Page 299 of Valentino

Val opens my car door and takes my hand to help me out of the car.

“Thanks.” I climb out. “So…. Give me the rundown on how to make your father like me.”

“Just be yourself.” He takes me into his arms and kisses me softly. “He’ll fall hopelessly in love with you just like I have.”

“You know…” I run my hand over his stubble, “…for someone who warned me about him not being a good person…” I go up onto my toes and kiss him, “…you are turning out to be very good.”

“Well.” He smirks. “If I can’t be romantic with my wife, who can I be romantic with?”

Swoon….

He glances up at the house and his face falls before swallowing a lump in his throat.

“What’s wrong?” I ask as I rearrange the lapels on his suit coat.

“Coming home is hard.”

I stare up at him.

“My mom isn’t home.” He glances back up to the house. “And she’s never coming home.”

My heart sinks. “I’m so sorry, Val.”

“Me too.” He puffs air into his cheeks. “The worst part is hearing my father tell me he wants to join her on the other side.” He widens his eyes. “That’s not ideal to hear.”

“Oh no.” I sigh.

“Anyway.”

I brush his suit again as I try to think of the right thing to say, but there isn’t anything to fix this. “You ready?”

“Are you ready?”

“Oh no.” I laugh. “Why do you say it like that?”

“My father’s love language is food.”

“Food?”

“Whatever he makes you. You eat it.”

“Oh—kay.” I frown. “Like what…what will he make me?”

“Just normal food.”

I put my hand over my heart. “Thank heavens I thought you were going to hit me with testicles or something.”

“No, he will just fuss.” He takes my hand in his. “It’s my job to let him because….” He smiles sadly up at the house. “It makes him feel needed.”

“Okay.” I get a lump in my throat and nod. “We can do that.”

We walk through the six-foot-tall brick fence and old iron gate and down a path through perfectly manicured gardens and six steps up to the front door.

“Ciao, Papa,” Val calls as he opens the screen door.

“Oh, ragazzo mio” (translation) “Ah, my boy,” I hear from the kitchen, an older man comes running out, tea towel slung over his shoulder. Val pulls him into a hug and kisses his cheeks. “Mi fa piacere vederti” (translation) “It’s so good to see you.” He holds Val tight and I can feel how much they miss each other, I smile as I watch them.

He’s a carbon copy of Valentino, just older, still handsome and tall, his hair is silver and his skin is tanned.