Chapter Thirty-One
T hat evening, after cleaning up dinner and watching football and basketball on TV, Liam put on his jacket and, armed with sugar cubes, left the house for the barn. He figured since it was Christmas the horses needed some sugar.
But when he stepped outside he saw a beat-up old pickup pull up and Jasper Fletcher get out of it. I guess Christmas dinner of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches made him rethink his attitude.
“Can I help you, Mr. Fletcher?”
“Might as well call me Jasper, since you’ve married my daughter.”
“What do you need, Jasper?”
“I need to see Valerie.” When Liam didn’t move he said, “Are you going to let me see my daughter ?”
“That depends. Are you going to upset her? Because if you are you can turn right around and go back home.”
Jasper shook his head. “You always were a protective cuss.”
Liam shrugged. “Val’s my wife. It’s Christmas and she’s happy and I intend to see she stays that way.”
“Simmer down, Liam. I’m here to apologize.”
Liam noticed he choked a little on the last word. Not surprising since he’d never heard of Mr. Fletcher apologizing for anything.
“Are you going to let me in, or do I have to stand out here in the cold?”
Liam opened the back door. “Come in. I’ll go get Val.”
Val was talking to her mother when Liam went looking for her.
“Hey, I wondered where you went. Did you go see the horses?”
He still wore his coat, not having taken the time to take it off. “I was headed that way but I got sidetracked.” He held out his hand. “Come with me.”
“You’re very mysterious,” Lorraine said. “I thought you’d already exchanged presents.”
“It will all be explained before long.”
“What’s going on?” Val asked him.
He stopped outside the kitchen door. “Your dad is waiting for you in the kitchen.”
“My—my father? He’s here? Why?”
“In the flesh. I’ll let him tell you why.”
“I hope he doesn’t plan on yelling at me.”
“Do you really think I’d have let him in if he was going to yell at you?”
She looked at him and smiled. “No. But I’m afraid to hope.”
“Don’t be.” He opened the door and ushered her in, following her and shutting the door behind him.
“Dad? What are you doing here? I thought you didn’t want to see me.”
“I’ve been a damn fool, Valerie.”
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Liam said, assured that her father was intent on mending fences. “I’ve got horses to see.” He gave Val’s hand a squeeze and went out the back door.
*
Val didn’t know what to say. So she waited for her father to speak. Was he really here to apologize? He’d said he’d been a damn fool. That was almost an apology.
“I won’t deny I was disappointed when you told us the truth about the baby. I couldn’t understand why you’d do such a thing. But all this time not seeing you and not being a part of the family stuff got me to thinking. ’Course your mother has been hounding me too.” He shook his head. “I’ve never seen her so determined about something. I think it’s partly the idea of grandkids.”
“Probably. Mom has always liked babies.”
“Liam made it clear that he loved you and that he was stepping up for the baby too. I thought if he could accept the baby as his then it was pretty stupid of me to miss out on everything. So if you’ll forgive me I’d like to put all that behind us.”
She walked over and hugged him. “Of course I forgive you. Did you really think I wouldn’t?”
“I wasn’t sure.”
“I do. Why don’t you take off your coat. You’ll stay, won’t you?”
He took off his coat and Val hung it in the mudroom for him. “So, Liam,” he said.
“It’s always been Liam for me.”
“That’s what your mama said. He loves you. He’s been ready to skin me.”
Val smiled. “He’s protective. But he’ll be happy we’ve made up.”
“He’s a good man, Valerie. He’s lucky to have you.”
“I’m the lucky one.” She was married to the love of her life, who loved her and her baby. And Liam was going to be her baby’s father in every way except biology.
“I should tell you that Trent isn’t going to be a problem anymore.” She went on to fill him in on everything Trent had said the night before. “So the gossip should die down since he won’t be here to stir it up.”
“I don’t pay any mind to gossip. You shouldn’t either.”
“That’s kind of hard to do. Especially when the gossip is true.”
“Does it bother Liam?”
“To the extent that he knows it upsets me. But I don’t think it matters to him what people say. And I don’t think he cares that he isn’t the biological father. He says the baby is his and he means it. And whenever we talk about it, he tells me whatever happens we’ll face it together.”
“He’s a good man,” Jasper repeated.
“I know. Why don’t you go on in and see everyone? Mom and Riley are still here. They’ll all be glad to see you. You might even score some dessert,” she added, knowing her father’s weakness for sweets.
Since Liam hadn’t returned, she put on her coat and went down to the barn to join him.
*
Murphy greeted her when she reached the barn. He’d been just a few months old when she and Liam rescued him. She still couldn’t think of those boys hurting him without wanting to kick their asses. He looked good, even though he was getting older. He was only ten or so and he was definitely a mutt, so hopefully he’d live a long life. She squatted down to pet him. “I bet you didn’t think we’d ever get to live with Liam, huh?”
He licked her cheek then rolled on his back for a belly rub. “Where’s Liam?” she asked him. Murphy got up and ran to Starlight’s stall.
Liam didn’t notice her right away and she heard him talking to her mare.
“Don’t worry, Starlight. We have lots of people who will ride you. And your mom will visit every day. After she has the baby, she’ll be able to ride again. It won’t be that long.”
Val laughed. “Not immediately after I have the baby.”
Liam covered Starlight’s ears. “Shh. I just got her convinced it won’t be too long.”
She walked in and rubbed Starlight’s nose. “You know, it might be a good time to breed her to Blackjack when she goes into heat this time.”
“I didn’t know you’d decided.”
“It seems silly to breed her to another horse when Blackjack is right here. I think they’d make beautiful babies.”
“I agree. I was hoping you’d say that.” Liam took her in his arms. “How did it go with your dad?”
“He apologized to me. I was so shocked I almost passed out.”
“I’m glad. I figured he would, but I wasn’t sure when. I’m glad it happened sooner rather than later.”
“It’s later enough for me. I’m sure it helps that you and I are married. And I told him about Trent. He told me we should ignore the gossip.” She looked up at him with her arms around his neck. “Everything is working out. I’m still nervous that something will go wrong.”
“You get your twelve-week ultrasound tomorrow, right?”
“Yes. We might be able to see the sex of the baby. Do you want to or should it be a surprise?”
“I’ll be good with whatever you want to do.”
“I want to know. Do you have a preference?” she asked him.
“Yeah. I just want a healthy baby and for everything to go well with the baby’s birth.”
“Good answer.” She sighed.
“What? Is something wrong?”
“No, everything is perfect. I love you, Liam.”
“I love you too.” And then he kissed her.