“It was nice to belong for a bit.” She sighed and looked at her feet.
“You’ll find more people to love you in the way you deserve.”
“Will I?”
“Yes.”
“Promise?”
He kissed her ear. “I promise.”
She wanted to believe him, and when he kissed her again, she let herself. He was right. There would be more people to love and support her. Perhaps it began here, with Nico, and that thought chased awayeverything else for a moment. She rested against him and they watched the leaves through the window. Nico’s arm wrapped around Valerie until her skin, which had been cool, warmed under his touch.
“Have you told Roger?” she asked.
“I texted him that we needed to talk but then this all happened.”
“It’s news to give in person,” she agreed. “We should find him.”
“Soon,” he said. “After we decide where to go.”
“Dalia has space to put me up.”
He handed her the phone. “Ask if she has room for two.”
“Two?”
“Of course. I’m coming with you.”
Valerie put her arms around him. It was comforting to stand like that. At least, in this small section of forest, one thing was right.
* * *
Packing up Nico’s tidy things only took six minutes, and they put their bags in the car before searching for Roger.
It wasn’t until they double-checked the rock where he liked to be with his thoughts that they found him. Roger jumped up when they approached. “Valerie. I’m so sorry. I was going to come talk to you, but I needed to calm down. My head was a mess. I apologize for bringing you into this.”
“It’s okay,” she said automatically. She’d agreed to it, after all, and she was responsible in part for the consequences.
“No, it’s not. I took advantage of your generosity and what happened at Dad’s celebration of life to rope you into this. I wanted it to work out so badly and I was a selfish dick. What I did wasn’t right. Nico, I need to apologize to you as well. I’m sorry. You should never have been involved in this personal matter. I was completely unprofessional.”
Nico nodded as Valerie stood taller. “Thank you,” she said. That’sit. This time she didn’t try to comfort him by minimizing what had happened. She glanced at Nico, and he gestured for her to give Roger the news.
“We have something to tell you,” she said.
“You’re leaving? I understand. Penny was something else.” He shook his head. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t do anything rash. You don’t have to worry about retaliation, I promise.”
“I am leaving, and that’s good about Penny, but it’s not what we need to say,” she said, taking Nico’s hand and taking comfort in his touch. “We know where Yvette and Rory are.”
“Rory?”
“Rory is your daughter,” said Nico.
There it was, the news Roger had wanted. He didn’t move. Or talk. He simply stared at them.
“We know where they are,” Valerie repeated, in case he didn’t quite understand.
“What.” Roger didn’t blink. She was suddenly grateful her surprise plan hadn’t worked out. Roger needed time to adjust.
