had enough energy to last a whole day with only one nap, and was sleeping as much as the baby let her. As for the baby, it was a little ball of energy, always active. If this was any indication of how it would be after his or her birth, Catarina would definitely have her work cut out for her with such a busy little one. A smile graced her lips at the anticipation of meeting her baby.
When she exited the elevator, a lady holding on to a little boy’s hand stood on the other side. The boy pulled away and jumped inside the elevator, barely missing Catarina.
“Rui, you need to hold Mommy’s hand,” she scolded. She looked up at Catarina. “I apologize.”
Catarina smiled and waved it off as the elevator door closed again.
The boy reminded her of her younger twin brothers. They’d been constantly trying to get away from mom.
In the next instant, a prick of guilt niggled at her. Her family. She was expecting her first child, and she hadn’t told her parents and brothers yet. They’d be grandparents and uncles soon and had no idea about it. Should she wait until after the baby was born to tell them, or would they want to know now?
Deep down, she knew the answer to that question.
And she also knew that if she told her family, she’d need to tell Afonso as well.
How was she going to do that? At times, she almost wanted Afonso to look at her and see it, but she’d never given him any indication that she was pregnant, and he didn’t have a reason to suspect it. Would he be mad that she’d hidden it from him this long?
Maybe tonight she could find a moment to tell him. Afonso was picking her up and taking her to dinner downtown. Maybe she could find the courage to tell him her secret.
“Catarina Romano, what a surprise,” a voice said.
Catarina stilled. She’d been so distracted, she’d missed the woman at her side. The face was familiar, and Catarina gave her a pale smile.
“You probably don’t remember me, but I delivered furniture to your house last week,” the woman said expectantly.
“Joana,” Catarina said as she placed the woman. “Yes, of course I remember. How are you?”
“I’m well, obrigada. Hope you’re not feeling sick,” Joana asked gesturing to the building behind them.
The three-story building exclusively housed medical offices.“Just a regular check up. And you?”
“I’m early to meet my sister. Are you in a hurry?” Joana gestured to the coffee house across the street. “I was going inside for an iced tea, but it’ll be a lot more fun with some company.”
Catarina hesitated. She’d planned to meet Afonso for dinner, but that was in the early evening. She still had plenty of time to run some errands and do some shopping before then. She accepted the invitation.
They crossed the street and opted to sit inside to enjoy the air-conditioning. The end-of-July temperatures were merciless during the day.
When the iced teas and custard tarts arrived, Catarina tried to relax. The café was busy, but nobody appeared to be looking at her. More likely, people were just taking a respite from the hard summer day. She should stop worrying about anyone recognizing her.
Joana reached for a tablet in her purse. “I’m so glad I bumped into you. I got the digital proof for the catalog cover, and I’d love your opinion.”
Catarina leaned forward, already curious. “I’m afraid I’m more experienced with interior design.”
“And that’s what the catalog will be about. Plus, you also have such great taste.” Joana showed her three options she’d received from the digital designer.
They discussed the best colors and layouts for what Joana had in mind, and Catarina explained the why behind every opinion she shared.
It was flattering to Catarina to know someone valued her opinion as worthy of contribution. Maybe letting Joana bring the photographer to the house after it was decorated was exactly what Catarina needed to get her started in interior design.
Joana insisted on paying despite Catarina’s protests. “You helped so much. It’s the least I can do for taking your time,” Joana said.
Catarina thanked her. “It was my pleasure. I enjoyed it.” She really had. Both the company and the task.
They stood on the street in front of the café before parting ways.
“My sister has another appointment next month. Would you consider meeting with me again?” Joana asked.
“I actually have to be in town next month too.” Catarina had another appointment with Dr. Paula already scheduled.
“That’s perfect.” Joana touched Catarina’s hand, a wide smile on her face. “I’ll text you a date to see if it works for you.”
Catarina floated for the rest of the afternoon. Hope took root in her. Hope that she would be able to get a job doing something she loved, something she was good at; hope that a future for her and her baby was not impossible.
By the time she met Afonso for dinner, she was ready to include him in all the plans she had for the future. Catarina steeled herself as she approached him, her fingers tightening around the purse’s handle. Why did he have to be so attractive? As if being kind and honest and hardworking weren’t enough.
Why couldn’t she have married someone like Afonso? But she didn’t want someone like him. It was Afonso she wanted.
Her heart tripped at the thought, and Catarina bit her lip. When she reached him, he smiled at her and her nerves dissolved.
Afonso wore a dark pair of jeans and a blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled back. She loved that look on him. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. Her eyes fluttered shut. He smelled so good. Her fingers tingled, and her chest heated at the contact of his skin on hers, and she rested a hand on his upper arm for balance as her legs wobbled. The need to stay close to him overwhelmed her, and she swallowed the catch in her throat.
Afonso stepped back. “I missed you,” he said slowly, keeping his gaze locked on her. His eyes darkened for a moment, and an electrical feeling buzzed between them, strong and bold.
Catarina knew exactly what he meant, for it felt like they’d been apart much longer than half a day.
Afonso took her hand in his, and they walked side by side.
The restaurant was quiet. It was too early for the dinner crowd on a Friday evening in late July. Most tourists and locals would come as the sun set, but she preferred the relative privacy of an empty room before they drove home.
The maître d’ seated them at a corner table with a view of the castle on the hill. Afonso winked at her, and a swarm of butterflies rose in her stomach. Or maybe it was the baby protesting at her anxiety. Could he or she feel how nervous Catarina was to be next to Afonso? He sat to her left instead of across from her, far enough to give her space but close enough that she could feel his gaze on her, the warmth from his arm resting on the table only centimeters away from her.
Dinner was wonderful—delicious food, interesting conversation, and excellent company had Catarina immersed in the moment, her worries forgotten, her plans for the future no longer taking all the space in her head. She pushed away everything else and focused on the man at her side. Afonso placed his arm behind her chair, and she leaned toward him, giving in to the attraction and not caring that he could see it in her face, in her eyes.
She wanted him to know.
They lingered over dessert for her and an after-dinner espresso for him, delaying the moment when they had to leave and face reality again. In the secluded corner of this restaurant in downtown Castelo Branco, Catarina had found a moment she wanted to hold forever, a little piece of magic. The pull between them was palpable, even more so because she saw it mirrored in Afonso.
“I’m not ready to go home just yet,” Afonso said to her in a low voice.
“I’m not either.” She could only agree with him.
He tipped his chin toward the window. “Have you been to the castle yet? I hear it has great views of the city.”
“We should go see how great those views are.”
“Let’s go then.”
As long as they were together, she’d go with him anywhere.
* * *
He was the worst kind of cad.
Catarina was attracted to him. Afonso could see it plainly in her eyes. For a few moments, she’d dropped her guard and he’d run with it, responding with his own attraction for her in little gestures that wouldn’t spook her. Short of saying any words that would only make it more obvious, he turned all his attention to her, wishing they could be someplace alone, knowing it was better they weren’t.
After leaving the restaurant, they drove to the bottom of the hill where they left the car, then walked the rest of the way to the castle. Afonso held on to her hand tightly, and when they reached the summit, they stopped at a parapet away from people milling around. He brought an arm around her shoulders and Catarina closed the distance, fitting against his side as if she belonged there.
Sometimes she didn’t act like the grieving widow he’d first expected. From the little Catarina had told him, her dead husband had not been a nice person, and even less nice as a husband. Could she be moving on? Did Afonso have any chance of winning her heart?
If he did, it was too soon to make any confessions. As well as this evening was going, she was likely to raise her walls if he did anything foolish and premature. His contract wouldn’t be done until the last week of October. He still had some time.
“It’s been two months since I arrived at Sunset Manor,” he said as they watched the city lights turn brighter when the night grew darker.
Catarina leaned away to look up at him. “Two months?” She sighed. “It feels like we’ve known each other longer than that,” she added after a pause.
“It does, doesn’t it?”
“When’s your last day?”
“In exactly thirteen weeks from today.”
Two months had passed too quickly, and three would go almost as fast. But now that he had Catarina in his life, how could he even think of moving on without her?
A breeze ruffled the trees in the courtyard, and Catarina tightened her hold around his back. Afonso reciprocated, pressing his arm around her shoulder.
“What are you going to do when you leave?”
Her tone was uncertain as if she feared his reply.
It was his turn to let out a sigh. “I don’t know yet.” After a moment, he relaxed his hold on her and turned to see her better. “Catarina, I don’t mind changing whatever plans I make in the future. Not for something better. Or for someone. Do you know what I’m saying?”
She sucked in a breath. “I—I think I could be falling in love with you, Afonso. I’m sorry I can’t say more. Can you be patient with me, please?”
He nodded, keeping the eye contact with her. He could wait. If there was one thing he’d learned in jail was how to be patient.
When her hands splayed on his chest, Afonso brought his to her face. He brushed a kiss on her lips and she opened her mouth to him.
Maybe she was beginning to fall in love, but he was already there, and the words he wanted to say could wait until she was ready to hear them.
For now, Afonso poured all his feelings into that one kiss.