Angie sat back. “Are you okay? I remember how hopeful you were.”
With a sigh of resignation, Valerie dropped her gaze to her lap. “I try to forget about him. But then at night I dream about him coming here and being a father to our child. It’s difficult.” Valerie fought to control her emotions. “I had to force myself to stop living for the mail delivery and just get on with my life, get through each day without feeling like someone died. Blaine and Maud have been wonderful. They’re like a new set of parents. I love them, and I couldn’t have gotten through any of this without them.”
“They’re good people,” Angie replied.
“Yes, and they told me that after I have my baby, I can stay on and work at the lodge. Maud is willing to babysit in the evenings.”
“That sounds ideal,” Angie said. “But how do you feel about that? Your father won’t be pleased.”
“No, but I’m a grown woman. I can make my own decisions. Besides, he’s not here. He can’t force me to give up my baby.”
“Have you spoken to him at all?”
“No. I think he’s pretending I don’t exist until I come home with all of this behind me, as if it never happened. I can see it now. He’ll pick me up at the airport, and we won’t speak a word about it. Ever.”
Angie squeezed Valerie’s hand.
A sense of calm settled over Valerie. “So there it is. Decision made. I’m going to keep my baby. There’s no way in the world I could give him up—or her—especially after holding Ethan. Besides that, I love Alaska. I love going out on the tour boat and visiting the glaciers and teaching the tourists about the birds and whales and bears. I even love the snowstorms, and I don’t mind the extra hours of darkness during the winter. I thought I would, but I wrote a ton of new music during that time. And the northern lights ... I swear, it’s like looking into the face of God. I wept the first time. I’ve never felt so inspired. And the love I feel for this sweet person in my belly helps ease my heartache over Drew. I’ll be all right on my own, and I can’t wait to be a mother.”
Angie smiled. “You’re going to be great at it.”
“I hope so.”
Joe arrived home, walked into the kitchen, and looked at Valerie with surprise. “I didn’t know you were coming by.”
He knew about the baby she was expecting. He had visited Blaine and Maud a few times, in recent months, to check on her. Always on behalf of his father.
“Blaine dropped me off,” she explained. “I wanted to see Ethan. Congratulations. He’s a beautiful baby.”
Joe approached Angie, bent forward, and kissed her on the cheek. “Takes after his mother.”
She smiled with an air of pleasure and watched Joe move to the fridge to get a beer. He used a bottle opener to snap off the cap, then leaned against the counter and took a swig.
“Are you sure you should be in town?” he asked Valerie. “I thought your dad wanted you to ... you know.” He paused, searching for the right words. “Keep things under wraps.”
Valerie folded both hands over her belly. “Plans change sometimes.”
“How so?”
She sat forward. “I just finished telling Angie that I’ve decided to stay in Valdez and raise my child here. So it won’t be a secret much longer. I’ll be coming out of hiding.”
Joe frowned. “But your father already made arrangements for you to go home. And my father gave him his word. He promised he’d take you to the airport next month. I think the flight’s already been purchased.”
“I’m not going anywhere without my baby,” she said.
Joe simply stared at her.
“I’m sorry about the plane ticket,” she added, “but that’s between my father and yours to work out if your dad paid for it.”
“He won’t be pleased,” Joe replied. “Especially after he spent the past seven months making sure you were taken care of and providing for you.”
Valerie gave him a cynical look. “That’s a bit of an exaggeration. All he did was dump me on Blaine and Maud.” But then she paused and considered Joe’s reasoning. Something clicked in her mind suddenly as she began to understand.
“I think I’m getting it now,” she said. “My father must have been sending money to your father to pay for my room and board. Was that the arrangement?”
Joe sipped his beer. “I have no idea.”
Valerie narrowed her eyes and studied his expression.
