Chapter 13 The Move pt 1

The car ride to Zora’s place is quieter that the drive downtown had been. Val sits in the back beside her, the thermal bag resting between them, his hand finding hers as the city blurs past. Va states looking at his watch The movers should already be there. Marco sent them over an hour ago. To get started on the bigger stuff they weren’t going to pack anything without instructions. He squeezes her fingers gently, testing the waters of trust-no suffocation, just presence. There’s warmth in his voice as he says Your electrical harem drawer is still packed by you, yeah? Nothing else matters if we forget that. His earlier panic is replaced by something almost playful mentioning the drawer with a smile. Enzo’s head rests on her lap as the car pulls up to her modest home. Three moving truck line the street. Workers carry boxes with efficient precision into the house-Marco’s doing, clearly orchestrated down to the minute.

Please be careful with the antiques Zora states as she walks up watching the men starting to remove them. I refurbished them myself and the same with my shop don’t mix screw up with bolts ect. Label everything lie it already is on the shelves. I am a very organized person and expect it to arrive that way please. Zora’s shop and office is where her heart is so she is a bit concerned as she looks at the movers. She makes it clear to them she know what she’s talking about by saying. I used to be a mover and a warehouse manager for Mayflower so don’t think I don’t know what is going on and appreciate a great move thanks guys. She then walks away to go get the important paperwork, photos, her chest and the drawer cleaned out. Va; watches her command the movers with the authority of someone who’s lived the work. The Mayflower reference lands-these men straighten up, respect flickering across their faces. She knows their game. He stays back, letting her reclaim her space. This is her heart they're moving, and she needs to guard it herself. He walks over to Marco and asks how’s it going. What’s the space really like I’ve only seen from a distance.

Marco continues to look down at the check list until Val asks him about the space. He then looks at him and reply's lived in clean but not obsessively so, organized but not OCD, but you can tell she had too much time on her hands noone sharing her life so she filled up the time with projects. Marco says the last part with a hint of sadness for he can relate to the woman's lifestyle completely and respects how she channeled her pain well. Val simply nods in understanding as he watches the men work around him and Enzo follows Val as he drifts toward the shop, observing how carefully the refurbished antiques are being wrapped. Hand-labeled shelves. Years of meticulous work. He understands ow why she was concerned-this isn’t just stuff. It’s proof of her hands, her skill, her survival. When Zora disappears upstairs for the paperwork and the drawer, Val leans against the door-frame, phone already buzzing with logistics. The helicopter waits on standby. But he doesn’t rush her.

He watches Zora bringing things downstairs when she asks is there is room for her chest in the car for it is fairly big yet very important to me, and it’s too heavy for me to lift by myself. He also noticed that she is not happy about the fact that she can’t lift it by herself as if this was something she could do before and can’t now, as her age and body are starting to move against her and it’s pissing her off. He sees this immediately-the flash of frustration that crosses her face when she realizes the chest won’t budge. He watches her shoulders tense, haw clench. Not at the chest at herself. He moves without another word crossing the room in steady strides and says let me, there’s room we’ll get it in the trunk if not Marco will follow us to the helicopter I his truck don’t worry it comes. He reassure her saying nothing about her struggle knowing it would only add salt to the wound. His hands grip the wooden sides, muscles flexing as he lifts it easily. But he doesn’t make it look easy-no grunt, no display, and no overwhelming I am still young motions, competence. Enzo settles nearby, sensing hr irritation isn’t directed at him.

After moving the chest downstairs he says no running remember… your body’s not betraying you, tesoro, You’re fifty-five and moving a life, that’s strength not weakness. He sets the chest down carefully in the ruck, then turns back as she looks at him and sees a solitary tear roll down her cheek for that’s not how it feels she feels weak and that is unacceptable to her. He sees that single tear tracking down her cheek-and understands. This isn’t about the chest. He closes the distance between the, his hand reaching up to catch the tear with his thumb before it falls further. You know what I see? A woman who has spent 19 years clean, who rebuilt her life from nothing. Who’s about to walk into a farmhouse and build something real with me. That’s not weak Zora, Your body’s changing, Mine will too. We do it together, always. Enzo watches as Val’s other hand finds the small of her back. He doesn’t offer empty reassurance-just presence, and the weight of someone choosing to stay. She shakes her head and smiles softly and says Thank you it’s ok now let’s go I’m ready.

Val nods, releasing her gently. He signals to the movers they are now leaving they will finish it up by days end. He is sure of the operations moving with practice precision and that the last of Zora’s life with fit into those trucks. Her shop, her office, her crafts and antiques all of her heart and should in tangible form-all of it heading toward the estate where it will become theirs. He things about his belonging and there’s nothing not one single thing that he cherishes that’s the difference between them and he wants that something to matter. He guides her towards the car, Enzo already settle in the back seat. The morning sun climbs higher, indifferent to the weight of transitions. Val takes her hand in his and looks at her then says Here we go are you ready forty minutes to the helipad? Its not really a question more of a declaration she just nods then suddenly she remembers My bike will it be crated or is Marco going to ride it? She asks with a bit of hesitation in her voice and Val’s expression shifts-a flash of something like amusement mixed with realization. He pulls out his phone, scrolling through Marco’s logistics report and says the bike of course, it’s crated in the third truck. Marco though you’d want it at the estate intact, ready to ride whenever you need to feel that freedom again. But if you want him to ride it there instead, I can call him. He’s capable enough on two wheels. What do you want to do with it it’s your call?

He glances at her waiting for her response as Enzo’s ears perk up at the word “bike’-he’s learned that word means Zora’s happy. She looks at his eyebrows furrowed capable enough those words hit very differently that he realized and she says Oh Hell no it stays back the “Capable Enough” my ass. He not touching my baby. She says point of fact. Val’s laugh comes out sharp and genuine-the kind that catches him off guard. Capable enough, Yeah, I walked right into that one. He types quickly into his phone, fingers moving with purpose...Marco keeps his hand off the bike. It stays crated, goes straight to the estate garage untouched. Your machine, your rules, I’m learning. He pockets the phone and settle back, that small smile still playing at his mouth. And she elbows him in the ribs playfully and says What are you laughing at silly boy its important and he says yeah I understand fully and I won’t mess that up. she grins and sits back satisfied that her baby is safe.

The car pulls smoothly into traffic, heading toward the helipad. Enzo shifts between them, content. Outside, the city gives way to highways and open sky. He takes her hand in his and says thirty minutes out. Her heart starts beating faster that she could imagine she has never been in a helicopter before but she’s embarrassed to admit it. She starts bounding with excitement and in order to calm herself down she says let’s eat then and reaches for the bag. Val catches the bounce in her movements-the way her fingers drum against her thigh, the brightness I her eyes. He knows exactly what that is, and he comments Smart move love. He signals the driver, who pulls into a quiet overlook with a view of the city sprawling below. The thermal bag comes out, Antonella’s Panini wrapped with care as he hands it over to her and says Here you go this is a better place to eat then while driving I though we could take the few minutes. Val handed her the first one, watching as she settles onto the hood of the car while she lets Enzo pee he of course begs for a piece of prosciutto. He stands next to her leaning against the side of the car and says The helicopter’s loud, intense, but you’ll love it once we’re up. He takes a bit of his own sandwich, casual, unbothered-giving her space to breathe without making a thing of her first flight. Eat, then we fly. She takes another bite and says I love flying I guess you figured it out that I haven’t been in a helicopter before… I am excited not scared. She says with glee.

Val’s entire demeanor shifts. He leans back, watching her with fresh eyes-not concern, but genuine delight. He takes another bite of Panini, at ease and says you’re electric right now, I should’ve known a woman who rides a motorcycle doesn’t get nervous about heights. She giggles shaking her head no as Enzo settles between them as the city glitters below, Impervious to their moment as Val says finish eating, we’ve got about fifteen minutes before we arrive at the pad. The climb back into the car with excitement ow Val’s hand find hers on the seat, squeezing gently-not to calm her, but to share in it, to be a part of her excitement, her electricity. He tells her Wait until you see the farmhouse from above, fifty acres of green. That’s your too now. She looks over at him in shock and says Hmmm Wow that’s a statement… I don’t know how to process all of this 3 days ago I didn’t even know you...and now were taking off and moving in together.... Oh shit I forgot about work I am supposed to go back to work tomorrow. She looks down eyebrows pressed truly torn on what the next move should be.... then she says maybe I should take a leave of absence for a while until we together I mean figure out what all of this means and how it is all going to work, what do you think?

Val’s dark eyes studding her face thinking about the three days and he now it’s impossible, incomprehensible-the speed of it all. So he leans back and considers thoughtfully and says A leave of absence makes sense gives us the time we should take to consider everything. Yet still gives you the security of still having a job to return to if you want to leave. He says that last part out of pure logic not what he wants.