Chapter 28
PIPER
“Wait, did she just leave without her baby?”
I came to my senses quickly, realizing right away that there were more important matters to deal with than my situation with Valentino.
Mick trotted over to the edge of the porch, looking out as if on watch for Ashley.
Valentino, his eyes on the road, let out a snort of air as he shook his head in disbelief.
“She’s gone. She left her own flesh and blood here.” He turned to me. “Speaking of which, where’s Maddie?”
“My friend Britt’s talking with her on FaceTime. Figured that’d be a good chance for me to come by and drop off Mick. I told her to come over if she finishes the call before I get back.”
He nodded, turning his attention back to the road, where Ashley had been only a few moments ago.
I was mad at him, sure. The revelation that he might’ve hadanotherbaby with a woman with whom he’d only had a brief affair was enough to make my stomach turn.
All the same, I loved him. There was no sense in denying it, I loved the man. And when you loved someone, you tried to work things out if you could.
So, that’s what I did. I went over to him, wrapping my arm around his waist. He smiled down at me, putting his arm around my shoulders. Mick joined us, moving to Valentino’s side as if offering support of his own.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “This situation is complicated enough without me making it even more so.”
“It’s fine. We just need to make sure that the little man’s taken care of.”
He nodded. “Gage is inside with Mom and Dad right now. And Ashley whipped her backpack at me before she left. With any luck, that's got some diapers and food in it for the guy.” He ran his hand through his hair, looking around then placing his hands on his hips.
I chuckled. In spite of it all, I chuckled.
He regarded me with warm curiosity. “What’s so funny?”
“You know, back when Maddie was a baby, before she was potty trained, I used to think how unfair it was that you didn’t have to deal with dirty diapers. If Gage ends up being yours, you might have your turn after all.”
He laughed with a playful shudder. “God, I guess you’re right.” Valentino took in a deep, slow breath, allowing himself a few moments to think. “If he’s mine, he’s mine. I’ll do the right thing and be his father.”
I smiled. Valentino might’ve been having a hard time wrapping his head around the direction his life had suddenly taken, but I loved how he was ready to do the right thing without hesitation. I was proud that he was the father of my little girl.
“We can do a test, too,” I said, the words tumbling out of my mouth. “If that's what you want.”
He shook his head. “Nah. I trust you. Ashley, not so much. The woman seemed like she had more than a screw loose. Be that as it may, I’m sure something else set her off and now she needs some time to cool down.” Valentino turned to me, placing his hands on my shoulders. His touch, his comfort, was exactly what I needed after the insanity of the morning. “Whatever happens, Piper, I love you. I love you and I love our little girl. I don’t know what this family of ours is going to look like, but one thing’s for sure—there’s definitely going to be lots of love.”
I stepped forward into his embrace, resting my head against his chest.
“I know. I know.”
At that moment, there was only us. And I had no doubts about the love he’d promised, and the future he offered. We were together, and that was all that mattered.
* * *
“Where did Gage’s mommy go?”
Hours later, Valentino, Maddie, John, Karen and, me were all in the kitchen, sitting around the bar that separated it from the living room. Mick, having been totally worn out from playtime with Maddie, was curled up in his bed and sleeping the afternoon away.
Luckily, I’d been able to find one of Maddie’s strollers from when she was a baby. Gage nestled inside, sleeping as surely as Mick.
“That’s a good question,” Valentino said, flipping his wrist and checking his Rolex. “It’s been almost three hours.”
