10. Silly Man

"It's raining," Valerie whispered to Landon as she stared out the window.

It had been three days since she had brought Landon back home. Lucas and Tiffany were overjoyed to see their cousin, and they were eager to help her put Landon to sleep or tell him stories that they had just heard from their mom.

The house felt warmer with the sound of the kids' laughter and Landon's tiny coos. Despite the storm outside, there was a sense of peace within these walls.

Valerie glanced down at Landon, his tiny hand curled around her finger. "Your cousins are quite the storytellers, you know," she murmured, smiling. "We are going to be very happy here."

As if understanding her words, Landon gave a little yawn and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep. Valerie gently placed him in his crib, tucking him in snugly. Standing there, watching him sleep, she felt a mix of overwhelming love and fierce protectiveness. Landon was her world now, and she would do anything to keep him safe.

The past few days had been a whirlwind. Antonio's unexpected proposal still lingered in her mind. Why would he, a man with no apparent ties to them, want to claim her son as his own?

Silly man...

A soft knock on the door pulled Valerie from her thoughts. "Come in," she called softly, not wanting to wake Landon.

Ellie stepped in, her face lit with a warm smile. "How are you holding up, Valerie?"

Valerie sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I'm managing. What did River say about the birth certificate? Can he take Antonio's name off of it?"

Ellie walked over to her, her expression turning serious. "River's been working on it. He spoke with the hospital administration, but it's going to take some time. Apparently, there's a lot of paperwork involved, and they'll need to verify the details before they can make any changes."

Valerie let out a frustrated sigh. "This is such a mess. I never wanted any of this confusion for Landon."

"I know," Ellie said, placing a comforting hand on Valerie's shoulder. "But we'll get through it. River is determined to fix this, and we'll make sure everything is set right for Landon."

Valerie nodded, grateful for Ellie's reassurance but still feeling the weight of the situation. "It's just hard to understand why Antonio would do something like this. It doesn't make any sense."

Ellie gave her a sympathetic look. "People can be unpredictable, Valerie. Antonio might have his reasons, even if we can't see them right now. Maybe he feels some kind of responsibility or connection."

"Responsibility?" Valerie scoffed softly. "He barely knows me, and he certainly doesn't know Landon."

"Maybe he sees something in you," Ellie suggested gently. "Something worth protecting. Or maybe he's just an odd man." Ellie grinned.

Valerie grinned back. "I'd go with the second reason."

Someone tapped at the door, and they both turned to look. Molly was standing there with a big smile on her face.

"Someone sent you some presents, Miss Valerie. And for Landon, too," she said.

Valerie raised an eyebrow. "Presents? From whom?"

Molly shrugged. "They are in the living room."

Valerie and Ellie exchanged glances before heading there. Ellie let out a small gasp as Valerie stared at the grand display in front of them. The room was filled with beautifully wrapped boxes of all shapes and sizes, accompanied by a stunning bouquet of freshly cut flowers.

Among the gifts were a few custom-made plush toys, but the most impressive was a handcrafted wooden crib that showed great skill and care in its creation.

Ellie picked up a card that was nestled among the gifts and read it aloud: "For my new son and the fiery woman who birthed her. - A"

"Antonio," Valerie muttered, shaking her head. "Who else would it be?"

Ellie looked at Valerie with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Who else, indeed?" Ellie said, setting the card down. "This is... quite the display. He really doesn't hold back, does he?"

Valerie walked over to the handcrafted crib, running her fingers along the smooth wood. It was beautiful, and the attention to detail was astonishing. She could feel the care that had gone into making it. "This must have cost a fortune," she murmured, her mind reeling. "Why would he do this?"

Ellie shrugged, a thoughtful look on her face. "Maybe he thinks this is his way of showing he cares. Or maybe he's trying to prove something to himself—or to you."

Valerie sighed, feeling a mix of gratitude and frustration. "I just don't know what to think."

Lucas bounced into the room right then, his eyes widening at the sight of the gifts. "Wow! Presents!"

Valerie smiled at his excitement. "Yes, Lucas. These are gifts from someone who wants to make sure Landon has everything he needs."

Lucas picked up one of the plush toys and hugged it. "Can I give this to Landon?"

"Of course," Valerie replied, watching him hurry to the nursery. The sight of Lucas caring for his cousin brought a sense of warmth to her heart.

As she continued to look at the gifts, her thoughts turned back to Antonio. His actions were generous, but they also felt like a way to insert himself into their lives. She needed to understand his true intentions.

"Look at this one," Ellie said, holding a box.

Valerie looked at the white box wrapped in a pink lacey bow.

"It has your name. A special present just for you," Ellie said, her eyes twinkling mischievously. Valerie had a sneaky suspicion she was secretly enjoying this.

"Go on, open it," Ellie urged, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Valerie hesitated for a moment, her gaze fixed on the box. It was a gift from Antonio, a man she barely knew, and yet it felt strangely personal and....intimate. The curiosity that had been building inside her won over, and she found herself intrigued, unable to resist the urge to uncover its secrets. Taking a deep breath, she untied the pink bow and carefully removed the wrapping paper.

"Oh," Valerie whispered, lifting a delicate, beautifully crafted dress from the box.

"Wow!" Ellie breathed when Valerie held the dress in front of her to show her.

It was a stunning piece, made of soft, flowing fabric in a deep shade of emerald green that matched Valerie's eyes. The dress was elegant and sophisticated, with intricate lace detailing and a fitted waist that flared out into a graceful skirt. It was the kind of dress that made someone feel special just by looking at it.

"Valerie, it's gorgeous," Ellie said, her voice filled with admiration. "He has great taste."

"Why," Valerie mumbled. "Why did he send me this?"

Ellie's expression shifted, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "Maybe he's trying to make an impression, or maybe he wants to show you he cares. Whatever the reason, it's clear he put a lot of thought into this."

Valerie sighed, running her fingers over the delicate lace. "He doesn't care about me. That's just ludicrous. He is doing this to get those codes out of me even though I told him I don't have them."

Ellie looked skeptical. "He is making this grand gesture just for some secret numbers? Seems unlikely."

"I don't know, Ellie. But I am going to find out," Valerie said.