“You mean you all will see us tonight at dinner,” I reminded him.
This was precisely the reason I couldn’t remember why I had agreed to this trip in the first place, but then again, I did. I was in Rio de Janeiro with my child. Who would turn down an opportunity like this? Not I, for sure!
There was a tentative pause on the line before Stenton exhaled, “Yeah…us.”
“No sweat,” I chuckled. “We’ll see you there!”
“You guys are still sightseeing for much of the day?”
“Yeeeeah, boeeee! I got my Niko ready! We’re going in!” I exclaimed.
There was another pause.
“Stenton, you there?”
“Yeah. Just have a good time and bring my little knucklehead back in one piece.”
“I always do.” I couldn’t fight my face-splitting grin.
I was in Rio de Janeiro with my favorite little guy!
After that call, I skipped back into the house and got Jordan dressed and fed. We had room service and twenty-four hour concierge provision, which was great, because I didn’t have to cook. After eating, the car Srey arranged for us was waiting in the entry area of the resort. Jordan and I spent nearly the entire day exploring, including taking that cog-train to visit the Cristo Redentor and the Two Brothers Mountain.
I was in awe at the sight of the Cristo Redentor monument. It was absolutely breathtaking. It meant even more than it originally had before Stenton promised to bring me here, years ago when Jordan was four months old. This representation of Christ and Stenton’s passionate declaration to me all made true in this moment. I felt the warm tears fall onto my cheeks. A stranger asked if I wanted a picture taken. It could have been an act of mild flirtation, but I took the opportunity. I had Jordan stay in place near me while I stood on a barricade and paid homage to the Art Deco statue. It was a beautiful moment. The only thing that could have made it perfect was if he was here with us.
We returned to our villa without much time to spare. I knew I was pushing it. Though he slept on our way back to the resort, Jordan hadn’t had an official nap. There was nothing I could do considering there was only forty-five minutes before we had to meet for dinner. I dressed Jordan and then I tossed on a long, fitted, white tank dress. Before JR could rest his little legs, I had him out the door and on our five-minute Copacabana Beach walk to the restaurant. I couldn’t help ogling the Sugarloaf Mountain in the distance. I was completely stoked.
When we arrived, I gave the host our names. Immediately, we were escorted to the table where our company awaited us. I saw an expression on his face first. One that I didn’t know how to read. We were only five minutes behind, but for some reason I’d been able to sense Stenton’s angst. He stood from the table to receive us as soon as we entered his periphery. I saw without a doubt when Stenton’s jaw dropped as he gave me a once-over. I’d also caught how his mouth quickly shut. I had no idea how to read that. Stenton and I hadn’t been intimate in almost a year, before Erika’s faulty pregnancy scandal.
Trying to ignore that quick slip of mask Stenton gave, my eyes immediately went to the other table dwellers. Stenton grabbed a squealing Jordan when we reached the table.
“Daddy!” Jordan nearly leaped into his father’s waiting arms. “We made it!”
“JR, good to see you, man,” Stenton’s baritone couldn’t conceal his excitement.
Stenton’s long arm and sandalwood fragrance reached out to enfold me. I could still get lost in both. I tried not to let my hand linger too long around him even after he kissed the top of my head. I backed away to admire Jordan’s delight at being with his dad.
Then she stood.
“Jenna, this is Zoey, Jordan’s mother.” Stenton then turned to me. “Zo, this is my girlfriend, Jenna.”