"I know."
"But." He pauses. Takes a breath. "She loves you. You saved her life. Protected her. She looks happy. And I haven't seen herlook like this since she was a little girl." He glances at Diamond, and something softens in his face. "She used to look at me like that. Before everything went wrong."
"Mr. Sterling."
"Charles." He says it like it costs him something. "If you're going to be with my daughter, you might as well call me Charles."
It's not a blessing. It's not "welcome to the family." But it's something.
"Charles," I say. "I'll take care of her."
"You'd better." He looks at Diamond one more time, then back at me. "The house is hers. I'll have the papers drawn up this week. And the contracts I promised; you'll get all of it. Not because you've earned it, but because she asked me to."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me." He heads for the door, then pauses. "I'll be back in a month. I expect dinner. And I expect you to look me in the eye and tell me you're still treating her right."
"I will."
"Every month," he adds. "Until I'm convinced you're not going to break her heart." A ghost of a smile crosses his face. "I'm a patient man, Mr. Vega. Don't test me."
He leaves. The helicopter lifts off ten minutes later, disappearing into the gray sky.
Diamond slides her arms around my waist from behind. "That went better than I expected."
"You weren't supposed to come out."
"I know." She presses her cheek against my back. "But I heard him trying to buy you off, and I couldn't just stand there."
"I wasn't going to take it."
"I know that too." She turns me around, looks up at me. "That's why I love you."
I pull her close. Press my lips to her hair.
"Monthly dinners with your father," I say. "That's going to be fun."
"He'll come around eventually. He's stubborn, but he loves me." She smiles. "And he'll love you too, once he gets to know you."
"I doubt that."
"Give it time." She rises on her tiptoes, kisses me softly. "Now stop worrying about my father and take me to bed. It's still Valentine's Day, and I have plans for you."
11
Cesar
Rosa's house feels like abuela's kitchen.
Diamond squeezes my hand as we walk up the front path, the same way she does every Sunday, like she's still a little nervous even after a year of these dinners.
"Tío Scary!"
The front door bursts open and my nephew Jose barrels into my legs. He's six now. His sister Sofia is right behind him, eight years old and already bossing everyone around like her mother.
"Did you bring presents?" Sofia demands.
"Sofia." Rosa appears in the doorway, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "What did I say about manners?"
