Coming Home | Scarlett Johansson's Daughter |

NERVES

NEW YORK - PRIVATE DINING ROOM [REDACTED] RESTAURANT

About another week later, Scarlett made her way into the private restaurant Ryan had rented a dining room at. Her heart pounded in her chest as she clutched onto Colin's arm, her eyes scanning the entrance.

They quickly spotted Ryan and Blake near the private area, as they appeared to have just arrived as well. Ryan looked as anxious as she felt, his eyes flickering between the entrance and his watch.

The restaurant was quiet, even for a Friday night. Both her assistant and Ryan's had made sure the restaurant knew tonight was a very private event, and the press was also warned with a pretty harsh reminder that no photos should be circulated of tonight's reunion. They did not want to keep Violet a secret (the press knew about her anyways), but they deserved to soak this in for themselves before they had to answer to the public.

The small, elegant restaurant exuded an intimate ambiance, with dimmed lights casting a soft glow over the polished wooden floors and tastefully decorated walls. The private dining room, adorned with delicate chandeliers and adorned in warm shades of burgundy and gold, felt cozy and exclusive, offering a perfect setting for the long-awaited reunion.

Scarlett, her heart aflutter with a mix of excitement and nervousness, walked into the room hand-in-hand with her husband, Colin. Beside them, Ryan and Blake entered.

In the momentary awkwardness of first encounters, Scarlett and Colin exchanged polite greetings with Blake, their smiles genuine but laced with the underlying tension of the moment. Ryan and Scarlett, both visibly emotional, shared a heartfelt hug, their eyes reflecting the immense weight of the situation. Their emotions spilled over, and tears welled up in their eyes as they held each other for a moment, understanding the enormity of what they were about to experience.

It had been a question for both of them to bring both Colin and Blake to this dinner. It would definitely be more nerve wracking to Violet, to meet her parents and her step parents. But Ryan and Scarlett had formed families over the years. She would not be treated as something in between, but as a part of both families.

As they all settled into their seats, Blake spoke up. "Has Marissa called to let us know if Violet is on her way?"

Ryan nodded after a quick glance at his phone, his voice tinged with excitement. "Yes, Marissa said she's picking her up. They should be here soon."

NEW YORK - MAY'S FOSTER HOME

Meanwhile, Violet's friends had gathered in her room, creating an impromptu dressing room filled with dresses of various styles and colors. They had brought over the dresses as a way to support Violet as soon as they found out about what restaurant she was going to (of course they had Googled it first) , and they had even helped her style her hair.

Violet stood in front of the mirror, her reflection adorned in a beautiful dress that her friends had selected. Her hair had been expertly styled down by Alina, and she felt kind of pretty. Deep down she was looking for traces of the people she grew up watching her best friend obsess over. She definitely looked like her biological mother, and the more she stared at herself in the mirror she wondered if they would see it in her as well.

As the minutes ticked by, Violet's nerves began to take hold. She turned to her friends, her voice trembling with anxiety. "Guys, I'm so nervous. What if I say something wrong? What if it's the most awkward thing to ever happen this century?"

Sora, always the reassurer, placed a hand on Violet's shoulder. "Violet, you've got this. They're your parents, and they're going to love you no matter what. They want to meet, remember?"