The next day, Amara woke to the sound of her phone ringing. She groggily picked it up and saw that it was an unknown number. Careful not to wake her son Vaughn, who was still asleep beside her, she quietly slipped out of bed and walked to the balcony. She answered the call, asking, “Who’s this?”
A masculine voice responded, “Hey Amara, good morning. It’s Josh.”
Amara frowned, still trying to place the name. “Josh? Who?”
“Josh Allister, Amara. Rosie’s boyfriend.”
Amara corrected him, “Ex-boyfriend.”
She heard a sigh on the other end of the line. “Amara, can you do me a favor, please?”
“What favor?” she asked, wary of what he might request.
“Rosie isn’t picking up my calls or responding to my texts. Can you help me arrange a meeting with her?”
Amara sighed. “I told her your side of the story. If she still doesn’t want to see you, maybe it’s time to give up.”
“No way, Amara. I am not giving up on her. She is the love of my life. I can’t give up on my life.”
Amara’s eyes softened at his words. “Fine, I will try, but there’s no guarantee.”
Josh’s voice was filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Amara. That’s all I ask.”
After ending the call, Amara stood on the balcony for a moment, staring out at the sunrise. The sky was painted with hues of pink and orange, a stark contrast to the turmoil she felt inside. Rosie was her best friend, and she had seen how much the breakup had affected her. Yet, she also knew how deeply Josh cared for Rosie. It was a complicated situation, and she felt torn between the two.
Returning to the bedroom, she looked at Vaughn, still peacefully asleep. His little face was serene, unaware of the complexities of adult relationships. She gently brushed a strand of hair from his forehead and kissed him softly. It was moments like these that made all the struggles worth it.
Determined to keep her promise to Josh, Amara decided to call Rosie later in the day. For now, she had to focus on getting Vaughn ready for school. She gently shook him awake. “Good morning, sweetheart. Time to get up.”
Vaughn groaned and rolled over, clutching his pillow tighter. “Just five more minutes, Mommy,” he mumbled.
Amara chuckled. “Alright, five more minutes. But then we need to get ready.”
She left Vaughn to his extra few minutes of sleep and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. As she cracked eggs into a pan, her mind drifted back to Josh and Rosie. She wondered how Rosie would react to her request. Would she be angry? Hurt? Or maybe, just maybe, she would be willing to listen.
After a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast, Amara managed to coax Vaughn out of bed and into his school uniform. The morning sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over their small, cozy apartment. As Vaughn finished his cereal, Amara bustled around, packing his backpack with his books and making sure he had everything he needed for the day ahead.
“Mommy, can I take my new dinosaur book to school?” Vaughn asked eagerly, holding up a colorful picture book that he had received as a birthday gift from his grandmother.
Amara smiled, ruffling his hair affectionately. “Of course, sweetheart. It can be your show-and-tell item today.”
Vaughn beamed, clutching the book to his chest. “Yay! Thanks, Mommy.”
With Vaughn’s excitement contagious, Amara felt a surge of happiness.
“Alright, let’s get your shoes on,” she said, kneeling down to help him with his sneakers.
As they finished getting ready, Amara glanced at the clock and realized they were running a bit late. Grabbing her keys and Vaughn’s hand, they hurried downstairs.
At the foot of the stairs, Lucas was waiting for them.
“Hey, Lucas,” Amara greeted warmly as they approached.
Lucas nodded, his expression serious yet friendly. “Morning Miss, Vaughn.”
“Morning, Lucas!” Vaughn chirped, waving enthusiastically.
Lucas smiled faintly, his eyes scanning their surroundings with a practiced vigilance. “Ready to go?”
“Yep! I’m taking my dinosaur book to show everyone,” Vaughn declared proudly, holding up his book.
As Vaughn left to school with Lucas, Amara headed back to her room, her thoughts returning to Josh’s request. She decided to text Rosie, hoping to gauge her mood before bringing up Josh.
“Hey Rosie, how are you doing today?” she typed and hit send.
It didn’t take long for a response to come through. “Hey Amara, I’m okay. Just trying to keep busy. How about you?”
Amara took a deep breath before replying. “I’m good, thanks. I wanted to talk to you about something. Can we meet for coffee later?”
There was a brief pause before Rosie responded. “Sure, I could use a break. How about that little cafe near the park at 2 PM?”
“Perfect. See you then,” Amara replied.
At the Falcone residence, the atmosphere was tense. Kyle, Rowan’s assistant, had been summoned by Rowan’s grandparents, Antonio and Sophia, for a private meeting. His parents, Marco and Isabelle, were also present. Rowan and Harvey were out on business, leaving Kyle to face the formidable family alone.
Kyle walked into the room, his expression calm and composed. As he approached, Antonio gestured for him to take a seat.
“Thank you for coming, Kyle,” Antonio began, his voice steady and authoritative. “We have a few questions regarding a certain guest at the party last night.”
Kyle nodded, “Of course, Mr. Falcone. I’m here to help in any way I can.”
Sophia leaned forward, her eyes sharp and inquisitive. “This young woman, Amara, who was she? She seemed to know both Rowan and Harvey quite well.”
Kyle maintained his composure, “She’s an acquaintance of theirs, ma’am. They met her through mutual friends.”
Isabelle, who had been silently observing, interjected, “Mutual friends? That’s rather vague, don’t you think? We need more specifics.”
Kyle glanced at her, his expression unwavering. “I’m afraid I can’t provide more details without Rowan or Harvey present to give their consent. It’s a matter of privacy and trust.”
Marco, who had been listening intently, spoke up, “We’re not asking for state secrets, Kyle. Just some basic information. What does she do? Where is she from?”
Kyle met Marco’s gaze, “I understand your concerns, Mr. Falcone. However, I must respect the privacy of our guest. Rowan and Harvey trust me to handle such matters discreetly.”
Sophia’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Discretion is all well and good, but we have a right to know who is being invited into our home, especially when it concerns our grandchildren.”
Kyle nodded, acknowledging her point. “I assure you, Mrs. Falcone, Amara is not a threat. She was invited because she has proven to be a trustworthy individual.”
Antonio sighed, leaning back in his chair, “Kyle, we’re not questioning your judgment. But this family has enemies, and we need to be cautious. How can we be sure she isn’t linked to any of them?”
Kyle took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. “Amara’s presence here is purely social. She has no ties to any of the Falcone family’s adversaries. If she did, Rowan and Harvey would never have brought her into this environment.”
Isabelle’s eyes flashed with impatience, “You’re being evasive, Kyle. We need specifics. What does she do for a living? Where is she from? What is her connection to our family?”
Kyle remained calm, his voice steady. “I apologize for any frustration, Mrs. Falcone. As I mentioned, Amara’s details are confidential, but I assure you, she is a reputable person. If you wish for more specific information, I recommend speaking directly with Rowan and Harvey.”
Marco leaned forward, his expression stern. “We expected more cooperation from you, Kyle. You’re part of this family, even if not by blood. We need to ensure our safety and the safety of our home.”
Kyle met Marco’s gaze steadily, “I understand, sir. But my loyalty is to Rowan and Harvey. They trust me to handle such matters, and I intend to honor that trust. I believe they will answer any questions you have upon their return.”
Sophia sighed, sensing that pushing further would be futile. “Very well, Kyle. We will wait for Rowan and Harvey. But understand this: we expect full transparency from them when it comes to the safety of this family.”