Chapter 14 - Twenty Years Later Began Today
The second anniversary of Three Medallions arrived quietly.
Valeria preferred it that way.
The restaurant closed for one evening.
Only family attended.
Real family.
Chosen family.
Complicated family.
Sofia had become engaged to Nathan Cole, an attorney who worked at Isabella House.
Ernesto interrogated him the first time they met.
Sofia threatened to ban Ernesto from the wedding.
He improved immediately.
Alessandra had started culinary school despite already being the best baker in the restaurant.
When asked why, she said:
“Because this is the first education I chose for myself.”
Valeria understood that more than anyone.
She had enrolled in business school.
She wanted to expand Isabella House nationally.
Gabriel proudly told everyone.
Valeria repeatedly reminded him that he had contributed exactly zero percent to her admission.
“I contributed genetics.”
“No, you didn’t.”
He paused.
“Excellent point.”
Even that had become a joke.
The past no longer had sharp enough edges to cut them every time it was touched.
Ernesto and Isabella remarried.
Not in a cathedral.
Not before hundreds of powerful guests.
In the garden behind Isabella House.
Twenty-six people attended.
Ernesto wore a simple suit.
Isabella wore pale blue.
Before the ceremony, Ernesto approached Sofia.
“I need something.”
“What?”
“Permission.”
“For what?”
“To call myself your father.”
Sofia stared at him.
“You are my father.”
“I know what biology says.”
“That’s not what you asked.”
He swallowed.
“I missed everything.”
“My first word.”
“Yes.”
“First day of school.”
“Yes.”
“First heartbreak.”
His jaw tightened.
“Who was he?”
She laughed.
“Not important.”
“I can locate—”
“Dad.”
He stopped.
Sofia smiled.
“You’re doing it again.”
He laughed.
Then she hugged him.
“You don’t need permission.”
He held her tightly.
Nearby, Alessandra watched.
Ernesto noticed.
He released Sofia and walked toward her.
Alessandra immediately became guarded.
Their relationship had always been complicated.
Mateo was her biological father.
Ernesto was her uncle.
But Ernesto had treated her like a daughter from the moment he understood what Mateo had done.
“I have a question for you too,” he said.
“What?”
“May I embarrass you publicly by telling people I have two daughters?”
Alessandra stared.
Her eyes filled.
“Only two?”
Ernesto looked toward Valeria.
“Three when Gabriel annoys me.”
Gabriel shouted from across the garden:
“I heard that.”
Everyone laughed.
Alessandra hugged Ernesto.
It surprised both of them.
During the ceremony, Isabella looked at Ernesto.
“Twenty years ago, I thought protecting our children meant disappearing.”
Ernesto’s eyes filled.
“I thought protecting them meant becoming powerful enough that nobody could hurt us.”
She smiled sadly.
“We were both wrong.”
“What protects them?”
Isabella looked toward the three women.
“Teaching them they never belong to anyone.”
They exchanged vows.
Simple.
No promises about forever.
They had learned forever was too abstract.
Instead:
“I choose you today.”
That was enough.
At dinner afterward, the three women sat together.
Valeria held up her medallion.
“Do you remember the restaurant?”
Sofia laughed.
“You dumping wine on Ernesto?”
“I tripped.”
“You absolutely destroyed that jacket.”
“It was ugly.”
“It cost twelve thousand dollars,” Ernesto called.
Valeria shouted back:
“Still ugly.”
Alessandra smiled.
“If you hadn’t tripped…”
Nobody finished the sentence.
If Valeria hadn’t tripped, maybe the medallion would have remained hidden.
Maybe Sofia would have walked out after her shift.
Maybe Mateo would have continued manipulating them.
Maybe three sisters would have passed through life without knowing one another.
Sofia lifted her glass.
“To bad waitressing.”
Valeria laughed.
“To terrible family secrets.”
Alessandra lifted hers.
“To choosing what happens after them.”
They touched glasses.
Later that evening, Valeria stood outside with Gabriel.
“You happy?” he asked.
She considered the question.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“You spent years wanting answers.”
“I know.”
“Did you get them?”
“Most.”
“And the rest?”
Valeria looked through the restaurant windows.
Daniel was helping Lucia carry plates.
Marco was arguing with Ernesto.
Isabella was laughing.
Sofia was showing Nathan something on her phone.
Alessandra was stealing frosting from the kitchen.
Valeria smiled.
“I think some questions stop mattering when your life becomes bigger than them.”
Gabriel nodded.
“You sound like Elena.”
That was the greatest compliment he could have given her.
Valeria touched her medallion.
Elena had raised her.
Lucia had given birth to her.
Daniel had given her life.
Gabriel had chosen to call her his daughter.
Isabella had protected her.
Sofia had become her sister.
Alessandra had become her sister too.
There was no simple family tree capable of explaining it.
That was fine.
Valeria no longer needed one.
Then Gabriel handed her an envelope.
She groaned.
“No more documents.”
“It isn’t a secret.”
“What is it?”
“Open it.”
Inside was a deed.
The building housing Three Medallions.
Valeria stared.
“You bought it?”
“No.”
“You already owned it?”
Gabriel smiled.
“Technically, yes.”
She glared.
“I said no more secrets.”
“This isn’t a secret. It’s a gift.”
The ownership had been transferred equally to Valeria, Sofia, and Alessandra.
Valeria looked at him.
“We don’t need this.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because fathers are apparently supposed to leave their daughters something.”
She folded the deed.
“You already did.”
“What?”
Valeria kissed his cheek.
“You stayed.”
May you like
Gabriel looked away before she could see him cry.
She saw anyway.
