Jennifer came home the next day, much to her mother's horror, both for having a large swollen ankle and for not staying with David as long as she could manage. Mrs. Bennett's horror continued to escalate when Laurel came from her father's study with the news that she'd just received an email from Luca Izambard, business partner of her late father.
"What in the world could be possibly want?" Margaret exploded.
"His son is coming to Willow Springs and he implied that he would be staying with us." Laurel answered.
"Absolutely out of the question!"
"Mom, I know it won't be an ideal situation, but I don't see a graceful alternative."
"What does he want with us?"
"Mr. Izambard was not very clear. I don't think he speaks the best English."
Margaret looked on the verge of tears but finally said, "When does he arrive?"
He arrived two weeks later, the first week of November. Laurel opened the door and was stunned to see an absolutely beautiful man standing in front of her.
He extended his hand and took Laurel's and kissed it.
"Bonjour, mon cherie."
"Mr. Izambard welcome to Willow Springs."
"Please, call me Sebastien. And you must be Lar-rell"
"Yes, please come in."
Laurel showed him to the sitting room then went to find her mother and sisters. Jennifer went in first to talk to him while Laurel found their mother. Laurel finally convinced Margaret to come down and meet Sebastien.
Margaret walked into the living room very bitterly, but her frown disappeared when she saw the man sitting on the sofa. Margaret sat joyfully next to him and he gave her a similar French greeting. Jennifer pulled Laurel to side of the room.
"Laurel, have you talked to him at all?"
"No, he just got here."
"He may be gorgeous, but his father is the reason that our father is dead."
"I know. Let's just get through this visit as fast as we possibly can."
All their hearts dropped when Sebastien announced he planned to stay until just before Christmas- almost a month and a half.
That afternoon, Laurel convinced Cydalia and Katarina to come with her to give Sebastien a tour of the town. For November, the weather was incredibly balmy so they went by bicycle.
Cyd and Kat were still obsessing over the soccer players in town for the winter and knew all the places they hung out and dragged Sebastien with them. He seemed happy to oblige them. Laurel actually had a few things to pick up so she said she'd catch up. She posted a letter then set off to find her sisters and their guest. She was riding down the main street quickly and saw a man come out of the ice cream shop. She saw him look to his right and thought he'd seen her coming, but he stepped into the street right in front of Laurel's speeding bike. She screamed but it was too late to hit the brakes. She hit him full force. She fell off her bike. His ice cream flew into the air. They both crumbled to the ground and the ice cream landed in splatters over both of them.
It took a moment for Laurel to open her eyes but when she did there was an extremely handsome man looking down at her.
"Are you all right?" the man had a thick Spanish accent.
"Yes. Are you?"
"Quite all right, just regretful that I didn't listen to my mother and always look both ways before crossing the street." He chuckled deeply as he helped Laurel to her feet.
Laurel realized that his ice cream was all over both of them.
"Oh, I've ruined your ice cream cone!"
"The fault was completely mine. I was not looking where I was going."
"Please let me buy you a new one."
"Only if I can buy you one as an apology for my lack of alertness" he answered winking. Laurel agreed and they lifted her bike to the sidewalk before going back into the ice cream shop.
The man was Carlos Marin and he was an athletic trainer for the New York Nebulas soccer team that had preseason practice in town. He had been born in Spain, but spent a large part of his childhood in Switzerland.
They got their ice cream and left the shop.
"Laurel, I feel like I've done enough damage for the day, but I'd regret if I didn't ask you-"
"Laurel!" they were interrupted by David calling from his motorcycle on the road. Urs was right behind him. Laurel approached the Harleys and Carlos followed.
"Hello David," Laurel greeted him.
"Is Jennifer out with you today?" He asked. Laurel knew David had seen Jennifer just that morning since she's stayed the night with him. Jennifer had stayed the night with David quite a few times in the last two weeks, most times coming home looking like she hadn't slept at all.
"I'm sorry to disappoint, but she stayed in today." David's face fell. Laurel changed the subject. "David, this is Carlos Marin; he's with the Nebulas."
David nodded a greeting and Laurel started to introduce Urs, but stopped when she saw the way Urs was staring at Carlos. Urs revved the engine of his motor bike and sped off past David. David shrugged and excused himself following his friend.
Laurel looked at Carlos for an explanation, but he did not seem to want to talk about it. He continued what he was saying before.
"Laurel, I know I would regret if I didn't ask you if I could call you sometime."
Laurel smiled coyly. "I think I would like that."
They exchanged numbers with the promise to be in contact soon.
As Carlos walked away Cydalia, Kat and Sebastien came walking up.
"Who in the world was that hunk of a man?" Cyd asked.
Laurel didn't answer, just smiled.
Laurel was disappointed when Carlos didn't call that week. Half way through the next she had finally put him out of her mind when at last he called and asked her to dinner. She gladly accepted and decided to forgive the tardiness of the request.
