“Painting.”
“I didn’t know you were painting again.”
“Oh, I’m not. Not for now anyway.” Valencia goes on to explain how she desperately wants to get back into painting, but the motivation falls short. I can’t blame her with all we’re experiencing. First Addilyn. Then the letters. The sighting. The vandalism. That reminds me, I need to contact Lance regarding the process of the assisted retirement village project.
“How are you going to make it work?”
“I’m not entirely sure but I need to force myself out of this rut.”
“The motivation will come in time. Your paintings were always so magnificent!”
She turns bashful and retreats from my hands. “You’re just saying that.”
I catch her wrist. “Take the compliment, Lencia. You’re a sensational artist. I know it can be hard, but sometimes all you need to do is take the compliment and say thank you, baby.”
She swallows hard. “Thank you.”
“Huh? I didn’t hear you.”
“Thank you, Giulio.”
“What?”
I love how those lips curl up. “I said thank you, Giulio!”
“One more time for the people in the back!”
“Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Giulio Giannotti. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
“Now that one was a bit excessive, nah?”
Lencia giggles and shoves my hand away playfully.
Another topic we discussed was Bryce. Valencia gave me some insight into his apology, struggles with his parents, and how he is working a second job as a bartender some nights to support his mom. Collectively, we opted not to fire him and instead give him one final chance.
I give Bryce the run down and by the end he’s pensive, stroking his scruffy beard. “So you’re going to keep me?”
I nod sternly. “Yes. It’s what Valencia wanted and I will always stand by her judgment.”
“Thank you. I really do appreciate it.”
“She’s the person you should be thanking. She made the reasoning passable.”
A lopsided smile appears when he extends his hand. “I will. Have I ever told you she’s a keeper?”
What did I just agree to?
I shake his hand and breathe through a stiff smile. “Well, welcome back to Notti Designs…I guess.”
Outside, Bryce stops by Valencia’s desk and a fist bump is exchanged. “I don’t know what ya said, but thank you. You don’t know how much it means to me to start over with you.”
Lencia brightens and looks between us. “It’s okay. We’ll all be one happy family if we all stick to the rules, right?”
“Well, what can I say? I do like breaking the rules…”
“McCarson,” I warn.
“However, on this special occasion…” Bryce smirks mid-sentence and casts an honest glance my way. “For this work environment, I can make an exception. I’ll be good, you have my word.”
We’ve made the right decision.
I know we have.
Valencia’s wisdom and guidance matters to me. If Bryce McCarson genuinely needs my paychecks to assist his mother out of the scam she conducted in England, I will do all I can, however he must also hold up his end of the deal by being more industrious and less apathetic.
“Hey stranger.” I grin at Lencia once he’s gone.
She responds and my heart continues to expand. It’s only been a few days since we both vowed to take our marriage off life support and finally breathe together again and damn how good it feels. “Could you kindly make a reservation for four under my name?”
“Of course. When and where?”
“6 P.M. tonight and anywhere you wish.”
Lencia stares down at her notepad. Oblivious, baby. “Well, if it’s an important meeting I would suggest The Gravel. There’s a private dining—”
“That’s perfect.”
“Okay. Which clients do I need to contact?”
I can’t hide my grin anymore. Lencia glances up at me and the first thing I do is kiss her. She doesn’t remember that we were going to tell the twins about us tonight.
“The clients to contact are a Mr. Oscar, Miss Slonne, Mrs. Irresistible Giannotti, and me.”
The twins erupt in cheers at the news. A few people turn towards our table but Oscar and Slonne don’t even notice. I cannot stop smiling at my family the entire dinner. All I can think about is how perfectly poetic it would be if Addilyn were here.
Slonne gives us a beaded bracelet she made for all of us in her class. I help Lencia with hers and wear my bright pink one with pride. Oscar makes a face, not wanting a part of it.
I watch them all so beautifully together and make an oath to myself.
Here in this restaurant, I vow to not rest until we have our baby back.
Until we’re a whole family once again.
Until I hear the word Dada spoken…
“I still can’t believe you ate all that yucky broccoli.”
“Cause I’m cool!” Oscar beams, showing his sister his nonexistent biceps. “See, just like Iron Man!”
Slonne rolls her eyes and glances outside her car window. “More like a goldfish.”
“Hey! I heard that…well at least you said I’m gold!”
“Eww, no. I take it back.”
“Can’t. You already gave it to me, amore.”
“I’m not, amore. Only Daddy can call Mommy that.”
Lencia laughs while I take my eyes off our children in the rearview mirror with a smirk.
“How about this, if you both compliment each other instead of fighting, we can watch a movie at home with Daddy?”
I turn to Valencia. Our therapy suggestion. She’s bringing our story full circle by implementing something for our children that helped us. I love it when she’s happy. It’s all I’ve ever wanted our family to be—happy.
“Only if we get to watch one of the Mission Impossible movies with Tom Chris tonight!”
“You mean Tom Cruise, buddy.” I laugh at his persuasion skills. He’s getting good.
“Those are pretty long ones and it’s a school night. Plus, there are some violent scary parts in it. Maybe when you’re both a little older.”
“But I’m a big boy! I want to see the scary parts!”
“No, I want to watch Frozen!”
“No!”
“Yes!”
Valencia turns to them
