I look back, and Guillermo is coming with Nina.
The little girl smiles, and as soon as she sees me, she opens her arms. I don’t even think before taking her in my arms, and the contact with her warm, soft body, instantly calms me.
“You’re so happy, aren’t you, sweetheart? You have the most beautiful smile in the world!”
Only when I notice the unusual silence do I realize that all three Caldwell-Oviedo members are watching me attentively.
Embarrassed, I focus again on Nina, while I see Guillermo kiss the forehead of the youngest brother.
Chapter 28
Divided between talking to my mother and playing with Valentina, I’m paying close attention to the interaction between my brother and Olívia. Rafael has an easy way with words, and women adore him. Both he and Gael usually leave female representatives sighing, and I wonder if the same happens with the one who drives me crazier and crazier every day.
She’s been tense since we sat down in the living room to talk. Did I make a mistake in bringing her here? Am I rushing things?
After going upstairs to be with Nina yesterday, my head was in a whirl. If we hadn’t been interrupted, I know what would have happened: I would have spent every minute of the night exploring her spectacular body.
I can’t postpone it anymore. I need to come clean before the situation worsens.
“So you’re working in the family business now?” I hear her ask Rafe.
“Temporarily. I was dying of boredom. I’m a bit restless.”
She laughs. “Oh, don’t even talk to me about restlessness. I completely understand. I’m afraid I won’t have time to do everything I want in my time on Earth.”
“Like what, for example?”
“Traveling to Brazil is one of my big projects.”
She hasn’t told me anything about that, and now she’s confessing her dreams to my brother?
“Brazil, really? I’ve been there a few times for advertising campaigns. I love Rio de Janeiro.”
“My adoptive mother was Brazilian, although not from Rio. She was born in Minas Gerais, another state.” She smiles when talking about her mother. “From the pictures, Rio de Janeiro seems to be a beautiful city indeed. I would like to go to the Christ the Redeemer. I’m Catholic, and I would be very happy to climb up there and give thanks.”
“About anything in particular?”
“No. Just for life. I’m healthy and happy, despite losing my mother. I believe that God knows everything, that there’s a reason for everything.”
“I think we need to talk more, Olívia. I’m not always so positive.”
Another laugh, but then she becomes serious. “I also feel discouraged from time to time, like everyone else, but it doesn’t last long. I can’t afford to give up. This is the only life I have, and I need to make the most of it.” She seems a bit embarrassed and changes the subject. “I’m sure your arm will be fully recovered soon. You need to believe, Rafe.”
I’m surprised that he told Olívia about the surgery. It’s a sensitive topic for Rafe. He doesn’t even like to share information about the progress of the injury that kept him out of the golf circuit last year with the family.
“Guillermo, did you hear what I said?”
Only then do I realize that my mother has asked me something. I was completely distracted by Olívia’s words. There’s a world about her that I don’t know. Things that no report could show me.
“Yes, I . . .no . . .”
“Can you come with me to the kitchen for a moment?”
I don’t want to leave her side. It’s as if in the space of a few minutes, I’m taking an intensive course on Olívia.
“Guillermo?”
I sigh, a little annoyed. “Let’s go.”
