“I want to bake you a cake. When will you be coming home?”
Oh my God.He’s going to think I put her up to this.
If Antonio’s caught off guard, he recovers without a hiccup. “A cake? What kind of cake?”
“What’s your favorite kind?”
“Chocolate.”
“I can make a chocolate cake,” she replies, excitement bursting from her, like fireworks in the night sky.
I hold my breath, pleading with my eyes, for him not to crush her.
“Will this cake have frosting?”
She nods. “Yes. And decorations.”
“Excellent,” he replies. “Are you a good baker, or are you going to feed me cake that’s so dry I’ll choke?”
Valentina erupts into a fit of giggles, which makes Antonio smile, again.
If I wasn’t sitting here, I’d never believe it.
“I can’t get to the valley until Thursday because I have a lot of work here, but maybe by then you’ll have had a chance to ride a little, and you can tell me all about it. Is that a deal?”
Her head bobs up and down. “Yes.”
I can feel the excitement vibrating off her.If you renege on this deal, Antonio, I’ll strangle you.
“If you could give Daniela and me a moment to talk, I would appreciate it.”
“A private moment,” I explain with a wink that seems more lighthearted than I feel. As much as I want some time alone with him, I’m nervous.
“Oh,” she chirps, jumping up. “Good night, Antonio.” She blows him a kiss through the screen, and I twist my fingers in my lap.
I’m not sure how much he’s willing to give, and I don’t want her to be disappointed.
“Sleep well,menina. No dry cake,” he calls after her.
At first, we say nothing. We just gaze at each other, while days’ worth of pent-up emotion gathers in my chest.
“Did she shut the door behind her?”
I nod, and the words tumble out, each one brimming with heartfelt emotion. “Thank you for everything. For taking care of Zeus and Atlas. For being good to Silvio. For the way you just were with Valentina—and for Demeter. And Hera. I’m sure I’m forgetting at least a dozen things.” I swipe the back of my hand across my wet cheek.
“I want you to be happy,” he murmurs, humbly. “I want Valentina to be happy. It’s that simple.”
If only it were true.
“You made her so happy—and me too,” I add softly. “How did you know she’s always wanted to ride?”
He shakes his head. “I didn’t. Kids who have lost a parent, or who have experienced trauma, benefit from having a pet to care for and love. Unconditional love is a powerful healer. That was the advice I was given when Rafael came to live with me. I figured, having your genes, a horse would be a natural for Valentina.”
Kids who have lost a parent, or who have experienced trauma, benefit from having a pet to care for and love. Unconditional love is a powerful healer.It’s true. After my mother died, before I knew I was pregnant, I spent hours and hours with Zeus. When I was with him, my grief and sorrow bled away.
“Aside from missing her friends, how’s she coping?”
“That’s the first I heard about her friends. She hasn’t really mentioned Isabel since the funeral. When I bring her up, she changes the subject. I’m a little worried about it.”