Loving Alessandra

Chapter 14

Alessandra

A few days had passed, I had been enjoying my time with my family and exploring the local town. One afternoon, as I returned from a walk, I found my favourite cousins, Luis and Sofia, arriving at the house. They lived on the other side of town and they decided to come visit me.

"Alessandra!' Sofia exclaimed, rushing to hug me. "We've missed you!"

"I've missed you guys too," I said, smiling warmly as I hugged her. "It's so good to see you both."

Luis grinned and gave me a bear hug. "It's been too long prima. We need to catch up."

We settled in the living room, chatting and laughing. My mother brought out some snacks and drinks, joining in the conversation.

"So, how's life?" Sofia asked her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"It's been busy. Work has been a lot, but I love it. And I've been meeting new people, making connections. It's exciting."

Luis nodded. "That's great to hear. You've always been so passionate about fashion. I'm glad you're pursuing your dreams."

"Thanks, Luis. What about you guys? How's everything here?"

Sofia shrugged. "Same old, same old. I'm still working at the hospital, and Luis is doing his thing with the construction company. But we've missed having around."

"I've missed you too. It's good to be home, even if just for a little while."

   ***

After the lively family dinner and spending quality time together in the living room, my phone began to ring. I glanced at the caller ID and saw Valentino's name flashing on the screen. Ignoring the call, I continued chatting with my cousins.

The phone kept buzzing with messages from Valentino, my anxiety grew. I discreetly silenced my phone, trying to focus on the conversation at the hand.

"Luis, did you hear about the new resident that opened downtown?" Sofia asked.

"Of course! I heard they have the best seafood in town," Luis replied.

As I was listening to the conversation, my mind kept drifting back to Valentino's persistent messages.

Valentino's messages became increasingly frantic, asking where I was, why I wasn't answering and if everything is alright.

I felt a pang of guilt but remained steadfast in my decision not to engage with him at that moment. I didn't want to deal with him right now, not in front of my family.

As the conversation continued, my phone finally fell silent. I let out a silent sigh.

Eventually the evening drew to a close and my cousins decided to take their leave. We said our goodbyes to each other.

***

I awake to the soft glow of morning light filtering through my window. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I reached for my phone, intending to check the time. But as I unlocked the screen, I was greeted by a flood of messages from Valentino.

"Babe, where are you? Are you okay? Please, just let me know you're safe."

Scrolling through the messages, I felt a mix of frustration and and concern. But then, nestled among the barrage if messages.

Valentino:Baby, I haven't heard from. It's been days and it has been tough. I miss you, baby. You mean so much to me, more than you probably realize. I just need to know you're okay.
I know things have been tough lately and I hate that I'm the cause of your pain. It tears me apart to see you hurting, to know that I've let you down in some way. But please believe me when I say that I'm doing everything I can to make things right.
I'll do anything to keep you safe. I'll do whatever it takes to protect you.
I love you, Alessandra, more than words can express. You've stolen my heart and I never want it back. I want to spend the rest of my days making you happy, cherishing every moment we have together.
Please give me a chance to prove myself to you. Give us a chance to find out way back to each other please. I love you.

As I read the message, felt a lump form in my throat. Despite everything, I couldn't deny the love I still felt for him.

Brushing away a stray if tear, I set my phone aside and took a moment to gather my thoughts.

***

My time in Puerto Rico drew to a close. On my last day, my family and I spent the day through the streets of San Juan.

Standing outside the door I took a look at my childhood home, the place where do many memories had been made.

"Are you ready, mi amor?" Mom asked, her voice tinged with sadness.

I nodded. "Yeah, it's hard to leave you know. But I'll be back soon."

Mom hugged me tightly, whispering words of encouragement. "Remember, mi hija, love is not always easy, but it's worth fighting for. Follow your heart, but listen to your mind too. And remember that your family is here for you."

I nodded. I knew my mother was right, and I was grateful for her guidance.

My abuela and father joined in the embrace. "We'll miss you, mija," abuela said.

"We'll be waiting for you to come back." My father added.

With one last embrace I made my way to the taxi.

***

I was now at the airport, as I stood in the line at the check in counter, my phone buzzed with a new message. It was Valentino.

"Baby, I miss you. Please, let's talk when you get back. I need to see you."

My heart skipped a beat at the sight of his name. I knew I couldn't avoid the conversation any longer. With a heavy sigh, I typed out a quick reply.

"Okay. We'll talk when I get back."

How are you all enjoying the book so far?
PS: I'll be adding another chapter today.