Gina went and dialed her grandpa's number. She knew the whole family including her dad still lived in the same house and they would all hear the happy news.
"Hello?" Abraham asked as he picked up the phone.
"Hey grandpa!" Gina said happily.
"Gina! How are you?" her grandpa asked in a happier tone.
"Awesome! You know what?"
"What?" he asked, wondering what she had to say.
"I got a record deal!" Gina said in a rush.
"You WHAT?" her grandfather asked excitedly.
"You heard me!" Gina laughed.
"Darling, this is amazing! When do you start recording?"
"Tomorrow. They want me to do a duet with one of the Backstreet Boys, and one song where we all sing together. I don't know which one to choose - no actually, I do."
"That's great! Who did you choose?"
"Nick Carter. For some reason there's like an understanding between us that I can't quite figure out. He's my age, quiet, but when he does speak up he's so funny. I love his voice, too. Like an angel."
"The blond one you mean?" Abraham asked.
"Yep. So how have you been these past five years?" Gina asked softly.
"Oh we made it alright." he said, trying to comfort her about the fact that she had been sent to a foster home when she was fifteen and hadn't been able to get out until she was seventeen.
"Is daddy there?" Gina asked, referring to her mother's husband who had been the only father she had ever known. On the other line, her grandfather paused. There was only one way to tell her, and that was the straight out truth.
"Gina, he's not here. He's engaged to a Mexican model and they have a baby girl together."
Gina gasped in disbelief. "You mean he didn't even tell me? How rude. I'll teach that buster a lesson!" she exclaimed with spirit, and Abraham was relieved. At least she hadn't been angry about him defiling her mother's memory.
"So you'll send me a picture, right sweetheart?" he asked, changing the subject.
"No way! You'll see it on the album soon enough!" Gina giggled.
"Always the ambitious one. Well, listen sweetheart. I have to go now, but I'll make sure to tell the family the wonderful news, and they'll no doubt call you. Come visit us soon, and bring that Carter guy with you."
"I'll be coming 'round on the summer/fall tour with BSB, I'm the opening act. I'll make sure to bring little Nicky over."
"Alright then. I love you, bye."
"Bye, I love you too." Gina replied, and hung up the phone.
That night on the beach, Gina stood in the surf, looking up at the stars. A tear slipped down her face as she remembered her mother, and without thinking she started to sing her mother's last song. In the shadows, Nick held his breath as Gina began to sing again, this time a song he'd never heard, but it was beautiful.
“Late at night when all the world is sleeping
I stay up and think of you
And I wish on a star that somewhere you are
thinking of me too
Cause I'm dreaming of you tonight
Till tomorrow, I'll be holding you tight
And there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be
than here in my room
dreaming about you and me
Wonder if you ever see me and I
wonder if you know I'm there (am I there, am I?)
If you looked in my eyes would you see what's inside
Would you even care?
I just wanna hold you close but so far
all I have are dreams of you
So I wait for the day (wait for the day)
to take the courage to say
how much I love you
Yes I do
I'll be dreaming of you tonight
Till tomorrow, I'll be holding you tight
And there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be
than here in my room
dreaming about you and me
Corazón
No puedo dejar de pensar en ti
Cómo te necesito
Mi amor, como te extraño Sweetheart
I can't stop thinking of you
How I need you
My love, how I miss you
Late at night when all the world is sleeping
I stay up and think of you
And I still can't believe
that you came up to me and said
I love you
I love you too
Now I'm dreaming with you tonight
Till tomorrow (till tomorrow) and for all of my life
And there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be
than here in my room
Dreaming with you endlessly…”
Nick heard sobbing coming from her as she had her back turned to him. He came out of his hiding spot, and put an arm around her shoulder. Gina stiffened, thinking that someone was trying to hurt her. She turned around and a look of relief came over her face as she saw Nick there, holding her.
"Hey there, Nick." she told him, looking up into his eyes.