“I appreciate it.”
I cast a glance to the water one last time and we pick up our pace back to Zeluci’s.
“Were you born here, Valencia?”
“Yes. Born and raised. What part of England are you from?”
“Hoxton. It’s by the East side. Are your parents both American?”
I shake my head and pull my long waves to one side. “My mother is, she’s been a Seattleite from day one. My father’s from Vienna, Austria. He has a twin brother there who he’s currently visiting for a little while. My mother would have joined him, but their greeting card business demands one of them to stay here.”
“That’s cool. And Giulio? Well, I know his father’s Italian because of the last name.”
“Yeah, both of his parents are Italian. His father was from Sicily and his mother from Genova in the north. His parents both moved to New Jersey young and they met there. They returned to Italy for a few holidays with family. It was actually during one of those holidays in Genova where Giulio was born prematurely. They stayed there for a while before returning.”
“So, he was born in Italy?”
“He sure was. Why did you move to Seattle?”
“Well, some of us are born in Seattle, others have this desire to escape it all and move here. I did what was best for me. I was a bartender back in London but had a degree in interior design. Seattle was my calling. Much more opportunities and all that. So I said fuck it, I’m thirty and never have been to America before, let’s do it. I befriended Marcus at a bar one night and he helped me get my job. I actually bartend at that bar some nights a week for some extra cash. I can’t lose my job at Notti Designs because of my mother, but I keep on fucking up.”
“Giulio just looks for honesty and loyalty. Give him that and everything will be fine…I’ve never seen this side of you. I didn’t know any of that before.”
Bryce meets my gaze. “You’ve never asked.”
Fair point.
“I’m sure your mother is grateful for what you are doing for her. At the end of the day, all we have is our family.”
“Yeah, family and a couple of friends.” He throws his head back in laugher with his hand on his chest when my brows raise dramatically. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t referring to you. Not just yet. Do you forgive me?”
For some reason it makes me smile. I nod as we reach the restaurant and stop by the door.
“No, not about that. I mean do you forgive me about what happened earlier last week?”
Some people deserve a second chance.
“I forgive you. I don’t want any unneeded animosity between us at the company.”
“Thank you.” He sighs in relief and reaches for the door with a glint of happiness. “I’ll never let you down again, Valencia. You have my word and I never back down on my word.”
“Maybe this will be a good thing.”
“Sure will be. Can I ask if we can…bring it in?”
I bite back a soft giggle as Bryce crushes me in a bear hug. This time as I wrap myself in that bergamot, I have no hesitation. There was something in his voice tonight that screamed truth and in his own words; sometimes you just have to trust yourself.
Unity.
It’s all I want. For every single one of us to be united and thriving.
That includes my sweet Addilyn too.
When I dive under the sheets that night, Helena knocks on my bedroom door in tears. She doesn’t need to say a word—Ben. I hold her tightly and comfort her like she always does for me. I don’t want her to be alone with her own thoughts. Not tonight. To avoid spiraling out of control at this stage is vital.
I turn to my side and Helena spoons me from behind, slithering her arm around my waist. I squeeze her hands, knowing just how important she is to me. After this exhaustingly thrilling day, I need her with me too.
We hold onto each other just like when we were little.
I can feel the gaping hole in her heart. She misses him. Ben was an amazing man to her. A heroic firefighter. A proud father. For the past seven years, Helena has been unbelievably strong. I’m so damn proud of her. She’s my saving grace. Even through hell, we always find a way to pull each other out and that’s all I’ve wanted—to get through it.
“I’m so glad I have you, Helena.”
“Likewise,” she sighs and holds on tighter. My sweet Marc Jacobs perfume mixes with her rose scent. “Nothing will ever break us. No crime or man will ever come between us.”
“I promise. We’ve gone through too much to allow that to happen.”
“We’ve got to get out of this mess, Lencia.”
She’s the only one who calls me that besides Giulio.
“How?” I ask into the darkness.
“By keep on keeping on and putting ourselves first for once. We need to begin choosing our own lives.”
When Helena’s breaths soften and her hand falls limp, I know she’s asleep. And I know she’s right. Maybe it’s Bryce’s words about strength, or how I fathom my heart sinking if anything were to happen to Giulio, or the way life can flash before your eyes at the most unexpected moment…but I reach out to my bedside table and pick up my phone.
They say you never know what you have until it’s gone, and the second Giulio and the fantasy of marriage were stripped from me, I knew. I learned of the suffering rage inside my chest personally customized for me. I know what Giulio means to me. What he’s always meant to me. He means home.
Valencia: I want to make this right for us. I want it all for us. I appreciate you so
