Chapter Eight
The whole day, Valentina stayed locked up in her room, crying herself sick. Her parents were worried about her. In the evening, Valentina's tears had dried up and she came out of her room.
Her mom went up to her and hugged her. She broke down completely and told her everything that happened. Her dad was also there. They both consoled her,"It's no use crying over what's happened. Try to rectify it, honey. Brody still loves you. That boy is a gem. He's bringing up a child that isn't his. We had insisted upon a paternity test and he obliged. Despite knowing everything he still went ahead and gave the boy his name. All isn't lost Val. Tell him how you feel," advised her mom.
Yes she would do just that. She would tell Brody how much she loved him. However, she had no such luck for the next two weeks with an upcoming wedding at Travis Springs.
Her brother Chase resigned from the US Marshals service and returned home the next day, much to everyone's surprise. Her parents had been requesting him to return home for the last three years. He had a near-death experience in a dangerous operation that he had undertaken last year. He was in the hospital for the past one year struggling with death. He couldn't inform his family as his father's heart condition wasn't well and his mom was also suffering from acute osteoarthritis.
His parents were relieved and extremely happy to see him return home forever. They were too excited for the next few days, with him being updated about everything. He went out to meet his old friends. His father resigned and since Chase was fully recovered, he was appointed the next sheriff of Travis Springs, by general voting.
Chase went to the Summers ranch to meet his childhood friends, Blade, Brody, Bryce, Briar and Lucas. Jayson sometimes used to join them in their escapades when they were children. Chase had left twelve years back, and now at thirty, he was still unmarried while his friends had settled down, except of course Brody and Jayson. Bronson had returned to Travis Springs after completing his MBA and he too joined the gang although he was the youngest.
When everyone left, Chase pulled Brody along with him. His mom had already updated him discreetly about his sister and Brody's heartbreaking story and they made it their mission in life to get the two together.
"Come home Bro, mom misses you," Chase said and before Brody could object, he started his motorcycle.
Brody sat behind him as they sped away to Chase's house. Brody didn't want to think what was to happen. He would meet Valentina after 2 years. Maybe she had moved on with Jayson. He had heard from Brittany that they were planning to get married.
He hesitated at the door but Chase pulled him inside. His mom beamed happily and came rushing to meet him. "Oh sweetie, it's so good to see you," she said. He hugged her back,"Good to see you too aunt Chloe," he said, his eyes wandering around the house, trying to find his life, his love, Valentina.
Uncle Phil came out and embraced him,"How's your little guy? Why don't you bring him one day?" He asked Brody.
"Yes uncle Phil. I'll bring him," said Brody with a smile.
They all sat down in the family room, chatting about Chase's life back as a US Marshal.
The moment Valentina heard his voice, she was in high alert. Did he come home? It was impossible, she thought. Maybe her imagination was playing games with her again. After listening for some time when she still could hear his voice, she came out of her room and went downstairs.
She froze when she saw Brody, looking so good in a pair of denims and a white shirt, with a leather jacket. He looked up and froze too. All his resolve to stay away from her blew into thin air. She looked like an angel dropped from the heavens. Did she move on? Did she have a boyfriend or a fiancé now? Was she with Jayson?
"Hi, how are you?" She asked shyly.
He sat hypnotised, staring at her blankly. Chase nudged him out of his daze. "W what?" He asked, still looking at her, drinking her in. All his memories of her came rushing in.
"How are you?" She asked again, not sure if he wanted to talk to her anymore.
"Good, I'm good," he said, looking down. He remembered that she hated him. He was a worthless person who should have died.
He got up,"I've got to go and fetch Benny from Ivory's house, aunt Chloe. See you Chase," he said. Nodding at uncle Phil for permission to leave, he rushed out. He had to leave. Maybe she didn't want to see him, yet he invaded her home, her privacy.
As he approached the gate, someone called him from behind. He knew Valentina was calling her. He could recognize her voice from anywhere. He stopped and slowly turned to face her.
She stopped in front of him,"I didn't mean anything I said that day," she said as his eyes widened. He hadn't expected her to say that. "I'm sorry," she told him.
He stood dazed, staring at her with disbelief. He just wanted to hold her in his arms, kiss her senseless. He nodded at her apology.
"How have you been Valentina?" He asked, his eyes not leaving her face for a single second.
"I'm ok," she said in a small voice.
"When's your wedding? Will you invite me?" He asked, his voice hoarse with choked tears.
"What wedding?" She asked in confusion.
"Aren't you seeing Jayson Meyers? He's a good guy, the luckiest if I may add," he said, smiling crookedly in self mockery.
"No, I'm not interested in Jayson. There's no wedding, " she said as he released the breath he was holding.
"Oh," he said, doing a happy dance in his mind.
" I met Benny at Vera's birthday party. He's super cute. You're a great dad," she said shyly.
"Oh, you did? Thanks but he didn't tell me? Oh, I forgot. I've got to go and collect him. See you again Valentina," he said as he turned and rushed out.
Valentina came back and sat down on her bed, thinking about him. He did say that he would see her again. She would wait forever for when that time would come.
Brody went to Ivory's house humming a tune. He was super excited to have spoken to his Valentina. He tried his best to stay away from her, to forget her, to stop loving her, but even after two years his condition deteriorated. He was more deeply in love than ever before. He was glad that she wasn't seeing anyone. He wanted to pursue her like before but would she welcome him into her life? She did say that she didn't mean anything she said that night which meant that she didn't hate him. With a new hope he picked up Benny from Ivory's house and went home.
Next week he and Benny would be shifting to their new home nearby within walking distance from grandpa's ranch. Briar and Alexia's house was completed and they had shifted from the cottage a year back. Brooklyn and Blade lived at the cottage now with their children.
"Look Benny, that's our new home. We'll shift next week. Ok?" He said as Benny stared at his new house.
"Will mommy come too?" He asked with hope shining in his eyes.
"Whose mommy?" He asked in confusion. Why would that bitch Cathy come to stay with them?
Benny smacked his forehead. What would he do with a silly mommy and a silly daddy? "Silly daddy, my mommy, my Val mommy. You have her pwictwer, there," he said pointing at the locket around his neck.
"Oh, you mean Valentina?" He asked excitedly.
"Yes, will she come to stay?" He asked.
"I don't think so, buddy," Brody answered truthfully.
"Let's go get her daddy. She told me she's lost, " he informed, as Brody smiled, happily.
"Oh, what else did she say?" He asked curiously.
"She huggy me and cry," he told her.
"Oh, then we have to go get her, right?" He asked with a grin. His Valentina hugged Benny and cried! He just couldn't believe it. He would try to pursue her again.
"Yay," said Benny as he skipped and jumped happily, all the way home.
