Chapter Twelve
Chase gave the driver instructions to drive to Point Defiance Park on Puget Sound. It was a lovely spring day. Maisy looked as surprised as she felt; she had expected to be dropped off at the mall following their lunch.
The sun warmed the earth and a gentle breeze blew, ruffling the pink rhododendrons that marked the paved pathway. Bright yellow daffodils bloomed while the tulips’ buds were ready to open within the next few days.
Spring was definitely in the air. Chase suggested a short walk. “It’s always good to do a bit of exercise after a big meal,” he said.
“Okay,” she said, and sounded unsure. Chase was deep in thought, mulling over what Maisy had mentioned over lunch about her work with the homeless. His head swirled with ways to help the man who’d set up camp in the alley back in Chicago.
As they continued down the walkway, his hands were clenched behind his back as he saw himself in an entirely different light.
He’d been born into wealth and prestige.
His name alone opened doors. Others were far less fortunate.
He hadn’t given that man a second thought, other than to have him removed.
His complete lack of caring made him feel ashamed, an emotion he wasn’t used to experiencing.
Keeping pace with Chase, Maisy remained silent, seemingly content with the lack of conversation. They were well onto the paved trail leading toward the zoo and aquarium before he was ready to talk.
“I arrived in town earlier this morning and spent time with one of the women who sent a sympathy card. You might remember her from the funeral. Her name is Gwen.”
“I remember her,” Macy said.
“When we met she told me the story she shared about missing the freeway exit to her favorite tavern,” Chase added. “We had a good long talk.”
Chase had met Gwen at a coffee shop, and she’d given him a large chunk of her mind when it came to the way he’d ignored his mother.
He’d listened, biting his tongue, until she’d finished.
It hadn’t been easy to hear the things she’d said.
He had no defense and made no attempt to justify his actions while she endlessly harangued him.
The bottom line was that he’d live the rest of his life with regrets when it came to his mother.
If he could turn back time, he would, but that was impossible.
Chase was left to deal with the fact that he’d lost the opportunity to reconcile with Michelle.
The thing he couldn’t forget, and never would, was how instrumental Maisy had been in his learning the truth.
Without Maisy, he would have continued along on his merry way, oblivious to the fact that his mother had become this beautiful, caring woman who gave of herself unselfishly to others.
Because of his stubbornness, he’d lost that chance. And for that he was genuinely sorry.
“I’m pleased you were able to connect with Gwen,” Maisy said, cutting into his thoughts.
“I’m glad, too,” Chase said. “As for that peace you mentioned—that’s up in the air. When I scheduled this trip, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As you’ve probably already guessed, Gwen didn’t use any restraint telling me exactly what she thought.”
Maisy grinned. “No, I imagine that she didn’t. Did you get the answers you needed?”
“Yes and no. She invited me to meet with a few of my mother’s other friends, and I suppose I will at some point.”
“You should do that.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready to face them just yet, but I will be.” If Gwen was an example of what he could expect, it would take him a good amount of time to prepare for what was sure to be another thorough tongue-thrashing. One he rightly deserved.
They continued walking at a leisurely pace. “I know you must be feeling a lot of regret.”
He released a deep, mournful sigh. “I wish I hadn’t been so stubborn, so righteous and bullheaded.”
“Recognizing this is the first step toward healing,” Maisy said, her voice calm and soothing.
He needed to say something else, something that had shaken his entire world.
“When I called you the first time, I mentioned that the funeral home mailed me the sympathy cards.”
“Yes,” she answered.
“There was something more in the envelope from the funeral home.”
He paused, his hesitation lengthy as he sorted through his thoughts.
“It was a letter from my mother. She’d handed it to a trusted friend shortly before she died, to give to me at her service.
Only I wasn’t there, so the friend asked the funeral director to see that I got it.
When I saw her letter, I nearly tore it in two, believing there was nothing she had to say that I wanted to hear. ”
“You read it, didn’t you?” she asked, and seemed to know the answer.
“I did, but only after I’d called you. It wasn’t just because she abandoned me that I kept Michelle out of my life.
It was the fact that alcohol was more important to her than me—or anyone else, for that matter.
I expected her to condemn my father, tell me how he’d kept me away from her all those years.
That he’d built her up in my mind as a weak, spineless woman who had grown vindictive and angry.
“I was convinced she’d cast blame on my father for his faults. Don’t get me wrong, I know my father and he’s no saint. He’s been married three times.”
“She didn’t blame anyone, did she?”
“No, quite the opposite. Michelle didn’t have a single unkind word to say about my dad. Not one. She blamed herself and asked me to forgive her. She told me how proud she was to be my mother.”
“Oh Chase, how freeing that must have been.”
He released a soft snort. “If only I’d…If only I’d given her a chance. I wish I’d known her when she was sober.”
Maisy gave his forearm a comforting squeeze.
“We all live with regrets, Chase. The key is to not repeat the same mistake, to grow from what you’ve learned and move forward.
It’s far too easy to get tangled in all the might-have-beens in life.
It’s like putting each foot in two boats that are going in opposite directions. ”
He looked at her then, his gaze narrowing. “How…?”
“How what?” she asked.
“This wisdom, this insight into life. Where does that come from?”
He could see Maisy didn’t know how to answer him. “Probably from my grandmother. She’s quite a woman.”
“I’d like to meet her someday,” he said, and he meant it.
“You will,” she said, but she didn’t sound all that confident.
“Like I said, I’m going to do everything I can to learn about my mother’s life through her friends,” Chase continued.
They walked for several minutes. At some point, Chase reached for her hand, holding it firmly in his own.
They spent an hour just talking, learning about each other’s lives, which were vastly different.
He’d been raised in luxury and Maisy’s family had constantly struggled financially, never more so than during these last couple of years.
“I remember you mentioning your desire to become a nurse. Isn’t that how you met Laura?” he asked at some point, recalling an earlier conversation.
“Yes, that was a while ago.”
He couldn’t help but think about how he could show his appreciation for all she’d done for him. He felt like he owed her something. If he could help her achieve her dream, pay for her schooling, then he’d do it in a heartbeat.
Maisy seemed to know what he was thinking. She abruptly stopped and turned to face him, her eyes wide and intense. “Chase, don’t, please.”
“Don’t what?” he asked, with feigned ignorance.
“Don’t go there. As thoughtful and generous as it is, I don’t welcome your charity, nor do I need it. I come from a proud family; I don’t ever want you to feel that I’m taking advantage of your friendship.”
“Surely there’s a way for you to take more than one class.”
“Perhaps, but…”
“Do you enjoy working at Gallagher Jewels?”
Automatically, she shook her head. “I don’t. I’m not nearly as good at it as my dad was. I always wanted to be a nurse. Even as a kid I set up my dolls in a row and tended to their illnesses,” she said, smiling as she spoke of what were clearly fond memories.
“Maisy, please, let me help you in pursuing your dreams.”
She shook her head. “I am, although it’s a slow progression. I’m taking as many online courses as I can. Eventually I’ll need to take in-person classes, but I’ll cross that bridge when I need to. For now, I’m working on getting the credits I need.”
Chase was disappointed she’d refused his offer even before he could make it. He hoped she understood how much he appreciated what she’d done for him. “I owe you more than I could ever repay.”
“Helping Laura and Bella is far and away the best thing you could have done.”
“If you change your mind, let me know.”
“I won’t,” she insisted.
“But if you do, promise me you won’t hesitate to ask,” he countered.
They lingered awhile longer before returning to where the driver and the car waited. Chase opened the door for her and asked, “Should I take you back to the mall?”
“Would you mind dropping me off at the house instead?”
“Of course, no problem. But isn’t your car parked at the mall?”
“Ah, no, I drove in with Uncle Fred.”
“Got it. Home it is.”
Maisy gave the driver her address, and forty minutes later he parked in front of the family home.
It resembled one built after World War II, with a big front porch with thick pillars on each side of the steps leading up to the house.
A young boy, about nine or ten, was outside, pumping air into his bicycle tire.
He took one look at Maisy and the fancy car with a driver and immediately raced into the house.
As Chase got out of the car, a woman who was clearly Maisy’s mother came down the steps and approached them, an apron tied around her waist.
“Mom,” Maisy said, sounding nervous, “this is Chase Furst from Chicago.”
“Ah, the…man you mentioned meeting?” she said, turning to greet Chase. She wiped her hand on her apron and then held it out to him. “Sophie Gallagher.”
Chase gently clasped her hand. It was easy to see where Maisy’s auburn hair and green eyes came from. “I’m pleased to meet you, Ms. Gallagher.”
“Sophie,” she answered. “We’re a casual family. Maisy told me about your mother. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you,” he responded.
“What brings you to Seattle?” she asked.
Chase glanced over at Maisy and grinned. “I had some unfinished business I needed to tend to.”
Sophie accepted his answer, although her gaze lingered on Chase. “How long will you be in town?”
At his side, Maisy shifted uncomfortably. “Mom, Chase has a plane to catch.”
“I’m in no hurry,” he quickly countered. “The plane leaves when I do and not before.”
“Wonderful,” Sophie said. “Then you have plenty of time to join us for dinner?”
“Mom.” Maisy’s protest sounded more like a groan. “Chase is a busy man—”
He cut her off. “Thank you, I’d enjoy that.”
Maisy’s younger brother sidled up to Chase. “I’m Patrick.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
Patrick’s smile filled his entire freckled face. “You’re lucky you are staying for dinner, because Wednesday is meatloaf and it’s the best.”
“Good to know.”
Patrick tilted his head as if studying him before he said, “If you decide to marry my sister, you should talk to me first. She can get really stubborn sometimes.”
Chase couldn’t help it; he burst out laughing. It’d been a long time since he’d laughed this hard. Maisy, however, didn’t look the least bit amused.