Page 62 of Chasing the Horizon

It boggled Valerie’s mind. “Dad did that? Our dad?”

Bethany nodded. “I heard it from Dr. Benson’s husband’s secretary,” she said. “So it’s definitely gossip-gossip. But it sounds real to me. Dad has made huge strides since he started seeing Dr. Gallagher.”

Valerie’s ears rang. “When did he start seeing him?”

“It must have been around the time Kade came to live with them,” Bethany said. “I think it’s been good for them. I think they’re being more honest with each other, if only because they have a kid at home to take care of. I think they feel like Kade is their second chance.”

Valerie blinked back tears, watching as Kade ran around with Bethany and Rebecca’s children. Initially, she’d thought he looked like Joel. But recently, he’d had a growth spurt that made him look different, lankier. He was blonder than Joel had ever been and far less silly. He wasn’t their brother. Their brother wasn’t coming back. But Kade needed the Suttons right now.

Alex came over with a plate for Valerie and urged her to eat up. “I can take him,” he said of August, but Valerie was resistant to hand him away.

“I’m not hungry,” she said.

Alex kissed the top of her head. “You need your strength, Val.”

Valerie knew he was right. So, as quickly as she could, she ate a burger and some potato salad. Feeling energized and wide awake, she walked back over to August’s crib and picked him up. It wasn’t the first time she’d been on her feet, of course, but she felt spry and easy and frankly beautiful, with the summer breeze through her hair and her baby in her arms. He cooed gently and turned into her. Her heart broke with love.

Suddenly, familiar voices rang out from the back porch. Valerie turned to find—to her surprise—Catherine Marrow with her baby, Esme, strapped to her chest. Unlike last December, she looked happy and plump and free, her smile bigger than Valerie had ever seen it.

Valerie’s mother was doting on baby Esme, touching her hand and introducing herself as, “The other Esme.”

Catherine laughed. “It’s so good to see you again. Thanks for letting me know about your little party! Where’s Val?”

Esme, the mother, turned to see that Valerie wasn’t in her wheelchair. Valerie returned to it, feeling dutiful, wanting to keep herself and August safe. She raised a hand to Catherine, who approached to say hello.

“Valerie! I can’t tell you how good it is to see you,” Catherine said, drawing a chair up beside Valerie’s wheelchair. “I’ve been praying so hard for you and the baby.”

Valerie thanked Catherine. As Catherine spoke, moving her hands around and gesturing, Valerie realized she was no longer wearing a wedding ring.

Valerie decided to ask Catherine about it. What did she have to lose?

“Oh, gosh. Yes, we’re getting divorced,” Catherine said, smiling in a way that suggested she didn’t care at all. (Valerie didn’t fully buy that.) “But like I said before, Max is fully involved in Esme’s life. We have a great parenting schedule, and his new apartment is completely babyproof. It’s been fantastic.He’s not dating anyone seriously right now, which makes things easier. I’m sure that will change down the road for both of us.”

“Wow.” Valerie touched Esme’s flyaway curls and smiled. She was truly adorable, with seemingly none of Max’s looks. Not yet, anyway.

“But Valerie,” Catherine continued, narrowing her eyes, “I wanted to tell you something. Something that happened last December. Max only just told me a week or so ago. You remember how he came over the day after the baby shower? How he regretted leaving?”

Valerie nodded. She remembered that fateful day, the snow swirling out the window of the brownstone. She remembered her father’s wild ravings on the radio. She remembered how he’d yelled at her, and how, after that, she’d needed space. So much space.

“Apparently, your dad was at the bar the night before,” Catherine said, arching her eyebrow. “Apparently, it was because of something your dad said that Max reconsidered.”

Valerie’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding.”

Catherine said she wasn’t, that whatever it was Victor had said to Max had forced Max to reckon with his actions, with the fact of his approaching fatherhood status and how cruel he’d been.

“I mean, everyone knows your dad’s history,” Catherine continued, her eyes to the ground. “I can’t help but think he’s trying to pass on everything he’s learned along the way. He doesn’t want anyone to make the same mistakes he did.”

Valerie’s heart hammered.

“And because of that?” Catherine continued, her voice breaking, “Esme will have a father.”

Catherine said she wanted to thank Victor before she left. Valerie scanned the party, looking for him. Since she’d woken up from the coma, she’d hugged her father and seen him holdingbaby August, but she’d hardly spoken to him. There was too much love and gratitude; there was too much surprise at having woken up.

But there was a great deal left for them to say to one another.

Valerie knew better than to wait.

Later that evening, Esme helped the grandkids build a bonfire and pulled out the marshmallows and s’more equipment for a round of dessert. Valerie sat on the porch with August, watching as the kids swarmed, eating melted marshmallows and chocolate. For some reason, someone was setting off fireworks in the distance, and they exploded in turquoise, purple, and pink in the night sky. The noise didn’t wake August up, thankfully. He remained soft and easy in her arms.

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