‘I am Valentino Lombardi,’ he said, his voice low and deadly serious. ‘My word is my bond.’
She nodded slowly then as tears slid from her eyes. ‘It had better be.’
And that was the moment Valentino knew she’d taken a leap of faith which she was putting all in him.
Now all he had to do was prove he was worthy.
11
The next day Valentino arrived on her doorstep, bearing freshly baked blueberry muffins. And an engagement ring.
His campaign to prove himself started now.
The door opened to reveal McKenzie, full of beans in a pink tutu and fairy wings, which looked even sweeter on her diminutive frame.
‘Dr Val!’ she signed.
Valentino and Peyton had come to an agreement over what her daughter would call him given how long his name was to finger spell. And he liked it.
‘Well, good morning, young lady.’ Valentino crouched down, signing as he spoke. He could just make out the external component of the implant attached to the side of her head mostly hidden by her gorgeous curls. ‘Sei molto carina.’
Although he spoke in Italian he signed in English, so she beamed at him complimenting her prettiness.
‘We’re having breakfast,’ McKenzie signed with a flourish.
‘That’s good.’ Valentino grinned. He opened the bag and let McKenzie peek inside. ‘I brought muffins.’
‘McKenzie, darling?’
Valentino stood as an unfamiliar voice came closer. It sounded older. Peyton was obviously not alone.
‘Oh.’ An older woman with Peyton’s big grey eyes blinked curiously at him. ‘Hello, there.’
‘Hi.’ Valentino recognised her from the photo on the television. He held out his hand. ‘I’m Valentino Lombardi.’
‘Oh, yes.’ Peyton’s mother shook his hand. ‘You’re DrVal,’ she said, a slight tease in her voice. ‘We’ve heard alotabout you.’
Valentino smiled. ‘All good, I hope.’
McKenzie chose that moment to slip her hand into his and Valentino saw the older woman clock her granddaughter’s actions. ‘I didn’t realise you made house calls?’
The teasing sparkle shone from her eyes and Valentino chuckled. ‘Only for my special patients,’ he said, grinning down at McKenzie and signing for her benefit.
‘I’m Adele, Peyton’s mother.’
‘Very pleased to meet you.’
And he was. He could see the similarities between mother and daughter except there were lines around Adele’s eyes and mouth that told him she laughed a lot. She seemed content and well put together and there was very definitely mischief dancing in her eyes. She reminded him of his own mother.
‘Would you care to join us for breakfast?’
Valentino held up the bakery packet, pleased to have bought a few extras. ‘I brought muffins.’
‘I’m sure they’ll be welcome. My daughter seems to have found her appetite at last.’
She gave him a speculative look before turning on her heel, and Valentino smiled to himself as he and McKenzie followed her.
‘Look who I found lurking in the doorway,’ Adele announced as she stepped onto the deck.
