The Glimpsing (18 page)

But that prayer went unspoken.
 
The
press of guilt made her turn
away from the man on the hill.
 
She’d chosen to have an affair with Jack of her own accord.
 
No one had forced her.
 
So who was she to think she could pray.
 
Who was she to ask for a godsend, when her own hands had brought her to this
place.

Ashamed, Gabrielle stood to leave, feeling unworthy of the presence of the man on the hill.
 
She peered toward the restaurant door… and then saw a tall, dark-haired man standing just inside it.
 
He was looking at her, obviously surprised, and she recognized him immediately.
 
His name was Felix
Nadal
.
 
One word came to her mind as she watched him smile and begin toward her table.
 
The word was godsend.

It was at the urging of Felix
Nadal
that the owners of Clique magazine had selected Gabrielle to appear on their first magazine cover.
 
Although just twenty-eight years of age he was already a distinguished photographer, known internationally for his exceptional work in literally hundreds of publications.
 
Until recently, he had also been the only man that Gabrielle had ever loved.

They’d first met some ten years prior while both attended the
Universidade
de São Paulo in Brazil.
 
Gabrielle had enrolled to study drama, urged on by her mother, who had always dreamed of becoming an actress, but never managed anything beyond a few bit parts in some low-budget movies.
 
Felix attended in hopes of turning his long-time photography hobby into something he could someday make a living from.

They’d crossed paths first in an English class.
 
Each had noticed the other early on, but it was weeks before their eyes made mutual contact.
 
It was still another week before Felix had dredged up the courage to walk over and introduce himself.

They’d dated a mere month before becoming officially involved.
 
They had a great deal in common.
 
Both were remarkably driven, with lofty goals and hopes; both were adventurous, eager to explore beyond the traditional or mundane.
 
On weekends, they often rented a sail boat, or made the thirty mile trek to the beach, where they would occasionally spend the night, huddled together with nothing more than a thin blanket and a campfire.
 
Sometimes, they’d hike deep into one of the many Brazilian forests, usually without so much as a map to guide their way.
 
Their chemistry was so natural, so inexplicable, that to many they seemed more like lifelong companions than recent acquaintances.
 
Neither could have known it at the time, but they were the closest either would ever come to having a soul mate.

By the time they’d become seniors, they were deeply in love.
 
The prospect of engagement and eventual marriage was almost an assumed fact between them, although neither had actually proposed.

As graduation approached, both had become preoccupied with newly arriving opportunities.
 
On a whim, Gabrielle’s drama teacher had sent in a photo and registered
her for an audition in a New York City play.
 
It was a small role in a new Broadway drama called Savannah’s Sister.
 
Felix, on the other hand, was being courted by James Windsor, the editor of The Times UK, who had taken interest in him after seeing his extensive photographic portfolio.
 
 
He was considering taking Felix on as an intern.

Neither Gabrielle nor Felix could have been more excited about each other’s opportunities, but the possibilities that their careers might pull them apart became of great concern.
 
 
If Gabrielle wound up in New York and he in London, then they’d literally have the Atlantic Ocean between them for what might be months, if not longer.
 
Felix had remained optimistic, however, assuring Gabrielle that both jobs were important starts to their lives.
 
In order for them to fulfill their dreams, such temporary sacrifices had to be made.
 
When their stints with their prospective employers were complete—and their resumes more impressive—they could return to Brazil, find work, and live happily and prosperously ever after.

Heartened by this perspective, the two went on to spend a very romantic, yet heavily emotional final month together.
 
They then parted, Gabrielle to New York and Felix to London.
 
Neither had any idea that they would not see each other again.

In New York, Gabrielle had so stunned the judges with her performance that they briefly considered enhancing the role of her character so that she’d have more stage time.
 
Felix enjoyed similar success, impressing Mr. Winsor and proving himself not only an excellent photographer, but a tenacious one as well.

They maintained their relationship through nightly phone calls, which they observed, at least in the beginning, with almost religious fervor.
 
As the months passed, however, calls became far less frequent, mostly due to conflicts in their increasingly busy schedules.

When they did converse, it was often for hours on end.
 
The natural chemistry they shared was one part of their relationship that would never change.
 
They’d satiate one another with tales of their lives: their struggles, their accomplishments, their worries.
 
They often spoke of how they longed to see one another, and had on a number of occasions planned trips to be together, but those were always thwarted by one hindrance or another.

They’d been separated for eight months when Gabrielle received a call from Martin Sammons, a once independent film director who was now working for 20th Century Fox.
 
He’d been given charge to direct a low-budget horror film styled after the old Hitchcock classic The Birds.
 
He’d been informed of Gabrielle’s Broadway talents and was curious to know if she’d be interested in coming to L.A. to, as he put it, “make movies.”
 
It was Gabrielle’s first big break—but it also meant relocating to Hollywood.

She’d called Felix with the news and, as expected, he was excited for her.
 
But she could also sense a certain reservation in his tone that suggested something about it bothered
him.
 
After some prodding, Gabrielle discovered that Felix was holding some news of his own.
 
Disturbing news.
 
He no longer believed they should try to maintain their long-distance relationship.
 
 
He thought it best that they simply end it, he’d said, not because they didn’t love one another, but because just as they had feared, life was simply pulling them apart.

The very suggestion hurt Gabrielle.
 
She’d said she would immediately fly out to London to see him.
 
But Felix then informed her that as of today, he was no longer employed at The Times.
 
He’d been offered, and had already accepted employment as an assistant photographer in Paris under the internationally renowned photographer Pierre Lenox.
 
It was the opportunity of a lifetime, but that meant long, hard hours.
 
With her heading off to Hollywood and him half-way around the world in France, what little time they had for one another was going to be reduced even further.
 
It was simply time to face reality.
 
Their relationship needed to end.

Grieved, Gabrielle told Felix that if going to Hollywood meant never seeing him again, then she’d gladly give up acting and follow him to Paris.
 
Felix wouldn’t allow that, however, knowing how much she loved acting.
 
He wouldn’t be able to live with himself knowing she had given up her dream just to be with him.
 
It was over, he had told her.
 
It was just time for them both to move on.

They parted ways that night with a mere click of the phone.
 
Within a week, Gabrielle had boarded a flight to Los Angeles.
 
She cried the entire way there.

She had not seen or spoken to Felix until this night, when by an idle act of fate—or perhaps in answer to her unspoken prayer—she had spotted him standing in the front door of this restaurant.
 
The mere sight of him was so dizzyingly surreal that she had to wonder if she might be dreaming.
 
Odder still was the feeling that swept over her as he came and stood before her: it was as if they’d never been apart.

“Hello, Gabrielle,” Felix said.

She was caught off guard by his voice, which was smoother and quite a bit deeper than she had remembered.
 
“Felix.
 
I… I can’t believe it’s you,” she replied, feeling a sudden flush of nervousness.

He looked different as well.
 
He had always been somewhat boyish in appearance, but that was clearly no longer the case.
 
His features were now edgier,
more manly
.
 
He had a tight jaw line, heavier eyebrows, and a thin beard shadowed his face.
 
He’d always been tall, with warm skin a shade or two darker
than her own,
but now he wore his black hair much longer, just below the shoulders.
 
And there was
a moodiness
to him as well, a quiet air that suggested some ultimate form of confidence.

“I’m surprised as well,” Felix said.

Gabrielle grinned weakly.
 
“By what, that after all these years you stumble into me at a restaurant in the middle of the night?”

“No,” Felix said calmly. “I’m surprised that you’ve managed to become even more beautiful than the last time I saw you.”

Gabrielle’s eyes widened.
 
She blushed sharply.

Felix reached forward and took her into his arms, hugging her gently.
 
Gabrielle, still dazed by his comment, only loosely hugged him back.

“You weren’t leaving, were you?” Felix asked.

“Yes, I was but… not any longer.”

Felix gestured toward her chair and Gabrielle sat down again.
 
He took a seat directly across from her.

“Is everything okay?” Felix asked.

“Yes.
 
What makes you ask?”

“Your face,” he said, waving a hand in front of his eyes.
 
“You have a worried look.”

“No… it’s nothing.
 
I’ve just been a little stressed lately, that’s all.”

“Jack Parke working you too hard?”

Gabrielle frowned.
 
“Jack Parke?
 
How do you know Jack Parke?”

“We do a bit of business together.
 
A number of my clients love his models.
 
I suppose everyone does.
 
He can spot talent like an eagle spots mice.
 
If not for Jack, I’d be spending most of my time taking pictures of flowers and old barns.
 
So, how have you been?”

She nodded.
 
“Good.”

“Is that what you call it?
 
Just… good?”

“What do you mean?”

He leaned back.
 
“Well, let see.
 
Seven movies, two television series, critical acclaim, not to mention an Oscar nomination.
 
I thought you should have won.
 
All in the short space of just six years.
 
I’d say that’s a little more than good.”

Gabrielle tilted her head.
 
“Keeping tabs on me, are you?”

Felix chuckled.
 
“I wouldn’t call it keeping tabs.”

“Then what would you call it?”

Felix eyed her.
 
“Being your biggest fan.”
 
He raised a hand and motioned for the waiter.
 
The waiter approached, took Felix’s order, a Margarita, and then departed.

Gabrielle said.
 
“And what of yourself.
 
If I’m not mistaken, I’ve seen your pictures in VOGUE, Mademoiselle, St. Claire and scores of other magazines.
 
And isn’t it you that’s been selected to lead the Sports Illustrated swimsuit shoot this year?”

Felix narrowed his eyes and stroked his chin.
 
He
wagged
a finger at her playfully.
 
“You know, back in the States they call that kind of interest stalking.
 
Is that what you’re doing?”

Gabrielle giggled.
 
“
Nooooo
.”

“Then what would you call it?”