Chapter 8
Alaia
After lunch, we went for a walk with the kids. Ashley continued to live in the house next to
ours with her mother, Elise, who travels frequently. She divorced Ash’s father shortly before we arrived in the country, and I understand her. Kurt, Ash’s father, has a temperament similar to Darius‘. I didn’t understand how my father turned out so kind, having grown up surrounded by those two.
Elise gets along well with my mother, and now that she’s on vacation, they’ve gone to Venice together. They are very close friends, just like Ash and me. My children roamed around the large garden of the house; they loved spending time there.
“Are you telling me that my grandfather likes ‘cariñitos‘?” she says, surprised.
Mr. Darius is a cold person, known for not talking much, but the three little ones, including my brother, seem to bring warmth to his frozen heart.
Cariñitos is the nickname Ash gave them. As soon as they were born, months passed, and my babies laughed every time she called them that. The name stuck, and when they started talking, they began calling her Aunt Nitos.
“Yes, it seems my children visited him in his office when they started walking,” I said to her.
She just laughed. I know, my children are still very young; however, with their tenderness and love, they managed to break the barrier Darius imposes on others.
“It’s progress. Honestly, I don’t understand why he still hasn’t approached you; you carry his blood p>
“I don’t know, and to be honest, at this point, I don’t care about his reasons,” I replied as we arrived at her house, which she called her temple. She is a designer and has several fashion stores in Europe. She is very successful and I love her work.
I love this space because it is filled with light and windows that overlook the trees. My children went directly to a shelf that holds various toys. Ash arranged it for them when they outgrew being held and became very restless. I looked at the fabrics and designs she has been working on. She takes care of my wardrobe; if she doesn’t design it, she helps me choose the purchases and designers. We have that in common. We love fashion. She dedicates her life to it, and I enjoy wearing it.
“Oh my goodness! I’m going to go crazy with so much work,” Valentino, Ashley’s partner for a year, entered the studio, holding a package of food and a roll of red fabric.
I Won’t Leave
“Valentino, darling, the season is just starting, and you’re already in dramatic mode,” my cousin helped him with the fabric.
“Don’t even mention it. My skin is already itching just thinking about it.” He sighed. “I brought ice cream and cookies.” He showed me the package. “They’re vegan, gluten–free, and all those strange things they’ve invented now. We’ll try them.” He fixed his hair that fell over his eyebrow. “Where are my little ones?” He walked to where my children usually were.
“Oh, I could just eat them up, they’re so adorable.” He bent down and hugged them. He talked to them. In the house, we all understand them when they say something, but the same doesn’t happen with people who don’t see them often.
“Go on, darlings, go play. Uncle Tino will bring you ice cream,” he said as he stood to get the ice cream.
“I don’t want them to try sugar, Tino,” I said and sighed as Tino was leaving with the ice cream.
“It doesn’t have sugar, I promise.” He placed his hand on his chest and walked away.
My children went back to playing, and I started looking at the latest collections to buy some pieces I liked.
“I love these for you, this one for an important night, and this one for the office.” Ash pointed to a beautiful golden dress and a stunning black office suit. I nodded, looking at the details and the fine fabrics.
I looked at the evening dress in the mirror. I like how it looks on me; it highlights the color of my eyes.
“You’ll look gorgeous,” Valentino entered with the girl who works at Ashley’s house. She brought a tray with ice cream cups and cookies.
We took them and started eating. The ice cream wasn’t bad.
Valentino and the girl offered the ice cream to my children. They tried the vanilla and smiled; it seemed they liked it.
“Oh my God, darling,” Tino said, horrified, making us look at him.
My children pushed the ice cream away with their little tongues, their faces showing great disgust.
“They don’t like the chocolate one,” the girl stated.
Feeling a bit strange, I nodded. Could it be a coincidence that they hate chocolate, just like… their father? As they grow, I see that apart from the physical resemblance, they have some of his mannerisms, and now they hate chocolate. I’ll have to get used to it, I think. I grimaced at that thought.
I spent the afternoon with my cousin and the kids, who had fallen asleep and were in Ashley’s room. Tino has gone out with his boyfriend, who just called him. We must accept his relationship with Mateo even though we don’t like it.
After selecting the clothes I wanted to bring in the coming days and being delighted by the collection my cousin was designing for the next fashion week, I decided to go home when the kids woke up.
The three of us had dinner. Aidan went to his mother’s house. I met her a while ago; she was not pleasant, and needless to say, my mother and I do not get along with her. When we
finished eating, we went up to my room. I brushed their teeth and put on their Mickey Mouse pajamas, which we bought when we went to Disney Paris. I also wore a similar one at their request. I tucked them into bed and kissed their little faces. I moved around the room, looking for a storybook, and when I returned, my babies were looking at me. I smiled at them, and they smiled back, making me fall in love with them all over again. I settled between the two and read them a story until they fell asleep in my bed. They sleep with me very often; it’s hard for me to separate from them.
My phone beeped and a message popped up. I checked it, frowning. I just saw Ashley, and now she asked me to come to her house immediately. I put on a coat and left the room, asking Loli to watch the kids.
I quickly went up to Ashley’s room and there I found Tino lying on the bed, sobbing.
“What happened?” I asked, sitting next to my cousin.
“Mateo left him,” Ash answered. I suddenly felt bad for Valentino.
“He left, he left with the biggest slut of them all,” he cried.
“Dear, I’ve always said you can’t fully trust them,” I said, stroking his arm.
“I know, but he was so cute and, you know, so strong and tough,” he shot back, and Ash and I stifled our laughter, understanding what he meant.
“I won’t find another like him,” he ranted, turning over in the bed.
“Oh, please, of course, you will. Someone even better will come along, you know, tougher,” Ash said. We were just holding our laughter.
“And in the meantime, what will I do? What will I do with this pain?” he asked, touching his chest dramatically.
“To start, cry on the inside like a winner,” I said. He looked at me as he started to calm down.
Ash took his hand, and I stroked his shoulder.
“I am a winner,” he said with conviction. He let out a deep breath and composed himself a few minutes later. “No idiot will stop me.” He sat up on the bed quickly.
He took his phone and sent a message to someone. He then stood up, and adjusted his suit jacket and his pink handkerchief, leaving us surprised. Our friend has great style.
“Where are you going?” my cousin and I asked.
“I’m going to Tony, Mateo’s worst enemy.” He fixed his hair. “How do I look?” he asked.
“Come on, you look gorgeous,” my cousin said, and I nodded, confirming her words.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He blew us a kiss in the air. My mouth gasped in shock. What the p>
“You’re such a rascal!” I shouted as he left. I heard him laugh as we did, too. I shook my head.
Tino is full of surprises, besides being a very handsome guy.
“I still can’t get used to his mood swings,” I said. Ash laughed back.
“He’s a great friend, and it’s a relief that you live just a step away from my house,” she said. “I don’t know what I’ll do when you move. I don’t want cariñitos far from me. Are you sure about the wedding with Cedric?” she asked. I looked at the enormous diamond he gave me the day he proposed. It happened two months ago in Amsterdam, his hometown, where he works in his family’s company. “I know he’s a good guy, the kids adore him, but he will want them to move to Amsterdam,” she said sadly.
“I’m not going to Amsterdam, Ash. My life, my family, my work, everything is here. We’ll find a middle ground. We still have a few months before the wedding,” I assured her. She just nodded, resting her head on my shoulder.