CHAPTER 30
Jason
E xcitement buzzes through me as I wipe down the counter, nailing every task I should let the kids do. I need somewhere to channel all this energy, besides hitting the gym. I tilt a yellow bottle, and lemon oil dollops the surface before I wipe it the way Valentina does it and the fresh aroma infuses the air.
I whistle “Rewrite the Stars” from the dance recital two weeks ago. Maybe that could be our song.
I glance at the stovetop. It’s already past one.
In an hour, I should start getting ready for Brooklyn if I’m going to make a stop at the florist. Valentina stayed at her mom’s last night so she could attend the party of one of her ESL students this morning.
She arranged for Willow, the owner of Sips and Scripts, to come watch the kids tonight. While I should be hesitant, the kids know Willow. Plus, they’ll spend most of the evening with my friends and their kids.
Now, the evening’s just about possibilities. Gone is the fear of running into my ex and her husband.
The boys’ cheers ring through the kitchen window. Eden retreated to her room after a failed attempt to dictate which game her brothers should be playing with her.
I hang up the towel and reach for my phone to order pizza delivered to Liam’s house since the kids and our friends will all be hanging out there. It’s the least I can do for everyone watching my kids tonight.
“Daddy, you’re whistling.” Eden joins me, her eyes vibrant beneath the natural light streaming through the windows.
“I whistle sometimes.”
“You smile a lot these days too.” She slides up and sits on the counter, swinging her bare feet. “You’re happy.”
I put aside my phone and move to her, squeezing her cheek. “You’re happy too, Edie.” All thanks to Valentina.
“I wanted to tell you something.”
“What’s that?”
“Can I...” She breathes out, hesitating until my nod urges her to continue. “Can I not do dance anymore?”
That’s shocking. I cross my arms. “I thought you liked dancing.”
“I like to dance, but I’d like to try other things too.”
“How long have you wanted to quit?”
“For some time. Are you disappointed?” Her face falls. “Val said you’d understand.”
“Of course I understand.” I tuck a stray hair behind her ear. It’s pulled into a messy but organized ponytail that reminds me of how Valentina pulls her hair back sometimes.
“I want to try out volleyball.”
“What would you think if you went to school in this town?” I might as well update her for the next school year. “I mean if you switched schools for sixth grade?”
“Really? I’d love that.” She slides off the counter and wraps her arms around my waist. I have to savor these short-lived moments.
“Don’t tell your brothers yet. I’ll talk to them and see if they’re okay with the switch. Otherwise, I’m not sure—”
“Maybe you can take the boys to their school, and Val can take me to the neighborhood school.”
I’m not sure if Valentina will stick around that long. But I can’t break Eden’s heart with what I don’t know.
“Is Valentina going to leave us?” She looks up at me, concern laced in her blue eyes. Apparently, my silence has her figuring out some things.
Valentina is only here temporarily, even if she and I have a different relationship, which I need to tell the kids about.
“If she leaves, I know she’ll stay in our lives.”
Her brows pull together. “But she said she won’t leave.”
I hug her. “If she told you that, then there’s nothing to worry about.”
I hope Eden is right and Valentina will always be around. But that’s a matter I can’t handle, so God will have to intervene. God. That, too, is new in my life. What started as a thirty-day gratitude journaling session turned into Bible reading and prayer time with my family. Yes, Valentina is a part of my family now.
The back door slides open in a rush, and the boys bustle in.
“Felix said I’m adopted, Daddy.”
“He said it first.” Felix points at his brother as I usher them toward the island.
“Good thing you’re both in the same family.”
“Take your muddy shoes back outside, ew!” Eden screeches, her face contorted. She can be bossy at times, but when I take a better look at the boys, I’ve got to agree.
They scamper back out and return in stockinged feet.
“Do you guys want some ice cream sandwiches?” I ask when they slide onto the stools.
“You gave us ice cream sandwiches two hours ago when we returned from lunch.” Eden reminds me.
Right. With Valentina’s absence, my mind must be in two places.
“Can I have another one, please?” Atticus requests.
Felix is already swinging open the freezer.
“Thanks, Daddy,” they chorus.
Once I help them with their snacks and have them settled around the island, I present the boys with the news about switching schools. “They may not have good soccer teams, but I can guarantee they provide a good education.” I’m taking Ethan’s word on that, trusting my friends’ judgment.
“Will I still fly airplanes if I go to school here?” Atticus’s innocent question elicits a chuckle.
“Our friends go to the school here.” Felix nods before biting into his frozen cookie sandwich.
I grin. This is the right decision.
Then my gaze flits between Eden at the counter and the boys at the island. “And...” My heart races. I need to utilize this moment while I have all three. I hadn’t realized how hard this would be. “Valentina and I...”
“You’re going to the party.” Atticus lifts his half-eaten ice cream sandwich before licking a drip from it.
Eden looks curious, as if she already knows what I’m about to say.
I clear my throat. “You know how adults have girlfriends and boyfriends?”
“Ew, the kissing and stuff.” A drip of cream falls from Felix’s sandwich as he pauses.
Eden nods while Atticus looks puzzled.
“Valentina and I are thinking of—”
“She’s your girlfriend?” Eden squeals, slides off the counter, and jumps up and down.
Felix scrunches his nose. “Does that mean you’re going to kiss?”
Atticus jabs his brother’s arm. “It means she might be our new mom.”
Eden seconds that by asking if we’re getting married. “Does that mean she’ll stay with us forever?”
“We’re going to take one step at a time, okay?” I try to steady the excited barrage.
Their faces light up as each processes the news. I’m still in disbelief. Can Valentina make our family complete?
***
Jason
W ITH DAYLIGHT EBBING , my anticipation mounts, but the bow tie almost stifles it. I resist tugging at it as a bead of sweat traces its way down my neck. I shift the rose to my less clammy hand and press the doorbell. Last time I rang that bell, my nerves were racked for different reasons. Three months ago, I could never have envisioned being here as her date.
Snippets of conversation bounce through the door. “I’m counting on you to rewrite our family history!”
“Mom! It’s just a date.” Valentina’s voice floats with laughter, and I grin as the door swings open.
My mouth goes dry, and my heart kicks against my chest, nearly drowning out the city’s din. Can she be more exquisite? Her hair falls in soft waves on her left, but she’s pinned the other side back so it’s easy to see her delicate jawline. The red dress graces her knees and accentuates her slender figure, and silver earrings dangle to her shoulders, catching the evening light.
Her affectionate gaze meets mine, and I’m dizzy with longing. No doubt, my gaze lingers too long on her full red lips before scanning the soft expanse of her partially exposed neck and shoulders, her skin aglow in the fading sunlight.
She sizes me up with a playful smirk. “You clean up pretty good, Jason Sterling.” She adjusts her white clutch. “Ready?”
I step forward to meet her. “You look stunning.” I finally remember to breathe, then lean in to kiss her cheek. Closing my eyes, I savor her scent, a new favorite.
I then offer my arm. “Wow.” The velvet brushes against my wrist and reminds me of the flower I hold. I extend it toward her. “A single rose for the one and only.”
Lifting the flower to her nose, she halts and sucks in a breath. “Thank you.”
Her heels click against the concrete as we walk toward the sidewalk. I opted for a hired car tonight, so I can sit beside Valentina without the distractions of driving or the presence of Matthew.
The soft pop music I’d requested floats in the car. We have the same preference in music. Even though the back seat has enough room for three, we find ourselves close together, her delicate hand clasped in mine. I kiss the top of her hair again, inhaling a fragrance that seems a blend of roses and something uniquely hers. “How was the party?”
“It was busy. Ended up helping out in the kitchen.” She shares details of the event—the music, the dancing, and the last-minute preparations.
“Did you dance with anyone?” I cringe.
“Not with anyone you’d worry about.” She squishes her face playfully.
I try to suppress the jealous lover in me. She’s here with me now, and there will be dances for us tonight and many more nights to come. Hopefully.
She shifts and laces our fingers together. “Were the kids okay with Willow babysitting them?”
I nod. “I, um, I told them about us.”
Her fingers squeeze mine. “How did they react?”
“Eden... she wants to make sure you’ll be in her life.” I won’t elaborate on Eden’s real fear of Valentina’s departure someday. “They like you a lot, maybe even more than they like me.”
When I nudge her shoulder with my arm, her eyes sparkle. “That’s not true.”
I lift our entwined hands and kiss each of her fingertips painted a subtle white. They smell like fresh nail polish.
Once the car stops at the posh hotel, I’m out and around to her side in moments. I hand the driver a generous tip, then help Valentina out. With her hold careful on the rose now stashed in her grip, she quips, “I’ll guard it with my life.”
“And I’ll guard you with my life.” I wink.
“What time should I pick you up?” The driver is already angling for his next fare.
I hadn’t thought that far. So I tell him I’m not sure what time the event ends. I can get a ride easily.
“Just text me when you’re ready.” He confirms I have his number in my call history.
Camera flashes ignite as we step into the hotel’s grand entrance, photographers bustling around us. Under the bright lights, a buzz reminds me I’m here with the most beautiful woman in the world and I’ve been given a rare second chance at love.
We stride into the banquet room. Crystal chandeliers cast a sparkling light over a sea of faces and tables set with floral centerpieces and immaculate white linen. The rich scent of gourmet appetizers mingles with subtle perfumes, and with it, whispers of “that’s Valentina Diaz” float toward us, followed by admiring glances from the well-dressed participants.
Pride surges through me. She’s clearly known for a show that helped women navigate difficult life situations.
As we pass clusters of influencers and media figures, I exchange nods and brief greetings, my posture straightening under the scrutiny.
When I sight Daisy and Scott among the elite, a familiar unease coils in my stomach, and my confidence wavers.
Valentina must sense the shift. Her hand tightens around mine, and she leans in, speaking for my ears alone. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I offer a reassured smile. “Big night.”
She squeezes my hand. Her smile sideways is as natural as if we’ve done this before. “You’ve got this.”
And she’s right. She’s all I need to look at tonight, and my unease about Scott and Daisy vanishes. But I need her by my side forever.