Chapter 54 Valentina
FIFTY-FOUR
VALENTINA
DALE: All ready for today?
STETSON: Can I bring anything? Fresh baked cookies or something?
ME: It’s a gym.
STETSON: Cookies it is. I always get a sweet tooth after staring at work out equipment.
DALE: You do know there’s nothing inside yet, right?
STETSON: Even thinking about workout equipment makes me hungry.
Standing outside the building, I admire just how far it’s come in the last three months. I’ve spent almost every day here, making sure the original structure kept its integrity while still meeting all the modern day codes.
I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a total nightmare, but it’s been a nightmare with a purpose, and I can’t be angry about that.
Dale and Mateo are the first to arrive, jumping out of the car with smiles so wide, I need sunglasses to protect my eyes. I smile back, still trying to meet Dale’s enthusiasm but coming up short. I’ve decided I’m just not as bubbly of a person, and I’m okay with that.
I have my own positives.
She squeals as she wraps her arms around my neck. I quickly hug her back, and she chuckles as I try to step out of her grip. Mateo smiles at me as he brings up the rear, but he doesn’t offer to hug me, and I’m grateful.
We’re still working on things, but this project has undoubtedly brought us closer. Not close enough for hello hugs, but close enough.
“I’m so excited for Faith. She’s going to freak!”
I nod in agreement. “Hopefully it’s not too much.”
Dale shakes her head. “Who cares?”
“How right you are.” Rafael slides his arm around my neck, and I roll my eyes. He’s always agreeing with her. I know it’s because they’re two bubbly dorks who seem to operate on the same golden wavelength, but still. I can’t keep up when they really get going.
Stetson pulls up, saving me from having to try. Gus climbs out of the driver side and grabs a very sleepy Poppy from her car seat. She flops over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and I have to bite my tongue to keep from laughing.
“Did she—”
“Get ahold of scissors and cut her own bangs ten minutes before we left? Yes, yes, she did,” Stetson grumbles, hoisting a diaper bag over her shoulder while juggling a container of still-warm cookies, the steam fogging the glass.
“Wow, she certainly doesn’t have a career as a hairdresser.” Mateo whistles, and Dale’s elbow finds his stomach with a hard punch. “Oof.”
“I think we should try on your precious hair next time, Mateo. Maybe she struggles on her own. Don’t doubt my daughter. She’ll be whatever the fuck she feels like,” Gus growls, pulling her close to his face to press a kiss to her forehead.
Mateo rolls his eyes, but before he can say anything back, Faith’s car pulls up.
Nerves erupt in my stomach. I know this is a good deed, and Faith deserves the world, but will she accept it? Will she see it as the thank you it’s meant to be, or some kind of charity?
“It’s okay, baby.” Rafael kisses my temple, and I lean in to him, willingly taking his support.
Faith gets out of the car first, her eyes wandering between each of our faces with a confused expression. She clings to the car door as she stares us down. “What’s going on? Why are we here?”
I breathe deeply a final time, inhaling the intoxicating warmth of Rafael before stepping out of his grip to wave Faith forward. “Come on. We want to show you something.”
Faith hesitates.
“Please.” Reiny pops her head out of the backseat, grabbing Faith’s hand. She looks down at her sister, rolling her eyes.
“I feel like I’m walking into a trap.” But she smiles.
We all walk in, me silently in the lead, and Faith gasps in surprise. I don’t have to face her to know how pink she’s becoming, her eyes wide with wonder and excitement.
I drink in the changes, trying to reimagine how the space looked only months ago.
“We repainted the walls a pale pink, almost tan, and re-stained the pillars. The roof had to be totally redone, so we did a tongue and groove style ceiling—Dale’s idea. And the floor was sanded down and refinished, but it’s the original flooring.”
McCrae walks up next to me, whistling his approval. “Looks incredible, V. Especially from where it started.”
“It’s like a beautiful, blank canvas.” Stetson sets the tub of cookies on the floor, reaching for a squirming Poppy.
Gus sets her down instead, and she instantly starts running circles around the room, weaving around the pillars.
She squeals in excitement, her blonde hair streaming behind her, the freshly cut bangs standing straight up on her forehead.
“I’m confused.” Faith smiles at me, her eyebrows drawn together. “It’s beautiful, but what is it? Why does everyone know about it but me?”
Is that hurt in her voice?
“It’s for you, Faith. It’s your self-defense range.” I point toward the back of the space, where a new wall’s being built. “In that room will be the range. And out here—”
“What’re you talking about?” Her lip wobbles, and I contemplate hugging her.
Dale beats me to it, but I’m not mad. Hugging still isn’t on the top of my list of ways to show affection, and I think everyone here knows it. “V cooked up this plan to give you the space you’ve always wanted, for your business. You’ve helped all of us so much, and this was the least we could do.”
“You could have done it yourself, someday down the road, but we all knew you’d continue to put everyone’s needs above your own,” I add, and more than one head nods in agreement.
The first tear falls, followed by several more, until she’s wiping them furiously off her chin, her face flaming red. I can’t tell if she’s mad, embarrassed, sad, ecstatic… “You all did this?”
Stetson pops her hip, her eyes darting between Faith’s face and Gus chasing Poppy around the room. “We helped where we could, but this was all Valentina. Her idea, her execution.”
Faith looks at me, and I begin to wither. Months of therapy and working on myself is great, but it’s only a start—trapped in a corner, and I already feel myself slipping. Did I do something wrong?
She rushes me, pulling out of Dale’s grasp to wrap her arms around my neck. I stand awkwardly before quickly patting her back and pushing back slightly. She’s smiling like a fool, her eyes pinched shut.
“Why?” she sobs.
I shrug. “I wouldn’t be here without you, Faith. None of us would.” Placing my hands on her shoulders, I turn her to face the sign above the door.
“I love it.” Reiny smiles at me.
“I wanted that to be my last contribution to the space itself. It’s yours to design from here. I can help however you want, but the deed’s in your name—” I pull out the folder, handing it to her. “I bought it from Mateo for a great price; it’s yours. Your parents can’t touch it, now or ever.”
Faith stares in silence for so long, the group begins to shift uncomfortably, McCrae going so far as to wave a hand in front of her face. Faith finally looks back at me. “I can’t thank you enough.”
I smile at that. “Now you know how we feel.”