Jade
Jade parked the car outside the supermarket. She wanted to give the girl some advice, but didn't know where to start.
They both got out of the car.
"Casmin, I don't think you're old enough to understand the responsibility that comes with starting—"
"Please, not you too. My mom keeps saying the same thing," she complained.
"And why do you think she does that?" Jade frowned, trying to lower her tone so she wouldn't sound too harsh. She didn't want to argue, but Casmin's rebellious attitude always got under her skin.
"Because she wants to ruin my life. Everything I do is wrong for her. She's too strict, and when I ask about my dad, she just leaves. She won't answer."
"You should be proud of the mother you have. Floren has sacrificed so much for you. She's been through a lot to make sure you have everything you need. But hearing you talk like that makes me think none of it was worth it. Casmin, you need to think things through, because all you're doing is breaking your mother's heart. Appreciate her while you still can," she exclaimed.
Jade had always wished for a mother who would worry about her, and it angered her to see Casmin constantly looking for ways to provoke Floren.
"I…" Casmin looked down.
"I'm sorry," Jade muttered. "I shouldn't have talked to you like that. It just bothers me how you treat your mom. Come on, let's go buy what we need."
They wandered through the supermarket for a long while, getting everything they needed.
"Look, Isa, Luis would love—"
Jade turned around…
[...]
Saturday, August 17— one week later
Dominick
He hadn't been able to talk to her, not even get close. All he could do was look at her from afar a few times throughout the week.
He had wanted to say so many things after holding her in his arms —to tell her how he felt— but he knew she just wanted him out of her life. That's why, after a week of thinking, he decided to leave. She was better off without him.
He packed everything into his suitcase. The house was beautiful, and he didn't want to sell it. He'd leave it to Mr. Rufino and his wife. They would stay and take care of it. Though he told them he'd rent it to them, the truth was he wouldn't charge them a thing. He liked the elderly couple too much for that.
Once everything was ready, Rufino helped him carry the luggage to the car.
He went back to the kitchen.
"When are you leaving, Mr. Jackson?" the woman asked.
"After lunch," he replied, his face downcast.
"May I ask you something personal?" Ofelia ventured.
"Go ahead," he allowed.
"Why do you look so down? You look like a scolded puppy," she smiled as she washed a dish.
"Because I realized too late how wonderful a woman I made suffer truly is," he answered with a faint smile.
"Then why don't you go after her?"
"She doesn't want to hear from me, Ofelia. Even though she forgave me for what I did, Jade just wants to be far from someone like me." He stared blankly ahead. "Maybe it's for the best. Maybe she'll finally be happy without me. And if she is… then I'll be fine too."
"You should go find her, fight for her. If what you say is true and she forgave you, who knows? Maybe she'd give you a chance. I know I wouldn't reject a man like you," she smiled kindly.
"Thank you, Ofelia."
They kept chatting for a while, the woman's advice echoing in his head. But Dominick was convinced that putting distance between them was the right choice. He had hurt her for too long, and at least now, he had her forgiveness.
Everything that happened between them had opened his eyes. It was the wake-up call he'd needed, even if it had been painful. He was grateful for his loyal friends —people who, despite how terribly he'd treated them, had stayed to help him pick up the pieces.
He was thankful for everything he'd gained in the past few months. His broken life finally had a bit of meaning again. And even though the thought of never seeing her again hurt, he told himself he'd learn to live without her —the right way this time.
He picked up his phone to call his friend. It had been a while since he'd talked to Marcus, and he wanted to ask if he could stay with him in Greece for a few days.
After two rings, his friend's cheerful voice filled the line.
"Finally! You called!" Marcus scolded him.
"I've been busy, don't start," Dominick rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, sure, keep lying," he laughed. "What do you want this time? You only call when you need something. One day I'm just not gonna answer."
"Seriously now, can I stay with you for a few days?"
"Sure. So, how did it go with Jade? Why are you coming back so soon?"
"I've got nothing left to do here," he sighed. "We talked and settled things. For once, we didn't argue. But that's it. She was clear about what she wanted, and I have to respect that. I won't bother her anymore."
"Wait… You're just gonna walk away from your responsibility like that?" Marcus sounded angry.
Dominick frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean? You want me to force her?" he snapped.
"Dominick, you have a duty as a father, and it's cowardly of you to ignore it—"
"What did you just say? Father? What kid? Marcus, what the hell are you talking about?" Dominick's voice rose, and he ran a hand through his hair, pacing as he waited for an answer. "Damn it, answer me!"
"Dominick, I thought you knew. You said you talked to her—" Marcus fell silent. "Shit. I just made a huge mistake."
"Marcus…" Dominick's voice turned low, threatening.
"I didn't tell you everything. I didn't mention that Jade got pregnant, because it wasn't my place to tell you. I thought when you found her, she'd say it herself. And I didn't want you to go see her for the wrong reason."
"She kept it to herself…"
"Dominick…"
"She was going to let me leave without telling me I have a son!" he roared.
"Don't do anything stupid. Put yourself in her place, for God's sake!" Marcus tried to reason with him.
"How am I supposed to do that, Marcus? A few months ago, I found out I had a daughter I never got to meet because she died. And now you tell me Jade hid a child from me too?" His voice broke, remembering the helplessness he'd felt when he learned about his little girl.
"Listen to me, and don't interrupt. You're not going to yell at that woman," Marcus snapped. "First, because you'd destroy everything you've managed to rebuild. And second, because you have no right.
"Do you have any idea what she went through, carrying the child of the man who hurt her?" his voice was sharp. "You think you were the only one who suffered? Think again. I spared you a lot of details. She almost ended the pregnancy, Dominick. She didn't want that baby. She was anemic, the delivery was complicated, came early… that child is alive by a miracle. She had to set aside her pain to raise him on her own.
"She's been seeing a therapist because of you, Dominick. So try to understand why she did it."
Dominick stood there, stunned, guilt rising like a wave.
"I get that hiding the truth wasn't right, but think about what she felt," Marcus softened his tone. "She was terrified. She'd already lost someone she loved, and on top of that, she had to live through something traumatic."
"I…"
"Don't say anything. Just go find her, and be a man. Make her feel safe, Dominick. Because if she didn't tell you, it's for one reason only: she believes you'd react badly and take the child away. Remember, she only knows the worst version of you."
"Thank you, Marcus. If you hadn't knocked some sense into me, I'd probably be making a huge mistake right now," Dominick sighed, sitting down on the bed.
"That's what friends are for. Now get your big ass up, unpack, and show that woman you can be a good father. Make her believe you're not the idiot she thinks you are —even if you are," Marcus laughed.
"I'll take your advice…"
[...]
Jade
The week had gone by painfully slow for her. She buried herself in work to keep her mind occupied. She'd met with Dr. Ernes, who congratulated her for forgiving Dominick —a huge step forward.
A few days earlier, she'd had dinner with Kevin again. The evening had been pleasant… until he tried to kiss her. The situation had turned awkward. She gently rejected him, and though he apologized several times, he asked her why. He thought maybe there was a chance for them. Jade didn't know what to say. She simply left.
She'd been in touch with Nerea and Armand whenever she could, always asking about Luka. She just wanted her son to be okay. Every night she cried, remembering what she'd almost done four months after leaving New York, when she discovered she was pregnant.
Though she hadn't had the courage to end the pregnancy, her medical condition hadn't been favorable, and she almost lost the baby. The guilt over her father's death still haunted her, and after giving birth, she'd fallen into postpartum depression.
Those had been dark, difficult days.
One night, still in the hospital, she'd gone to the ward where the premature babies were kept. Luka had trouble breathing. She'd seen him through the glass —alive, fragile, fighting— and she'd felt like the worst person in the world, ungrateful and selfish, especially after learning that another woman who'd been admitted with her had lost her baby.
She hadn't wanted hers, and someone else was crying for a loss.
She learned to love her child when she understood he wasn't to blame for what his parents had done. She devoted herself to caring for him day and night, making sure he'd always be okay.
She smiled.
"What are you thinking about, Jade?" Sofía asked.
"Luka," she replied.
"You still call him that, I see," the doctor noted.
"Yes," she exhaled. "If things had been different, that's the name I would've given him. In honor of my father. I always told him that if I ever had a son, I'd give him a name similar to his," she said wistfully.
Nerea didn't know that, and that's why when she and Armand registered the baby, they named him Luis. Jade thought at least it started with the same letter. She was grateful for everything her friends had done —Armand even registered the baby as his own, telling her it could help her someday, though she never knew what he meant. She still called him Luka lovingly —a nickname, a memory of her father.
"It's been a while since we talked about him. How is he?" Sofía asked.
"He's fine. He went to France with Armand and Nerea. Armand's mother, Analía, was having a birthday, and they go every year," Jade explained.
"That's wonderful. Luis is such a beautiful boy," the doctor smiled. "I imagine that woman adores him."
"Completely," Jade smiled, remembering how Analía had believed Luka was Armand's son. She'd been so happy, thinking she had a grandson. It broke Jade's heart when Armand told her the truth. But Jade had assured her she could still be his grandma —by affection, not blood.
"Well, Jade, time's up," the doctor said.
"See you tomorrow, doc," Jade said, standing up to leave.
She waved goodbye and headed home, unaware that a big surprise was waiting for her there…