By the time Mama Cruz returned from work, she was already frantic. Kane's announcement that Valerie wasn't home nearly drove her over the edge.
Kane immediately headed to their usual playground to look for her. He found the children huddled over their iPads, absorbed in their games but Valerie was nowhere in sight.
"Where is Valerie?" he demanded.
"She left with a woman she said was her mother," one of the boys replied. He blew his nose directly into his hand and wiped it across his shirt.
"Disgusting," Kane muttered through clenched teeth as he snatched the iPad from the boy before he could smear mucus on it.
"Alright, go on," he said, waving him back toward the other children.
Meanwhile, Mama Cruz paced restlessly, going back and forth in distress. Her phone suddenly rang from inside her bag, and she snatched it up immediately.
"What? She's opposite HAG's Company right now? What is she doing there?" She fired off questions rapidly, but the caller offered no answers.
"I'll be there right away. Don't let her out of your sight," she insisted, her eyes widening in alarm.
Moments later, she returned to the company in a hired car. After paying the driver, she hurried into the ice cream shop.
Valerie ran straight into her arms the moment she saw her.
"Don't cry, Valerie. You just scared me, that's all," Mama Cruz whispered, brushing the girl's hair back.
The ice cream seller explained everything Valerie had told him. Just as they stepped out to stop a car, Ivan who was on his way home pulled up beside them and honked for them to get in.
Ivan's jaw dropped when he heard the news.
"So you're saying her ghost mother told her she belongs at HAG?" he asked, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel as he drove.
"This is very strange… let's just hope for the best," Mama Cruz murmured, gently stroking Valerie's lap as the little girl slept soundly. When Ivan dropped them off, Mama Cruz went straight to the kitchen to prepare supper for the family.
"Ivan, dinner is ready. Eat before you go," she said firmly. She scrunched her face into a familiar grimace one that reminded him too much of his own mother.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't come up with an excuse to wiggle out of it. Defeated, he nodded and followed her inside.
The next day, neither Mama Cruz could go to work nor Kane to school. Valerie was shivering uncontrollably from head to toe.
She was sweating so much that every blanket Mama Cruz laid on her became soaked within minutes.
"Kane, bring the warm water on the table. And get the porridge too. Call Ivan and tell him I can't make it today, so he should check the paperwork in my drawer," she ordered.
"Easy, Mom… I can't do all that at once," Kane snapped back.
"Don't you dare raise your voice at me."
Kane rolled his eyes silently.
"If you don't smarten up, I'll pluck those rolling eyes out and use them as marbles," she warned.
"Whatever, Mom." He sent her the things she needed and slipped outside.
It was a warm, golden afternoon, sunlight pouring through the window of Hansen's room. A few scattered magazines lay across his table, forgotten the moment she stepped inside.
"Hii… I've been looking for you everywhere," Sunshine said softly, leaning on the doorframe. "I thought you might have gone out with Lucas."
"No… I didn't," Hansen replied. His voice was calm, but the moment his eyes landed on her, a warm rush of nervousness moved through him. He ran a hand through his hair, suddenly too aware of how close she was.
Sunshine walked toward him, her smile gentle, the kind that always made his pulse trip.
"What's going on with you?" she teased lightly, brushing a bit of lint off his shirt.
He didn't answer with words. Instead, he simply looked into her eyes, then down, then back up, a silent confession of how badly he wanted her near.
Understanding him without needing an explanation, she sat beside him on the bed. Their fingers brushed, sending a spark through both of them. Hansen leaned closer, his breath warm against her cheek.
Sunshine cupped his face, her thumb brushing his jaw. "You always look at me like I'm the only thing you see," she whispered.
"Because you are," he murmured, his voice low and honest.
He leaned in, capturing her lips with his. The kiss was slow, deep and filled with all the longing they had been holding back. Her hands slid around his neck as he pulled her closer, their bodies melting together.
When he gently lowered her back onto the bed, his touch remained soft and reverent, like she was something precious. Sunshine smiled against his lips.
"Hansen…" she breathed, her heart thundering as he trailed warm kisses along her skin. He held her as though he couldn't bear to let go, every movement tender, every sigh shared.
But just as the moment deepened, his phone vibrated loudly beside them.
He groaned into her shoulder. "Not now…" he whispered, burying his face in her neck as if willing the world to disappear.
Sunshine laughed softly, pulling him closer. "Ignore it."
"I was planning to," he murmured, kissing her again.
Hansen rested his forehead against hers, his breath still unsteady from the closeness they'd shared. Sunshine gently ran her fingers through his hair, feeling him relax beneath her touch.
"Who keeps calling you?" she asked quietly.
"No one important," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Right now… you're the only thing I want to pay attention to."
Sunshine felt warmth spread through her chest. Hansen wasn't usually this open, this unguarded. His voice, deep and sincere, wrapped around her like a warm blanket.
He lay beside her, pulling her into his arms. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
"You know," he said softly, "every time you walk into a room… it feels like the whole place brightens."
She smiled against him. "You're being sweet again."
"I'm being honest." He tilted her chin up, making her meet his eyes. "You have no idea what you do to me."
Sunshine felt her breath hitch just from the way he looked at her with full of affection, warmth, and something deeper that made her heart flutter.
She traced slow circles on his chest. "You always know how to make me melt."
"That's because you make it easy," he whispered, brushing his lips lightly against her forehead.
The phone buzzed once more, persistent. Hansen sighed, reaching over just long enough to silence it completely before tossing it aside.
Sunshine laughed softly. "You really don't want to answer?"
"Not when I have something much more important in my arms." He tightened his hold around her and kissed her temple. "Let the world wait."
She buried her face in his shirt, inhaling the familiar scent of him, feeling completely safe, completely wanted.
"Hansen?" she murmured.
"Mm?"
"I've never seen you like this before."
He smiled, a shy, tender smile that only she ever got to see. "That's because no one else makes me feel the way you do."
Sunshine felt her heart flip, warmth spreading through her entire body as he held her closer, as if he never intended to let go.
The call came in continiously "Hansen, answer the call," Sunshine whispered against his shoulder. "I'll still be here when you're done."
He hesitated, brushing his thumb along her cheek. "You sure?"
"Yes," she smiled softly. "I promise."
Reluctantly, he reached for the phone.
"What? Is it urgent?" Hansen asked, trying to steady his voice.
"Yes. Very," came the response.
Hansen closed his eyes in frustration. "Alright… I'll be there soon."
When he hung up, he pressed his forehead gently to Sunshine's. Even though the interruption had broken the moment, the warmth between them lingered soft breaths, tangled limbs, and a closeness neither wanted to release.
"I'm sorry," he murmured into her hair. "I didn't want to leave you."
She cupped his face. "It's okay. Go. You'll come back to me later."
He gave a small, helpless laugh. "You make it very hard to walk away."
Sunshine kissed him lightly, a slow, lingering kiss that made his breath catch.
"Now go," she said with a playful push to his chest. "Before you change your mind."
He stood, still reluctant, still looking back at her as if memorizing the way she looked in that moment. Before leaving, he smiled a slow, mischievous smile only she got to see.
"I'll be back," he whispered, and slipped out the door.
A few minutes after he left, Sunshine returned to the room to tidy up. She was folding a blanket when she heard a knock.
The door opened before she could even answer.
Ciara peeked inside with a bright grin. "Hey, sister-in-law! Haven't seen you all day." She tossed her handbag onto the table and gave Sunshine a tight hug.
"It wasn't long ago your brother left for work," Sunshine explained.
"At this hour?" Ciara checked her watch.
"He said it was urgent."
Ciara rolled her eyes dramatically. "Sunshine, you shouldn't have let him go. He'd still be here cuddling you by now!"
"You're too much," Sunshine laughed, shaking her head.
"I know my brother," Ciara said, puckering her lips teasingly.
"Enough mocking," Sunshine warned playfully, tapping her shoulder.
Ciara only giggled, leaning closer. "Fine. But just know when he comes back, I expect a full update." She teased.