Epilogue
Eleven Months Later
Maddie
Nate taps me lightly on the shoulder, but it doesn’t stop the panic that bubbles.
“Dang it, Nate.”
He chuckles. “I was trying not to scare you. The two of you are big babies.” He glances down at Skye, who was sound asleep until Nate startled both of us.
I spin around on my stool, take off my headphones, and place them on my drafting table.
“What is that?” I ask about the folder he’s holding.
He passes it over to me. “See for yourself.”
I take it, narrowing my eyes suspiciously. “Why do you have that goofy smile on your face?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” He rolls his eyes. “Because I’m happy. Open it.” He taps the folder.
With caution, I open it so the papers don’t fall out, and the first thing I notice is that it’s in Spanish.
Which I now proudly speak.
Once we signed all the adoption paperwork for Valentina, I made it my mission to be fluent in my daughter’s native language.
Though the facility where Valentina has been living has also been teaching her English over the past year. It’s a bilingual program they offer at all their locations worldwide to best prepare the child for their adoptive family.
She knows just as much English now as she does Spanish.
It wouldn’t have been a problem either way; she’s so young, and because of her former living situation, her speech was suppressed due to the abuse.
But my girl’s thriving now.
Large letters across the top grab my attention.
ESCRITURA PúBLICA DE COMPRAVENTA
It takes me a moment to translate, but when I do, my eyes fly up to meet Nate’s. “Did you buy a house?”
This is a deed.
“This penthouse.” He gestures toward the home we’ve rented for the past eleven months, here in Spain.
I sit stunned, staring with my mouth gaping. “This place was for sale?”
The tips of his lips tilt. “No. But money can buy you just about anything.”
Shaking my head, I don’t think he’ll ever understand how that statement sounds.
Between Nate’s inheritance, which has grown exponentially since investing it, his salary from M-Squared, and my two salaries, it was more money than we ever needed.
It’s why I’ve decided not only to donate every penny I make as Cherry, but also to save the money I make as an architect for Valentina.
I’ve asked Nate not to start any type of fund for her, so I know my success means something.
He can take care of her…of us…in every other way, but I work hard, and I finally have a purpose.
My daughter.
I continue reading, and I see a familiar name.
León Morales
“Why is Leo listed on here?”
“Since he has dual citizenship and already owns property in Spain, it was easier for him to close the deal quickly. If I had tried, it could have been a much longer process.”
“I—” I glance back at the contract. “But why?”
He takes the folder, places it on the counter, then takes both my hands and helps me off the stool, pulling me into his chest so we’re face-to-face.
“Because my gorgeous goddess, this is where our daughter is from, and I want a place we can call home where her roots started.” I drop my head onto his shoulder and take in a deep breath.
“And you love this place. It will always hold a place in our hearts, because it’s the house we brought our daughter home to. ”
I do love this place, and he’s right. It will always hold a sentimental meaning.
It was important to me to have a deep connection with Spain for my daughter. So we’ve traveled all over the country for months, always using Madrid as our home base, since that is where Valentina was.
We saw her weekly, multiple times a week, in fact, but when we weren’t with her, we explored and connected to this beautiful country.
When we were finally able to take her home, we stayed another month, and all settled here together.
Leo has been manning our US projects; one of us needed to be in New York on a more full-time basis since Pink Tiger is well and truly on its way to becoming one of the city's top-engineered buildings.
I’ve been working on The Triplets’ project in London with Evelyn. I can fly there and back in a day if I want.
“Are you happy, Mads?” Nate leans in and kisses one of my dimples, and my smile grows.
Pulling him tighter into me. “You shouldn’t even have to ask that. I’m the happiest, most loved girl in the world.”
“And the best mom.”
My breath catches as I hold in my emotions.
“I’m going to be better than my mom,” I say with reverence.
“There was no doubt about it.”
I run my hand along his beard that’s grown since being away from home. “And you’re going to be just like your parents.” He opens his mouth to respond, but I cut him off. “Rosa and Javier.”
He gives me a look, knowing what I did there, but it’s true. Rosa, Javier, his grandparents…and even Harrison are the people who shaped Nate into one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I’ve ever met.
Not his blood mother and father, they can rot in hell.
Valentina cries from the other room.
“I’ve got it,” I say, then turn toward Skye. “Come on, let’s go get our girl.” Then we walk toward her room, where she’s been sleeping while I work early mornings.
I open the door, and even with tears in her eyes, she smiles brightly when she sees me, but mostly when Skye walks in.
Skye is the true mother in this relationship, the best protector there ever was, and completely obsessed with Valentina.
“Good morning, mi cielo.” My heaven.
My whole world, heart, and soul.
She holds up her arms for me to pick her up, and I can’t get to her fast enough.
I take her in my arms, then she leans her head on my shoulder, not fully awake. “Did you sleep okay?”
“Yes,” she whispers.
It’s been one month since Valentina officially became part of the family, and we already have a close bond, as if no time had been missed in her short little life.
I know how fortunate we are; not all adoptions are as smooth as ours, and when we get home, there might be some bumps in the road, but we’re prepared and ready for whatever our new life has in store for us.
When I turn, I get a glimpse of the two of us in the mirror, and my heart swells with happiness.
I love Nate with all my heart, but the feeling that warms my chest when I have this little girl in my arms is like none I’ll ever be able to explain.
She leans back so I can get a good look at her while she rubs her eyes.
Her curls are wild from her nap, and her cheeks are slightly flushed, marring her porcelain skin. Her eyes are big and curious, with eyelashes most women would kill for.
She has a tiny little beauty mark where a dimple would be, and the cutest heart-shaped lips.
I’m obsessed with everything about her, all the way down to her itty-bitty toes.
“Where are my girls?” Nate calls out, and I swoon on the spot.
My girls.
I walk back into the main living area, and Valentina bounces in my arms when she sees Nate. I put her down, and she waddles over to him as quickly as she can.
He picks her up and spins her around, and to hear her laugh, happy and free from her past life, is what has made my life complete.
“We need to get a move on,” Nate tells me, while he throws Valentina up into the sky. “If you want to leave anything behind, you can.”
“I’m going to feed her and get her ready.
Then I’ll take her to the park quickly to burn off some energy.
You pack up the rest of my things. You’re better at it than I am.
” I turn my attention to Valentina. “And then we’re going to go on an airplane, mi cielo, and you’ll meet the best family in the world.
” I kiss her, pull them both into a tight cuddle, and to my utter surprise, she turns her head and kisses my cheek back.
My eyes bulge in surprise, and Nate is staring, just as shocked.
It’s not that Valentina doesn’t show emotions toward us, because she loves to cuddle and hold our hands, but initiating a kiss felt different…special.
“Okay, get out of here before I become a blubbering mess,” Nate murmurs, then kisses both of our foreheads and walks toward our bedroom.
I look around at our new beautiful home, which sits in the center of Madrid’s Salamanca neighborhood, and after all this time, I still can’t believe this is real.
I will never, ever, take for granted the life I live now.
The plane begins to descend, and I double-check that Valentina’s car seat is buckled correctly.
Nate rubs my arm. “It’s still the same as it was the last time you checked.”
“I know.” He’s right, but I check again, just in case.
“Don’t be nervous, Mads.”
“I’m not.” I rub my fingers through my daughter’s hair as her eyes try to stay open. “You’ve got to stay up, sweetheart.” I press the button on one of her toys, which she normally loves, but she’s zonked.
“Is there anything else I can get you, Mr. and Mrs. Davenport, before we land?”
“We’re okay. Thank you,” Nate replies.
I smirk. “Mrs. Davenport.” Then hold up my hand to get a good look at my large emerald ring. “I love being a Davenport.”
“Sounds fucking good, doesn’t it?”
“It sounds natural, like it was always meant to be.”
Nate softens beside me. “Because it was my goddess.”
We’ve decided that there was a blip in the universe, that I never wore another man’s ring, even if it meant nothing.
That this beautiful gem is the first ring to ever grace my finger.
And I’m glad because only Nate’s ring deserves a place on me.
“When I sat in school daydreaming of leaving for college, I’d scribble ‘Madeline Davenport’ over and over again.” I grin, thinking of the fond memory. “My notebook was confiscated one time. I don’t think I ever told you that, and I was mortified.”
“Whoa, Maddie was in trouble in school. That’s a first,” he teases, and I roll my eyes.
Nate glances at Valentina. “Your mommy is a goody two-shoes.”
The plane’s wheels hit the tarmac, and it surprises me. “I didn’t realize we were close to landing.”
“You’re too occupied with my good looks.” Nate winks, then unbuckles and starts gathering our stuff.