“You’re welcome. And I enjoyed our chat.”
She climbed the stairs, dressed for bed, and fell asleep to the sound of the wind singing through the snow-covered hemlocks.
When Valerie woke the next morning, she decided she would ask Blaine if he could offer Jeremy a regular job at Wilderness Lodge when the tourists returned. But when she walked into the kitchen and saw him and Maud eating breakfast alone, she knew. A brief glance at the sofa in the living room confirmed it. Jeremy had left.
“Did he say goodbye?” she asked.
Blaine shook his head. “That’s not really his style.”
“You’re sure he didn’t go hunting again?” She was surprised by how bereft she felt.
“His boots are gone, and the gun’s still here. I don’t expect we’ll see him again. Maybe not even until the spring thaw.”
Valerie was on the verge of tears. “But where will he go? Back to his parents’ house? They don’t treat him well. You know that, don’t you?”
“We do. Maybe that’s why he never likes to stay in one place for long. He has a hard time getting comfortable and settling in. He doesn’t trust happiness, I suppose.”
“If only he could meet a nice girl and settle down,” Maud said. “I feel like that could be the making of him.”
Valerie moved to serve herself some breakfast and wondered if Maud was suggesting thatshemight be that person—that she and Jeremy could somehow build a life together.
After pouring a glass of apple juice, she sat down at the table. It was a lovely thought but simply not possible. Jeremy was in love with Angie, and no matter how hard Valerie tried to tell herself she was over Drew, she wasn’t sure she ever would be. She still dreamed of him, and every love song she wrote was about her love for him. Or the loss of him.
CHAPTER 18
Valdez
1964
Valerie stood at the end of the dock and watched wispy clouds float across the sky. It was nearly the end of March—a glorious time of year in Alaska, for it brought the return of the light. The sun rose at seven thirty, and dusk held off until nine o’clock at night. The extra hours of sunshine melted the snow, and enormous drifts were shrinking. Pleasure boats headed out for the first time since the fall. Soon, Wilderness Lodge would be open for the summer season, and by then Valerie would have delivered her baby. She would eventually be able to work evenings in the dining room and begin to navigate this new life.
Closing her eyes, she listened for the music of Valdez—waves lapping up against the rocks along the shoreline, a spring breeze whispering through the hemlocks, and the forest dripping constantly after a heavy spring rain.
Footsteps thumped on the wooden planks of the dock behind her. She turned and saw Blaine approaching, his hands in the pockets of his navy-blue parka.
“Beautiful morning,” he said. “How would you like to take a ride into town with me and visit Angie?”
Valerie no longer felt that she was in hiding. She had decided weeks ago that she was here to stay. Soon, she would get to know the people of Valdez, and they would get to know her and her baby.
Her heart quickened with excitement. “Did she call?”
“Yes,” Blaine replied. “She’s home from the hospital and wants to introduce you to her little one. She asked if you could come by for lunch today.”
Valerie was very near to her own due date and eager to talk to Angie about her labor and delivery.
“I’d love that. You won’t mind driving me?”
“I have errands to run, which should take an hour or so. I’ll drop you off and pick you up afterward.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Valerie said. “I’ll get ready now.”
“His name is Ethan.”
Angie carefully passed her tiny newborn to Valerie, whose heart melted with love and anticipation for the moment when she would hold her own baby, just like this. “He’s so precious.” She tucked the blanket around him snugly.
“Isn’t he? I can’t believe how much I love him. I never imagined how strong the feelings would be. I’m completely infatuated.”
Valerie swayed and bobbed at the knees, knowing instinctively how to soothe little Ethan when he fussed. “Aren’t you a special little boy,” she cooed. “So handsome. And smart. I can tell. You must take after your brilliant mommy.”
