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Chapter21
Leon
The headache I felt when Valentina told me I was a father had returned. The drive back to the office was so quiet, and I appreciated it. Ramon knew how to read the room. Ava was really my daughter and now, I have to be a parent.
Panic started creeping in. I barely even considered myself old enough to have children. Where was I going to start? We arrived at the office and I went up to Lucian’s office. Logan was just leaving and walked back in with me.
“You look like you’re going through it. What’s going on?” Lucian inquired.
“Ava is really my child.”
“Damn. What are you going to do now?” Logan asked and Lucian scoffed.
“What do you mean what’s he going to do? He is going to step up and be a father to her, of course.”
“I don’t even know how,” I said in a loud, frustrated tone.
“There’s no manual to being a father. I suggest you first get to know her. Be present, then you and Valentina can sort out the details on how you’ll both spend time with her.” Logan advised and Lucian nodded.
“I’ll pour you a glass of whiskey,” Lucian said. He walked over to the table at the corner end of his office and poured me a glass. He walked back and handed it over to me. I mouthed a thank you to him.
“We’re having dinner tomorrow. I think it’s a great first step.”
“It is,” Logan said, tapping me on the shoulders. “I have people waiting for me in my office. We’ll see later.” He said and walked out. After I finished my glass of whiskey, I thanked Leon and returned to my office.
I could barely sit in a place as the time for dinner drew near. Was I to go there bearing gifts? I didn’t want to do too much. But Ava is my daughter. I don’t think there’s any such thing as too much for your child.
I got up from my chair and closed for the day. Ramon drove me to a toy store. When I got in, the fresh scent of cotton candy filled my nose. I didn’t know what Ava liked or what her style was. There was a section of princess dolls. I scanned through. Every little girl loved Cinderella right? Or was it Snow White? I was struggling. An attendant seemed to notice my unease and she approached me.
“You need help?” she asked with a big smile plastered on her face.
“I do. What will a three- year- old girl like?”
“What’s she like?” The lady asked.
“I have no idea. I’m meeting my daughter for the first time today and I don’t know what to get her,” I nervously responded. The lady smiled again.
“Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”
I left the store with a Disney princess dress-up trunk set and then Ramon took me over to Valentina’s. I got to her door and straightened out my clothes before knocking. After the third knock, the door clicked and opened.
“Hey,” Valentina said. She looked good with her hair packed up in a tight bun. She had on a tank top and a pair of jeans.
“Hi,” I responded. Her eyes landed on the bag in my hand.
“What’s that?” she asked, pointing at the bag.
“I got something for Ava.”
“You didn’t have to. Come in,” she said as she let me in before shutting the door behind me. Her sitting room was a lot smaller than I imagined. The couches were arranged in an L shape and Ava was standing by the wall.
“Hi, Ava,” I said as I walked towards her. “I got you something.” I brought the doll set out and showed it to her. Her eyes brightened at the sight of them. Valentina was standing behind me. When Ava stretched out her hand to collect the set from me, Valentina stepped in.
“Ava honey, this is Leon. We met him at the coffee shop. Do you remember him?” I asked and she shook her head.
“Say hi to him.”
“Hi Leon.” She said in her tiny voice before grabbing the doll set.
