Love, Destiny, and Gardenias

By Ibis Lezcano

Sometimes in life you have to take a risk and step outside of your normal safety net to be able to achieve happiness.

You have to dare to explore the unknown. Then, and only then, will you have an opportunity to find out how much life has to offer you.
No matter the age or time in space, LOVE is there available for each and everyone of us; It is ours for the taking. It is a divine gift from our creator. Believe in it. Feel it in your heart. Destiny will guide you to it.
Some of this story is based on real events, and some is fiction. But regardless what it is fiction or reality, the message is that. LOVE is and always will be, the most powerful force in the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463408398

Ibis Lezcano

She has been writing all of her life, ever since she was able to think and form a sentence. It was her way of escaping to her dream world. It has been a long journey for her, as she is now on her seniors years 74 to be exact ,she never had the time to seriously wriite a novel before now. The bussiness of living and raising a family were her most important priorities. Today she finally found the time and confidence to create and publish her novel. She was born and raised in Havana, Cuba. Destiny brought her to the United States in 1961. Her main source to finding the confidence and courage to tell the world about what she so strongly believes, came from reading and watching Oprah Winfrey. "OPRAH" has given her the inspiration and the power to move forward and make her dream a reality. She resides with her French husband in the sunny state of Florida and travels often to Paris, France where she also has a home.

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© 2011 Ibis Lezcano. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 7/25/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4634-0841-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-0840-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-0839-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011908949

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

ONE

Life in Bogotá

TWO

Finding Each Other

THREE

Last Week in Bogotá

FOUR

The Family Meeting

FIVE

The Departure

SIX

Facing Reality

SEVEN

A New Home

EIGHT

Tragedy Strikes

NINE

Isabel’s wedding

TEN

Meeting in Argentina

ELEVEN

Explanation and Apology

TWELVE

Trip to Bogotá

This book is dedicated to Shelby, my daughter, my friend, my strength, and the best thing that ever happen in my life.

It is also for all the lovers of the world, for those who have known that all things are possible when you find true love.

And now I will show you the most excellent way:

If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give up all I possess and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; it does not envy; it does not boast; It is not proud, it is not rude; it is not self-seeking; it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trust, always hopes,

always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:1–7

ONE

Life in Bogotá

IT WAS A COLD, RAINY MORNING, and Laura hated to get up on days like this. What a great morning to stay in bed, sleeping and just doing nothing. She could hear the raindrops falling on the window shelf, watering her flowerpots. For a brief moment, she reflected on the life the rain was bringing. The flowers would grow, and everything would be clean and fresh. That awful dust that covers the streets of Bogotá would be gone. She loved her city; she felt safe and happy there. It was a city full of history and charm, and it offered her so much to do and see. She felt lucky to have been born there.

Laura, what are you doing? Why are you not up yet? Laura heard her mother coming up the stairs. Hurry up. You are going to be late for work. Laura’s mother was always worrying about her children, especially about Laura, her favorite child.

Carmen, Laura’s mother, was a tall and slender woman; her beauty was not the usual Spanish look. She was more like the image of a Nordic beauty. Her eyes were blue, and her hair was long and shiny, with silver streaks running through it. She moved gracefully. Her manners were always proper. It was easy to understand why Pedro, Laura’s father, fell in love with her, even though she was cold and distant.

Laura’s home was in the suburbs of Bogotá, Colombia, and for the past two years, she had worked as a telephone supervisor at one of the largest hotels in the city. She also attended the University of Colombia. Her life was simple but busy. Her job plus school did not allow her much time for herself.

Mama, Laura shouted as she ran down the stairs. Today is a busy day at the hotel, I will be home late. Please do not wait up for me. I will eat something there.

I don’t like you coming home late, her mother replied.

I know. I’ll be careful. Please don’t worry so much.

Traffic made it difficult for the buses to run on time, and as usual, the line for the bus was a long one. All seats were taken right away, but it really did not matter to Laura. She knew she would get a seat. All she had to do was look at the boys with her big green eyes and smile. Laura was a combination of her mother’s beauty and her father’s charm. Her body was slender, and her skin was flawless. However, her looks were not what attracted everyone to her. It was her warm and soft behavior and her sweet and pleasant manner that made her irresistible.

The bus stopped in front of the National Palace Hotel. It was the biggest and oldest hotel in Bogotá, built to resemble a Spanish castle. Set on top of a hill, surrounded by a garden of roses and marble fountains, it was truly a unique place. No doubt, it was an elegant and classy hotel, and the best of Colombian society were seen there. This made it the most desirable place for all foreigners to stay. This week The International Tennis Tournament group was coming to stay there.

Laura arrived at the hotel just in time to replace her counterpart from the night shift. With a quick exchange of messages and a cup of coffee in her hand, she started her day.

At that same time, miles away, a plane was on its way to Bogotá, bringing a man who would come to stay at the National Palace Hotel. The rain was falling hard in Bogotá. The fog and wind made it difficult for the pilot to maneuver the plane, which made for a bumpy landing. Seated in first class, was a dark-haired, handsome man called Antonio Marketta. He could have been taken for a model or a movie star. Dressed in a pair of casual gray trousers, combined with a red cashmere sweater, he looked like someone who knew where he was going and what he was doing. But Toño, as his family and friends called him, was not in control of his life.

Toño was confused, puzzled, and in the middle of an emotional conflict, personal and political, as he and his father did not share the same political views. His father had advised him to go away for a while to allow things to cool down, as the government was tracking down everyone involved in demonstrations and attacks against President Perón.

Perón had just returned to Argentina after a long and difficult exile. He was a man determined not to fail again. He was elected president for the second time, during a period of extreme political, economic, and social disorder.

Toño had been in trouble before, and his father was working very hard to prevent him from getting deeper in with the underground revolution. This trip was an escape to allow him to rest and to rethink his life, career, and future. Right now, everything was in shambles. He knew his father wanted the best for him, but times were changing, and Argentina needed to change.

Francisco Marketta, Toño’s father, had all the traditional values of a first-generation Argentinean from an Italian family. He was a man of strong character, with defined and specific ideas, and a well-known lawyer with a close relationship to the government. Toño’s behavior presented a major dilemma, as he was playing with his future and his life.

The luggage arrived on time, and Toño rushed to grab his suitcase. He traveled light, a small suitcase and tennis racket were all he carried. Playing tennis was his passion. Toño was happy to be there. The airport hassle did not seem to bother him much. Going through customs and immigration was routine for him. Because he had traveled to Europe so many times, it was just part of the game.

The airport was exceptionally busy that day, but Toño managed to free himself from the crowd. As he moved alone through the long airport hallway, he noticed his name on a big piece of cardboard. It read, Mr. Marketta in big red letters. A limo was waiting to pick him up. He did not expect this to happen. His father must have used some of his connections to get a car to meet him.

The limousine ran slowly through the freshly cleaned streets of Bogotá. Cold air came in through the car window, and Toño felt a sense of excitement and happiness, as well as a feeling of anxiety. It felt as though something was about to bring him a new life. Why is this city making such an impact on me? He wondered.

Toño arrived at the National Palace Hotel at noon. Everything was in order. His reservation was accurate: a nonsmoking room with a view of the gardens, double bed with four hard pillows, and a bathroom with a bathtub. He was tired and hungry. It had been a long flight, and his mind could not stop thinking about all of his problems at home. Exhausted, he thought a hot bath and some food would do him good

On the main floor of the hotel, behind the reception desk, was the telephone switchboard. Laura was working, and she was missing one operator. Usually, there were four operators handling the board, but one had called in sick, so Laura had to take over the empty position. At that moment, the light for room 1405 went on. Laura answered the call instantly, and with a warm and soft voice, she asked, May I be of help?

Toño paused for a moment, and with a smile in his face, he responded, "Yes, you can. I am hungry. What do you suggest I eat?

Laura was pleased with the sound of his voice. It was strong but almost childlike. No one had ever answered the call of help with such simplicity. Amused, she asked, What kind of food do you usually eat?

"I really need your help, I do not