It’s led us this far.
For the past week and a half, we’ve spent the days in the office as giddy professionals but at night we dance passionately in the sheets. I still have my belongings at Helena’s, but the twins and I have been staying at our old home much more frequently. For the entire end of September and now the beginning of October, I sleep through the entire night and wake up in Giulio’s secure arms.
Ever since he eased the tension of stepping inside Addilyn’s room, some of the unease has faded. If it wasn’t for his encouragement and my moment of confidence, I don’t think I would have ever stepped foot inside the nursery again. That night Giulio helped me demonstrate my capabilities.
Giulio has been surprising me with outings for lunch during the week whenever he has an opening in his schedule. Yesterday, we went to art museums. It feels just like old times and a way to take the edge off chasing his attacker.
SPD believes it was a targeted attack most likely related to Addilyn’s case. And so, as much as I love every single moment I spend with my family, there has also been mass devastation circulating my mind. Will these crimes bring us to another breaking point or will we survive it? Every time the thought comes, Giulio kisses away my fear and reminds me to focus on the present, and I have been.
Kayla brightens every morning for me with a ginger tea by my desk and I preoccupy myself with tasks set on Giulio’s action plan at the Tate’s. I only have a week and a half left at Notti Designs and although it saddens me to leave, I’ve also had the best time of my life here. This is where Giulio and I met for the first time and also where our second chance has resurrected.
On this sunny Wednesday morning, a new shipment has been ordered into the large industrial warehouse and I offer to pick it up seeing as I’m ahead of schedule. Some interior designers are by the entrance, huddled in a small staging meeting. Other workers in visibility vests walk around and organize each of their appointed sections. The warehouse is filled with stock; countless wrapped pieces of furniture and unopened boxes.
I’m here for a marble side table, and while I attempt to figure out its exact location on my own, I’m struggling. It must take me at least twenty minutes as I glance over my sheet of paper at the barcodes on each shelf. I’m beyond lost!
I pass Marcus on one aisle and my body involuntary tenses.
The following day after the drug incident, he came into work even though Giulio had fired him. Marcus ignored me, even after the brothers had a private boardroom discussion. Giulio exited not looking the least bit pleased, but explained he decided to give Marcus one last chance. I didn’t dig any deeper to uncover his reasoning, I just trusted his judgment.
I tell myself to continue looking for the piece of furniture but just as I note that none of the descriptions match, I feel Marcus’ eyes on me.
“Valencia?”
“You know I would have always been here to listen,” I blurt out, aggravated that he’s still made no contact with my sister. “I would have helped you, but pulling a knife on Helena is something I can never comprehend.”
His mouth parts but quickly shuts. There’s a look of pain in his eyes that dissolves with a blink of an eye. Marcus takes one step my way and I walk straight by him. I cannot get caught up in his mess.
Not today.
I need to find this darn marble side table!
I make it to the next few aisles and do a happy dance when I’m faced with a medium sized cardboard that matches exactly. Not so fast. As I grip the box, I instantly stop and groan at the strain on my back. The box recommends two people pick it up, it is heavy Italian Marble after all, but I give it another shot because I’m adamant to prove it wrong.
I’ve given birth to twins, I can certainly push past this!
Or so I thought.
Letting it go, I step back to kick the edge of the box. Piece of work!
“Yeah. I think ya gonna need help with that.”
Bryce.
I swallow and swing the purse of my crossbody bag to my back. I’m not giving up.
“Thank you, but I can do it. I used to do CrossFit and if I’ve learned anything, perseverance is a mindset.”
I grip onto it tightly and uphold momentum.
“Why did ya stop?”
“I’m just readjusting myself.”
“No, I meant the CrossFit. Why did you stop?”
“Kids. Work. My drive left me after what happened. It was doing me more harm than good. Yoga helps better.” I manage to get the box off the wire rim and crouch down to push it against the polished concrete floors. Bryce is beside me, mocking me with a slight chuckle when a set of stairs face me. “Yeah, there’s no way in hell I can get this down.”
“Now what, babe?”
“Now…” I groan, propping my hands on my knees for a quick breather. “Now we wait for a miracle to happen.”
“Then you’re in luck because miracle is my middle name.” Bryce takes a hold of the box without any protests from me. The idiot is grinning as he holds it casually against his chest, as if the box is a stack of papers.
I guide him to my car where he wordlessly sets it inside the trunk. When it’s all done, he stands with his hands stuffed inside the tight pockets of his jeans, simply waiting.
“Thank you for that.”
“It’s nothing.” He gestures
