La Mafia González

27 - Valeria's Birthday

Valeria

Lorenzo has been acting weird. This morning, he told me that he will stay for the rest of the day at the warehouse. He didn't even tell me goodbye. I also felt that he was mad at me for no reason. I didn't do anything, hell I didn't have time to do anything to make him mad.

I sulk in my bed, not wanting to get up. I am so sad and frustrated. I wish I know what I did, so I could fix it.

I pick up my phone from the side table and send him a message.

Me: Enzo, are you mad at me?

I wait for him to reply but after waiting for thirty minutes with no response, I doubt he is going to reply any time soon.

I put my phone back on the table and step out of the covers. If I stay any longer in this bed, I will drive myself crazy.

What if something happened to him?

I suddenly panic at the thought of something bad happening to him. I quickly wash my face, brush my teeth, and then wear something decent enough to go downstairs.

Stepping into the living room, I see everyone sitting, including Lorenzo, who was holding a cake in his hand, and they yell "Happy Birthday."

My eyes widen in shock for two reasons, one, I forgot that today is my birthday, and two, Lorenzo has been here the whole time while I was sulking in my room.

"Happy birthday, mi amor," Lorenzo says with a smile. He walks my way and stands in front of me. "We wanted to surprise you in the evening, but with the message you sent me, I was sure that you were going to be sad the whole day until then, and I didn't want that."

I blush at what he said and my heart flutters at how much he cares. I absolutely had no idea that today is my birthday and I thought that I had done something to make him push my way like that even if it was for a few minutes.

"I thought you were mad at me. You have been acting weird since yesterday," I say.

"I am sorry, my love. I just wanted to surprise you with your birthday and was afraid that if I stayed with you then I would tell you and ruin it," he explains.

"Thank you so much, Enzo. I love you," I say, shocking myself and him. His eyes light up and he smiles. "I love you too, Val."

And we kiss.

"Happy birthday, honey," Valentina says, hugging me.

"Thank you, Valentina."

"You can call me mama, now."

"I...thank you, mama."

I feel overwhelmed that she told me to call her mom. I have been dreaming for years to have a mother like her. I remember how much I loved talking to Valentina and wanted to stay at her house and work. I didn't want to go back home to my own mother.

"And you can call me, papa. Happy birthday, mi hija," Mr. Gonzalez says. I am shocked a little bit honestly because he is a man of few words. I am even scared to call him by his first name.

I smile warmly at him and say, "Thank you, papa."

The rest wish me a happy birthday and I thank them all. I cut the cake and Lorenzo took a few pictures of me, as well as, Sophia and Sarah.

Lorenzo stood beside me and told Sarah to capture a picture of us together. He wraps his arm around my waist and poses for the picture. I couldn't take my eyes off him, so that was my pose as Sarah took the picture.

We eat and cake and they give me the gifts they got me. Lorenzo got me flowers to plant in the backyard and a butterfly necklace because according to him, butterflies remind him of me. Sarah and Sophia got me a basket full of goodies, from skincare to body and face care.