20. Valerie

Chapter twenty

Valerie

M y feet drum against the sidewalk. I haven't had the chance to go on a run since I got home, but with everything going on, this is probably the only way I'll be able to clear my head.

My head spins around to check over my shoulder. There's barely anyone else awake considering the early hour but ever since that second note, I find myself constantly looking over my shoulder.

Somewhere between the utter despair of receiving the mail from the insurance company, and the absolute joy of receiving my first commission, I came to the realisation that ever since I moved home, my life has gone to utter shit, but somehow managed to be the best at the same time.

My immediate solution to the insurance situation is to take out a loan, but tossing up the amount of interest I'd be paying back to the bank versus what I'm already paying back to the insurance, it seems like a lose-lose situation.

In an ideal world, I'd love to believe if I keep getting commissions for amounts like this I'll be fine, but the reality is that I don't turn pieces around fast enough for it to be sustainable.

I suppose I could pretend to date Ambrose again for a few thousand euros, but with the way that situation is currently hanging in the air, I'd rather completely avoid him than deal with it again.

Antonio's warning is like an annoying mosquito in the back of my mind. Not once while we were growing up when I had the crush, did he ever speak ill of Ambrose. If anything, he's always been Ambrose's biggest fan. The fact that he would take the time to call just to warn me about that is very odd.

I need to scrape all this nonsense of the Vitales from my mind and focus, they're simply a distraction, especially the eldest. Maybe he's right, we're just distractions to one another, and we should try to steer clear of each other.

I continue my run, the streets of Tevici slowly coming to life as the morning creeps in further and further. And I'm relieved to see more people up and about, calming my nerves a bit.

As I round the final corner before my street, I make up my mind.

No more Ambrose, no more Vitale distractions. Full focus on making money to keep the insurance company happy, and focus on my commissions and getting them out for the world to see.

I need to get my priorities straight, I remind myself. I came back here to take care of my father, not rub elbows with Tevici's elite.

And to run away from Mattheo.

That thought will always still be back there. I thought selling the ring would solve some of the nagging stress of waiting for him to sign the papers, but it hasn't, and he still hasn't signed them either.

Pushing all the Mattheo thoughts to the back of my head where they belong, I jog up the front of my house and take one last inhale before I enter.

The smell of coffee lets me know my father is wide awake and ready to take on the day. As I walk into the kitchen, I find him sitting at the table sipping what I assume to be an espresso and reading the newspaper.

He always sat like this, my entire childhood, every single morning. The only difference is my mamá would always be in the kitchen sitting next to him.

I realise how quiet the house is without her around, and I wonder how lonely he must've been for those few years when I went back to Paris.

" Fiore Mio, you're back, how was your run?" he asks, beaming up at me.

I left a small note in the kitchen in case he did wake up before I got back. "It was good, Papá, I think it was exactly what I needed to clear my head." I smile, and head to the fridge to grab some water.

I frown the second I turn around, pretending that everything is okay is becoming more difficult as the time passes.

"How are you feeling about the surgery coming up?"

He stays silent for a while. "Honestly, Fiore Mio? I'm a little nervous, it's taking a bit of a toll on me knowing how reliant I'll become on you and Karyn. You two deserve to be young and out enjoying life, not looking after me," he pauses again. "I'm supposed to be looking after you."

I notice the way he avoids meeting my eyes, and it breaks my heart to know this is how he feels when he hasn't even been a burden in the slightest.

"Papá, I've told you a thousand times. Neither Karyn nor I mind helping you. You've moved mountains for the two of us and so many other people, you're allowed to be taken care of for once in your life. Besides, you have no idea how much I needed the excuse to come home."

His lips tilt into a small smile, but his eyes still hold some sadness in them. I reach across the table pull him into a hug and kiss the top of his head.

"On a more positive note, my run helped me realise I'm a genius," I say, gesturing at myself.

He chuckles. "Oh? Did you have some sort of epiphany on this run?"

"Yes! Exactly that. I got an email for a new commission that I'm ecstatic about, and I think I've figured out how I'm going to go about it. "

"Oh, Fiore Mio ! I knew it would all come with time. I told you to be patient, good things come to those who wait." He beams as he says the anecdote that he's recited to everyone on numerous occasions.

For once, I'm not irritated to hear it. For once, I'm feeling that deep down it may be true. With getting back to Tevici, with getting a commission and even dare I say, with Ambrose.

No, I dare not say it. I'm not thinking about it anymore.

I help my papá through his usual morning routine, then settle him in the living room to continue binge-watching his action movies and shows. Natalia gave him all the logins to the streaming sites she uses so he's like a kid in a candy store with the amount of options he has to choose from.

"I'll be in the studio, call me on my phone if you need anything," I yell, as I slip up the stairs and head for the room I've been beyond excited to work in.

The morning sunlight streams in, in huge beams and I settle on the floor with my laptop, the first step in any great art piece is research. Page after page tossed around me until I'm surrounded by drafts, sketches and rough paragraphs filled with ideas for how I'm going to execute it all. A list in the notes on my laptop grows as I start jotting down more and more of the supplies I'll need.

The main idea I have right now is that I want to mainly draw from him, in terms of how carefree and abstract his work is, but somehow I want it to convey passion. I want it to be both maddening, yet so put together that it gives the viewer a sense of sanity.

I start jotting down ideas again, mainly focusing on the emotions I want this art piece to convey. I also have to find a way to put my spin on it, so I've settled on wanting to sketch something into the canvas first before covering it almost completely with both oil and acrylic paints. The idea to throw in some watercolour and charcoal still dwells in my head.

My ringtone blares through the room and I start shifting papers out of the way looking for it. After moving every sheet, I finally find it on my lap.

"Hello, hi," I say brightly .

"Glad to know you're this happy to take my calls," Antonio's laugh rings throughout the speaker and my smile falls instantly. "Listen, I don't have much time to chat, but we're having family dinner this evening, I'll be over to pick you up in about an hour."

"Dinner in an hour?" I close the window on my laptop and check the time and it's already 6 p.m. "Time completely got away from me today, I have to check if my papá is okay for dinner and if Karyn's coming over in time."

I also don't know if I'm ready to face Ambrose yet.

"I can pick up something from Giovanni's for both of them on my way over and I'm sure Karyn won't mind coming by a bit earlier if you say you have dinner plans?" He reasons.

Karyn will fly over in a spaceship if I mention dinner plans with the Vitales, but I'll feel bad about taking away from the little time she has to relax.

"And before you start feeling bad, remember she'll be off the entire time when your father goes in for his second surgery which is easily like a week," he adds on, and I curse myself for giving him so many details about the situation.

"Okay fine, I'll call her, but I make no promises."

"I'll pick you up at seven, Val." I can hear the smile in his voice before he hangs up.

I drop everything onto the floor, sprint downstairs and dial Karyn's number. As I reach the bottom, I hear the ringtone echoing out from the living room. Only to find her and my father fully immersed in another Blaze Steele movie.

"When did you get here?"

"Shhh." They say in unison.

"Okay," I say as my eyes shift between the two of them and the TV. "Antonio is fetching me for family dinner and bringing Giovanni's for both of you. Cool? Cool." I answer for them before jogging back up the stairs. I can hear Karyn calling after me, but all my mind is consumed with is figuring out what I'm going to wear

The answer quite literally falls into my lap when a dress I almost forgot about slips off its hanger onto the bottom of my closet. It's the perfect winter dress and most importantly, it's pink.

True to his word, Antonio messages me to say he's here at exactly 7 p.m. Thankfully, I've mastered the art of doing my makeup in ten minutes, after realising I didn't shower after my run, I still had to do that and wash my hair as well. I settled on leaving my hair natural instead of straightening it, even though I hate how frizzy it gets.

Rushing down the stairs I come to a stop when I find Antonio in the kitchen with my papá and Karyn, showing them everything he bought at Giovanni's

"You said you'd get them dinner, not Giovanni's entire store." I frown, staring at the large amount of food on the table.

"Giovanni said your papá loves all of these, so I got everything." Antonio shrugs innocently, but his eyes gleam with mischief as he continues to attempt to butter up my father.

"We should get going though, my mamá hates it when we're late." Antonio smiles, then shakes my father's hand and hugs Karyn. He gestures for me to exit the kitchen first, and I roll my eyes before yelling my goodbyes.

"Thank you," I whisper as we get into the car. Although I teased him about it, I know what he is doing. Antonio easily bought enough groceries, both fresh and some ready-made meals, to last us the next week.

"It's no stress, Val. Besides, I did it for your papá, not you," Antonio smirks, and we're back to bickering for nearly the entire car ride.