Chapter 79 – New Addition

Things were, for the most part, settling into a routine. Delia took Victoria to the doctor and found that she was 5 1/2 months along. Only 3 1/2 months left to go. That made Victoria's baby due during the summer school break so she wouldn’t have to miss any school. 

Delia and Victoria began spending time together discussing what would be needed for the new addition to the family. Whenever Delia tried to bring up the baby’s father, Victoria would get angry and clam up so finally Delia stopped asking. Maybe once the child was here, they would talk again. She felt strongly that Glen needed to know he was a father regardless of what he wanted to do or not do about it.

Victoria had become VERY protective of her unborn child insisting that she would see to all of HER baby’s needs. This was new for Victoria. She was always so self-centered; however this was nothing short of an obsession. But Delia could relate. She thought back to her first daughter, Francie. Delia had devoted herself to that child and for that matter to all of her children after Francie, including the two that she now shared a home with. She couldn’t blame Victoria for being protective.

Money was not in short supply. Vladimir had left Delia financially taken care of. Delia was pretty sure he had planned it out – just in case. She decided to use some of that to build a nursery right next to Victoria’s bedroom.When Delia told her daughter she was going to build the nursery, Victoria happily gave her input. They talked about Victoria’s education. At first she wanted to drop out once the baby came, but Delia insisted and Victoria eventually agreed to let Delia babysit while she attended her final year of high school.

Delia couldn’t wait until Victoria’s baby was born.  She had two primary reasons, she could finally cure her daughter and she wanted to determine whether or not it was a vampire child. If not, then she could cure herself of vampirism with the last vial of cure. Then she could put that whole Chapter of her life behind her and move forward.

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In the meantime, one of their neighbors came by and introduced himself. Clyde Reeves was an attractive middle aged gentleman – and single.  Delia quickly decided he should meet her oldest daughter. Now that she had been cured it was time she started meeting people and getting out of the house.

Delia led Clyde into the ‘sitting room’ where Victoria was playing the piano. Delia watched as he instantly became enraptured by the music and stood watching Valerie play before finally introducing himself to her.

Valerie was so embarrassed. She wasn’t accustomed to men paying attention to her much less watching her play. Now that she was no longer sickly looking, she was quite attractive but had no idea. 

Clyde told her she played beautifully and had really enjoyed watching her. He said he would like to come by again and to hear her play some more. She could feel the heat in her face as she blushed and knew she was probably bright red by now. She thanked him and they chatted a bit more before he left.  

After he left Delia ran into the sitting room to get the juicy details. This only embarrassed Valerie even more. “So Val, he was nice wasn't he? What did you talk about?” Delia asked her daughter.  

“Mooommm, he isn’t interested in me, he just liked the music. And no, he didn’t ask for my number OR ask me on a date. He was just being nice. He lives close by and only wanted to meet his new neighbors,” responded Valerie while rolling her eyes.

“Well, he is cute,” responded Delia, “You can’t tell me you didn’t notice.”

“Yes. He was definitely attractive. But he would never even look my way. Besides, he is probably married,” said Valerie.

Not wanting to tell her she practically interviewed him already, Delia changed the subject, “So, I know what might make you feel better,” she said with a gleam in her eye, “take my credit card and go to the salon and get complete head-to-toe makeover. It will make you feel better about yourself and give you some confidence. Also, you do need to start responding to some of those job offers before they dry up. Maybe then you can get your dream job AND you dream guy!” 

“Surprisingly, that sounds like fun, the makeover that is,” clarified Valerie, “Why don’t you go with me?”

“I can’t.  I have too much to do around here getting ready for the baby, but you just have fun and enjoy,” said Delia, “After your sister has her baby, and I have been able to reverse this stupid curse, then I will. I promise. We will have a spa day, maybe all three of us.”

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Valerie jumped in the car and headed over to the Salon and met with the head stylist. She dressed her in clothes that matched her eye color and were conservative without being matronly which helped make Valerie feel more confident. She pulled her long hair back from her face with a matching hair band. Delia was happy with the result but sad it was already time to go. She was having fun. 

As Valerie got ready to leave she saw this handsome guy with a several tattoos. “Who’s that?” asked Valerie. Her stylist told her his name was Walter Russell, their tattoo artist and asked if she wanted a tattoo to go with her new look. That wasn’t something she initially came in for but if it meant she would get to look at Mr. Russell a little longer, then yes, she wanted him to give her a tattoo.  What am I doing she thought!

When Walter asked her what kind and where she wanted it she stammered and giggled a little. Then it occurred to her. She wanted a musical tattoo on her bicep. It would be the perfect tribute to her father. But getting to watch this delicious man do it to her made the idea of a tattoo way more appealing than it would have been otherwise. She might even have to get another one. 

She put on her new bikini top to give him access to her arm.  When he touched her arm to prepare the site, she got goose bumps. He asked her if she was okay, and she just smiled and nodded her head yes.  When he got started and was busy concentrating on her arm Valerie was able to take in all of him.  She barely felt the stinging of the needle she was so enraptured with this beautiful man touching her arm.

It was over way too quickly. Valerie had to think of questions to ask him; then found herself actually flirting with him. She could swear he flirted back; at least he didn’t act like he was put off by it. Then she thought: he probably has girls falling all over him all the time and became very self-conscious. But, she just couldn’t help but stare into his chocolate brown eyes. He gave her his card and told her if she had any problems with her tattoo to give him a call. Valerie ran out and went straight home embarrassed at how she flirted with a perfect stranger.

All Valerie could think about on the way home was Walter's sexy eyes looking at her and what it felt like when he gently touched her arm. She was so happy when she got home that she went straight to the piano and played the happiest love song she could think of pretending she was playing for the handsome man with the chocolate brown eyes; eyes that could burn a hole straight through her.

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Delia and Victoria started planning for the birth of Victoria's baby. Delia was her daughter’s Lamaze partner.She was so happy that Victoria was going to allow her to participate in the birth of her grandchild. Victoria had opened up to her like never before. She was finally letting her in and they began to bond. She was getting her little girl back.

School was finally out for the summer and Victoria delivery was imminent and Delia thought she was fully prepared, but when Victoria calmly sat down with Delia and told her she was in labor Delia panicked.

Delia jumped up and ran out the door to get the car.  Once she got in the car, she relaxed and laughed to herself as she realized what her husband – or husbands - must have gone through when she went into labor. She just wanted to make sure she took good care of her daughter.

Victoria waddled out to the car and climbed inside.  Delia managed to get them to the hospital in one piece, calling and leaving a message for Valerie on the way.

Delia was very excited. Her little girl was about to become a mom. She looked at Victoria and was proud of her and the way she had handled her pregnancy up to now.  And she was still being a trooper.

A few hours later, with Delia by her side, Victoria delivered a healthy little boy she named Lucas.

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When Victoria was released from the hospital, she was in love. This little boy was the most special creature on earth. He was hers and hers alone; unconditional love. Protectively, she snuggled him a little closer. Then Victoria looked at her mother sitting next to them in the taxi. The two of them had become close over the past few months. Her mom had been by her side the entire pregnancy and never once made her feel like what she had done was horrible or that she was ashamed of her or her newborn.

When they arrived at home, Valerie couldn’t wait to see her new nephew and asked Victoria if she could hold him. Victoria wasn’t comfortable with anyone other than herself or her mom holding Lucas and besides, her relationship with the princess was still not on solid ground. Valerie always made her feel inadequate. Now she finally had something her sister didn’t so she told her sister, “Not right now, I need to bathe him, feed him and put him down for a nap,” and then Victoria smugly headed for the solitude of the nursery.

  

Victoria bathed her son. She loved the feeling of his soft baby skin and looking at his perfect little fingers and toes. She loved his beautiful little baby face. He was a good baby and didn’t even cry during his bath. 

When she was done with the bath, she fed him and rocked him for a few minutes not wanting to put him down. She noticed Lucas had her Daddy’s amber colored eyes which made him even more special to her. She finally lay him in his crib and headed to the ballet bar for a few stretching exercises to help her get back in shape.  

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Delia wanted to give Victoria some space with her infant son. When she saw her finally leave the nursery, Delia went inside to hold Lucas. She looked into the amber eyes of her grandson and knew that although he had inherited his grandfather’s eyes, he didn’t inherit the curse that triggered the series of events that caused his grandfather’s death. Lucas was a human baby. Delia couldn’t believe it. Now, as soon as she cured Victoria, she could finally use the cure on herself.

Delia sat in the rocking chair with her grandson, relishing the feeling of holding a newborn baby. As they rocked she thought about what their future would hold and what she and Vladimir’s little family had been through. 

Delia had managed to get her girls out of Bridgeport with a cure. Now they would no longer be vampires. Their father had wanted that so badly that he dared not even entertain the idea thinking it was impossible. She wished with all her heart that she could have cured him before he was murdered. Maybe then he would still be alive and they could all be living here in sunny Roaring Heights. All she had thought about for so long was becoming human again. Now it would be a reality. She could already see how it had helped Valerie and hoped that it would somehow lift the cloud that seemed to hang over Victoria and she would be able to love again. 

Valerie she thought. She was the only other person that knew a little bit about her secrets and had experienced the supernatural first hand. Indeed she had even been a fully evolved vampire for awhile, just like herself. Delia knew at some point Valerie would ask about her past and she had decided that when she did, she would take her into her secret room and she would tell her everything. Then together they would begin to finally read through her mother’s journals. 

But not Victoria; Delia wanted to spare Victoria. She had so much to deal with right now; she couldn’t burden her daughter with her sordid life. Delia just hoped Valerie wouldn’t hate her after she found out everything.

Delia finally got up and cooed to her grandson before putting him in his crib, “Lucas, my sweet baby boy, tomorrow your mother will be completely human, just like you! And so will your grandma!”     

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