CHAPTER 25
Jason
T hat kiss! I can’t even compare it to any I’ve ever had.
Maybe because our relationship started on edge or because I’m older now and she’s the first woman I’ve felt drawn to in my adulthood. Either way, I try not to think too much about when I can kiss her again after she gives me the talk , saying what we did was reckless.
We fall into a pattern in the next days, my foot recovering in a week since Valentina pampers me when she buys the right shoe and insists on changing the bandages herself. And through it, she becomes a constant in our lives. April slips by unnoticed, yet I can recall every detail about Valentina, including the subtlety of her expressions and the twitch of her lips when my closeness affects her. I remember everything she wears from her snug gym clothes to the cute overalls, fluttery skirts, and breezy dresses.
With the kids in school and during random days off for teacher planning, Valentina manages their dental and doctor appointments. Aside from Daisy and my mom, Valentina’s the first person other than me to take my kids to the doctor. Mostly because, as she pointed out, I over-parent.
The evenings, reunited with the kids and Valentina at Mom’s, highlight my days. Then, usually, she returns with us to Meadowbrook. She’s too kind to turn down the kids when they plead with those puppy-dog eyes, asking her to come with us and drive back in the morning. I don’t plead, but I want her there too. Especially since our workouts together happen then.
Right now, I’ve been on the treadmill for twenty minutes. Since Valentina walked in, I’ve done nothing but stare at her through the mirror.
She’s drawn her long dark hair up into a high wavy ponytail, and she’s lifting dumbbells, bending up and down in a way that highlights her toned figure. When she catches me staring, I tumble and grip the handle. I’m about to make some joke, but words fail me. Heat courses along my skin as I drown in those deep-brown eyes, and the intensity of my feelings proves how deep this attraction runs.
I move to the bench where I can’t see her through the mirror. I work through a series of bench presses, and my eyes betray me once more. She’s now stretching on a mat nearby.
I lift the weight, refocusing for several minutes before her scent teases my senses. She’s closer, leaning against the wall, watching me. “Don’t... interrupt me.” I croak, my focus on pushing the weights up. I wanted to go heavy this morning because I’ve got energy to burn—energy fueled by the need to distract myself from that kiss at the beach house. Valentina insists kissing isn’t a good idea when we’re unsure of our new friendship or what a serious relationship might mean.
“I was just saying hi.” She waggles her fingers with that mischievous innocence.
“See? I lost count.”
“You were at fourteen.”
“How do you know?”
“I don’t think you want me to admit.”
I laugh, then holster the heavy weights before my distraction sends me to the hospital. I sit up and wipe my hands on a towel, taking my sweet time before I give in to the urge to look at her fully.
Her burgundy leggings and cream top cling to her, showcasing each curve. I haven’t seen this outfit before, and I know that because I catalog everything she wears.
“I’ll get coffee and breakfast ready.” She nods to the clock, more aware of time on such mornings than I am.
“I’ll be there shortly.” I swallow, needing a moment to breathe.
We have a new routine now. Even when I try to work out before her, I’m never early enough. We’re both early risers, and after workouts, we sip coffee and make breakfast together. Then I shower while she wakes the kids up, and she takes a turn showering as I ensure they get dressed before we eat together. We discuss our gratitude Bible verse and what might be going in our journals tonight. With a prayer, we head out. I’ve never before felt this close to God or excited to read the Bible. It’s not as overwhelming as I make it sound to Ethan.
Daisy and I never did anything consistently together. Before Eden was born, we were spontaneous about doing fun things. Then kids happened, and it all came to a halt.
As spring flowers bloom in May, so does my heart. I run into Valentina at Eden’s dance lessons when she’s not watching the boys’ soccer practice. I rarely go to soccer practices since I go to their games on Fridays. Tonight is the boys’ final game of the season, and I’m trying to concentrate on them, not on Valentina. She’s not making it easy as she springs to her feet, her hair shimmying over her shoulders and alight from the evening sun.
“Why’s that a foul?” she shouts to the referee. “He barely touched him!”
She beckons me to verify, but I hang back, inhaling the fresh-cut grass scent and the musky popcorn odor. Whistles and cheers resound soon after she sits again. Then our team scores, and she leaps up again, high-fiving Eden, both cheering. They’ve become quite the team themselves. So why do the changes in my daughter terrify me? Must I be so pessimistic, focusing on when Valentina leaves? I’ve not asked her plans, fearing the answer. They always leave. No one stays with me, with my kids.
“Come on!” Carlos’s voice booms. In a Jets jersey, he’s appointed himself the twins’ personal trainer, encouraging the boys now awaiting their turn. “We need to tie this game, then score another goal for a win.” He claps. “Felix, remember what we worked on—the quick passes and staying open.”
Coach calls a kid in to play.
Valentina’s jaw drops. She shoves her popcorn bag toward Eden and strides over. “Coach, why isn’t Felix taking a turn? He’s barely played.”
Coach disregards her. No doubt, he’d rather have the best players to help tie up the score.
Scooping up a handful of Valentina’s popcorn, Eden chuckles. “He didn’t count on Val when he picked Bobby. Bet he regrets it.”
Valentina’s already stomping back toward us, and I almost imagine Coach looks shorter than he was. She waves away the popcorn when Eden offers it back. Then the energetic crowd roars as Atticus scores the winning goal. Valentina shouts and scoops up Eden in an embrace before they entwine their hands and run to the field to high-five the boys, Carlos doing the same.
Their enthusiasm screams I’ve been failing my cheerleading duties these last years. After sprinting to catch up, I high-five the boys with our secret handshake reserved for victorious moments.
Aglow, Eden hugs me tight. “They won, Daddy! We have to go celebrate.”
I tuck wispy hairs behind her ear and grin at her lips all puffy from the salty snacks. “What do you suggest? We’ve already gorged on popcorn from nearby vendors.”
“Pancakes.” Felix gives a fist pump.
Atticus smacks his lips. “Waffles.”
“Smart boys.” Carlos snorts. “Unless it’s Mami’s cooking, you can’t beat syrup and whip cream.”
“IHOP, it is.” Valentina ushers us along.
Soon, we settle into a booth, our plates heaped with sugar and grease overload, and Valentina recounts the game, her fiery spirit igniting everyone’s energy. She’s the missing element in our family. If only I could expect her to stay forever.
As we leave, the boys pull her along through the parking lot, eager to see the soccer photos I insisted they waited until after dinner to go over. My cheeks hurt. I haven’t stopped grinning this evening.
“I see the way you look at my sister.” Carlos matches his slow steps to mine. “Don’t worry. You and your kids are all she talks about these days.”
I thrust my hands into my pockets, keeping it casual. But why pretend when Carlos already knows? “She’s incredible.”
“You’d better be serious. Mami’s counting on her to change our family history.”
We near the Pilot where Valentina and the kids are already seated. The overhead lights cast a warm glow on their faces tipped around her phone while it lights up the profession photos of the team season. Incredible scarcely covers it. “I hope I’m worthy of her.”
“If you intend to hurt her like that jerk...” He grits his teeth, his muscles flexing. “Don’t mislead her if you don’t plan to see it through.”
I jab his right biceps. “I wouldn’t want to mess with you. Valentina brags about your kickboxing skills.” Then I stop and lean against the SUV’s taillights. “I’m not perfect, never will be. What Austin did...”
“She told you?” Carlos’s eyes widen.
The back door swings open, and the boys leap out, followed by Valentina and Eden.
“Can Valentina come home with us?” Eden tilts her head.
“It’s up to Valentina.”
The boys extend an invitation to Carlos, who glances at his sister. Valentina exchanges a look with him.
He shrugs. “I’ll let Tina go with you guys if she lets me take her car.”
“You’re sure it’s not a bother if I go home with you?” Her mischievous eyes glint at me, and my heart quickens. Does she know how complete I feel in her presence? How thrilled that she used the word home ? How right it sounds to think of her as part of our family?
“You can come home anytime.” That word never sounded so good.
***
Jason
T HE BEDTIME ROUTINE takes longer with Valentina around since the boys insist we alternate telling a story. So, we’ve come up with two short stories that have scenes for each of us.
“Tonight, you get the dragon and the wizard, right, Val?” I drop onto Atticus’s bed, and Eden scrambles in next to Val on Felix’s.
“Not fair. I made the winning shot, so I should get to pick who sits with me,” Atticus grumbles, still pouting over Felix getting his turn with Val tonight.
I can pretend I didn’t hear that.
Then our voices animate the stories, and the kids laugh at our antics.
Afterward, Eden summons Valentina to tuck her in while I tuck in the boys. She doesn’t seem to need me as much, but at least she has a female role model.
Morning comes too soon, waking me well before the real family ordeal of morning breakfast preparation. By the time I return with doughnuts, Valentina’s in the kitchen with the kids, not caring when they break the eggs, spill the flour, and smear greasy fingerprints on the stainless steel fridge—stainless it might be, but it sure attracts fingerprints.
“Looks like you guys are having a blast.” I brace against a counter and slide the doughnut box in front of Valentina.
The kids barely look my way before resuming mixing whatever it is. But her eyes widen when she glimpses the logo. “You went all the way to Brooklyn for that?”
“They don’t deliver beyond seven miles.” My chest expands when she mouths a thank you, then bites her lower lip, clearly holding in a smile. Discussing guilty pleasures, she told me about her favorite doughnut shop in Brooklyn.
Due to the kitchen mess, we spend more time cleaning than eating. But it’s never been this fun. How does she manage that, anyway?
Afterward, the guys and I head to help an elderly couple from the church. The kids stay with Liam’s and Russ’s kids’ nannies so Valentina can tag along. She doesn’t complain when we pull weeds and then assemble a bookshelf, a sofa, and a bed.
Then she and the kids cheer as the guys and I play a pickup rugby game against some locals. I cherish every moment she’s in our lives. From our regular Saturday games to picnicking under the pink cherry blossoms as the boys scale trees and Eden attempts to learn how this afternoon.
“Tree climbing isn’t that bad, right?” Valentina asks.
“I guess you’re right.” I snatch a stray dandelion from the grass and tuck the flower behind her ear. My heart swells. Can it get better than this, just lying on our stomachs, talking about anything and everything? Spiritual things, jobs we’ve done before, and life’s challenges...
“Daddy, Val, look!” Eden calls from her perch on a branch.
We cheer her on and her brothers too.
They announce a Bible summer camp at church the next day. After services, Valentina suggests the kids sign up, and they agree after she promises to volunteer—something I usually ignore since I have to work. But if she’s volunteering for mid-June, then she’s planning to stick around next month, right?
But is June enough? I want this to be more, to be a family again. I’m falling more and more in love with her. Her presence turns every ordinary moment into something extraordinary, and while I have no idea how to pray, I hope God can intervene and have this be our new forever.