Chapter 103 Rekindled Sparks
Chapter one hundred and three
Valenticia’s POV~
I drove home from the grocery store, with my mind buzzing after running into Dimitri and his mom. The city lights blurred past as I gripped the wheel, replaying Maria’s unexpected kindness and Dimitri’s awkward smile. It was strange, seeing them after so long, especially with her acting all so nice. Our marriage had been tough, tied to survival during the Galden days, and Maria never warmed to me then. Now, seeing her and her calling me “dear” and Dimitri even asking for my number left me confused. I pulled into my apartment parking lot, grabbed the grocery bags, and headed inside, ready to tell Nana.
Nana sat in her armchair in the living room, with a blanket over her lap and a cup of chamomile tea steaming. The TV played a game show on low volume, and she looked up as I set the bags on the kitchen counter. “You’re back,” she said, her voice warm but weak from her cough. “Got my apples?”
“Yep,” I said, unpacking the fruit. “And soup stuff. But guess who I saw at the store?”
She raised an eyebrow, turning down the TV. “Who?”
“Dimitri and his mom, Maria,” I said, chopping carrots for dinner. “She was super nice—called me dear, said I looked good. Totally different from when we were married.”
Nana chuckled, then coughed. “Maria? Nice? That’s a switch. What about Dimitri?”
I shrugged, stirring the pot. “He was okay. A bit awkward, but friendly. Said his dad’s at Willow Creek now. He asked for my number, wants to catch up.”
She sipped her tea, watching me. “And how’s that feel? Stirring up old stuff?”
“Weird,” I admitted, sitting across from her. “He wasn’t mean, just… it brought back memories. Our fights, why we split. But Maria being so kind threw me off. People don’t change that much, do they?”
“Sometimes they do,” Nana said. “Age softens people. Or maybe she sees you differently now. What do you think about Dimitri’s call?”
I leaned back, thinking. “Not sure. Part of me wants to ignore it, keep the past closed. But he seemed genuine. Maybe coffee wouldn’t hurt.”
Nana nodded. “Take it slow. You don’t owe him anything. You’ve got a good life—Clawford, me, your mom’s legacy.”
“Yeah,” I said, smiling. “Speaking of, how’s your book? You finished that mystery yet?”
She laughed, setting her cup down. “Halfway. It’s a good kind of, as it keeps me guessing. You should read it after me.”
“Deal,” I said, getting up to finish dinner. We talked more about her doctor’s appointment, a funny story about her neighbor at Willow Creek. It felt good, chatting like this, her voice grounding me. After dinner, I helped with her meds, made sure her bed was set, and settled on the couch with my phone. No text from Dimitri yet, but I kept checking, curious despite myself.
A few days later, my phone buzzed while I was at Clawford, reviewing sensor reports. It was Dimitri. “Hey, Val. Coffee sometime? Catch up?” I stared at the screen, my thumb hovering over it. A huge part of me wanted to say no, but I was curious. What did he want after all this time? So, I typed back, “Sure. Tomorrow, 3 p.m.? Bean Street Cafe?”
He replied quickly. “Perfect. See you then.” I set the phone down, my stomach fluttering. It was just coffee, I told myself. Nothing big.
The next day, I arrived at Bean Street Cafe, a cozy spot with wooden tables and the smell of fresh coffee. I wore a simple sweater and jeans, and my hair was tied back. Dimitri was already there, at a corner table, waving me over. “Hey, Val,” he said, standing. “You look nice.”
“Thanks,” I said, sitting across from him. “You too.” He wore a jacket and a smile that felt familiar, stirring memories of our better days.
We ordered coffee, black for him, a latte for me. “So,” he started, stirring his drink. “How’s Clawford? Big deal with Helix, right?”
“Yeah,” I said, sipping my coffee. “Sensor project’s keeping us busy. You still in logistics?”
He nodded. “New firm downtown. It’s good, keeps me on my toes. But enough about work. How’s life? Rosanna doing okay?”
“She’s home with me,” I said. “Getting stronger. It’s nice having her around.”
“That’s great,” he said, his smile softening. “Listen, Val, I owe you an apology. Back when we were married, I was young, dumb. I didn’t handle things right. I’m sorry.”
His words caught me off guard. “Thanks,” I said, looking at my cup. “It was tough for both of us. Galden mess didn’t help.”
“No,” he said, leaning forward. “But I could’ve been better. I’ve thought about you a lot since then.”
I nodded, unsure of what to say. The conversation shifted, and we talked about lighter things like movies, his new apartment, and my community center work. It flowed easily, like we’d never stopped talking. “You still make that spicy chili?” he asked, grinning.
“Sometimes,” I laughed. “Nana loves it. You still burn toast?”
“Guilty,” he said, and we both laughed, easing the tension. As we finished our coffee, he leaned back. “This was nice, Val. Want to grab dinner sometime? No pressure, just to talk more.”
I hesitated, but his smile felt real, and I was curious. “Sure,” I said. “When?”
“Friday, 7 p.m.? Mario’s downtown?” he suggested.
“Works for me,” I said, standing. “See you then.”
Friday night, I met him at Mario’s, a small restaurant with warm lights and checkered tablecloths. I wore a simple dress, my nerves buzzing. Dimitri greeted me with a hug. “You look great,” he said, pulling out my chair.
“Thanks,” I said, sitting. We ordered pasta and wine, and the night flowed with stories. “Remember that time we got lost on that road trip?” he said, laughing. “You read the map upside down.”
“You didn’t help,” I teased, sipping my wine. “Kept saying you knew the way.” We laughed, sharing old memories—good ones, from before the fights. He told me about his dad at Willow Creek, how he was settling in. I shared stories about Nana, her stubborn streak. It felt good, like reconnecting with a friend.
As we finished dessert, he paid the bill and walked me outside. The air was cool, and we stood by my car. “I had fun,” he said, his hand brushing mine. “Really good to see you, Val.”
“Me too,” I said, my heart racing. He leaned in, his hand gentle on my cheek, and kissed me. It was soft and slow, but it sent a spark through me. I kissed him back, surprised at how right it felt.
“See you soon?” he asked, stepping back.
“Yeah,” I said, smiling. “Text me.” I drove home, my mind spinning. The kiss was unexpected. It was stirring feelings I hadn’t felt in years. Could there be something new with Dimitri? Our marriage failed, but maybe we’d both changed. At home, I slipped off my shoes, still smiling. Nana was asleep, and I didn’t wake her. I lay in bed, wondering if this was a fresh start or just a moment. Either way, it felt like a possibility, something new to explore.