Chapter 83 – Valerie & Walter

After Delia and Walters ‘talk’ he and Valerie had began dating regularly. Walter knew it was finally time for them to be together. Tonight, he would take her out to the café on the beach where they could be alone and he would propose.

They arrived and after a small dinner, sat outside and drank coffee, just enjoying being in each other’s company.  Valerie talked about work and how her mother was coping after her sister’s death. “Lucas is so cute.  He calls mother 'mommy'. Now she is beginning to refer to herself as mommy when she talks to him and he talks ALL the time! Of course, she has been like a second mother to him since he was born so I suppose it is normal for him to call her that.”

“Your mother is a very strong woman and loves her family very much. You know she gave me the third degree when she caught us in each other’s arms after your sister died. I never told you what we talked about. She was worried I was taking advantage of you at a vulnerable time and practically threatened my life if I hurt you in any way. It was then that I realized that I loved you and I told her as much. Valerie, I told your mother how I felt about you before I told you. That is how sure I was we were meant to be together." Walter laughed before he continued, "I don’t think she was totally convinced but she did back down after that and sent me to you.” 

Walter got up and walked around the table and pulled Valerie out of the chair. He was suddenly a little shy as he continued his narrative.  “Valerie, I love you more than I thought was possible. You are sweet and beautiful and kind.”

“Walter, you are making me blush,” she said as she smiled. “You know that I love you too.” Then she laughed. “I remember that day too. I thought my mother was going to make you leave. When you came outside and found me I was so relieved I didn't care what you guys talked about!”

Valerie wasn’t prepared for what Walter did next.  He got down on one knee in a very traditional way and presented Valerie with an engagement ring. 

“I never want you to think that someone or anything could ever separate us again. Please, Valerie, I would be honored if you would spend the rest of your life with me as Mrs. Walter Russell. Will you marry me?”

Valerie was overcome with emotion.  “Oh Walter!” she exclaimed, “Yes, yes, yes! I will marry you!  I love you Walter!!!!”

Walter placed the ring on her finger then she flew into his arms. She never dreamed when she watched him give her a tattoo over a year ago, that they would wind up together – forever.  

He kissed her sweetly and whispered, “Thank you for making me the happiest man in the world”.  Valerie just said, ‘mmm-mmm’ as she continued their kiss not ever wanting it to end. Finally as people around them started clapping, they broke apart laughing.

“We should go break the news to your mother,” said Walter.

“Oh, mom!  I know she will be happy for us, but she will be alone. I am worried about her,” replied Valerie.

“You forget, she has Lucas,” said Walter.

“Of course, she adores him and he her.  Okay, let’s go!” said Valerie.

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When they arrived back at the house, Walter asked if he should come in with her and Valerie said no, that she would prefer to tell her mother alone. He kissed her goodbye and left. 

When Valerie walked in, Lucas was in his playpen so she scooped him up and began showing him her ring. “Look Lucas! Walter gave your Aunt Val this pretty ring and now you are going to get an Uncle!  Walter and Aunt Val are going to get married!” 

“Wawer! Where Wawer?” asked Lucas. Lucas loved Walter. Walter always played with him when he came over. Then the little boy dissolved into giggles forgetting about 'Wawer' as Valerie played tickle monster with him. 

Valerie put him back in his playpen and found her mother.  She wasn’t sure how she would take the news.  

When Delia saw her daughter she was grinning from ear to ear so she had an idea already what Valerie might be going to say, then she saw the ring on her finger that confirmed it.

“What is it Valerie, you look so excited?” asked Delia so she wouldn’t spoil Valerie’s surprise.

“Mom – I – Walter – he proposed!  Look – the ring – it’s beautiful.  We are getting married!  Oh mom, please say you are happy for me.”

Delia just grabbed Valerie and hugged her tightly. “Valerie, I know that Walter loves you and I can see by your face that you love him too – my goodness you may just be glowing. Of course I am happy. That is all I have ever wanted for my girls; to be as happy as your father and I were." 

"Well,' said Delia, "it looks like we have a wedding to plan!" 

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The next few weeks flew by with wedding plans. The couple didn't want to wait long. Delia went to get Lucas for his bath time to take a break from the stress. She loved this time together with him. It relaxed them both and Delia needed to have something to do to occupy her mind so she wouldn't be sad about Valerie leaving. 

Her little girl had grown up. Delia thought about Hope’s wedding day and then she laughed to herself remembering that Valerie was born that day and she missed most of Hope's wedding since she went into labor during the reception. She remembered Hope telling her she looked beautiful and reassuring her about being hugely pregnant instead of her reassuring her daughter. 

Well she had yet another child to care for on Valerie’s wedding day, but at least she wasn’t pregnant! Nor did she plan to ever be again. She thought that her two girls would be the last children she would raise from infancy to adulthood and now she was raising her grandchild.

Delia brushed the memories away and focused on her sweet little boy's bath. As he played with the toys and the bubbles she had to keep reminding herself that he was her little boy. He loved Valerie and especially Walter. Walter spoiled him. But they weren't going to be around. 

When he tired of playing with the bubbles Delia started talking to Lucas. He had learned quite a few words and loved to talk. “You, my little man, are getting so big! Walking and talking and going potty like a big boy.You will be in school before long. Instead of me worrying about the boys taking advantage of my little girls, you handsome little devil will be fighting the girls off with a stick. Come on now – bed time!” 

Then as she thought about the time when Lucas indeed would be fighting the girls off with a stick, it occurred to her that she would likely not be around to see him do that. She was already 79ish (Delia had no idea how old she really was in normal years) and beginning to slow down. She quickly put that out of her mind as the wedding was tomorrow!

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Today was Valerie's big day. It had already been more than three years since she met Walter in the salon where she got her tattoo from the 'man with the chocolate eyes' and now he was hers.

Delia was in charge of Lucas. She had decided to bring him rather than leave him with a sitter. She got herself ready and then put him in his little suit. He was handsome all dressed up with his tie and would probably steal the show. Delia told him where they were going. “Aunt Val and Uncle Walter are going to get married. We are going to watch and eat cake!” 

“Wawer and cake! Yay!  I want cake now!” said Lucas.  Delia worried that she might just miss Valerie’s wedding too because of a child!

Valerie arrived at the church and went inside alone since Delia was trying to keep Lucas under control.

She looked around and thought everything was perfect.  

The guests began to arrive and one of the women actually had on the same style gown as her wedding dress.  

She approached Valerie obviously unhappy about the similar dresses.  She told Valerie the designer said it was a ‘one of a kind’.  Valerie just laughed and said, “It is - yours is buttercup and mine is white!”

  

It was finally time for the ceremony to begin.  When Valerie saw Walter her knees got weak and she had to hold on the back of the pew to keep from falling down. The man with the chocolate eyes was delicious in his tuxedo and he was hers.

She walked to stand beside him underneath the wedding arch and they said their vows and exchanged rings. 

When they were pronounced husband and wife they shared a chaste kiss. 

  

Walter was having none of that and as everyone cheered, he twirled her around and dipped her and kissed her passionately. 

The happy couple didn’t stick around very long after the ceremony.  They had a honeymoon to go on.  Valerie and Walter shared a bed for the first time that night.  Walter had kept his promise to Delia’s mother that he would never do anything to hurt her daughter and although she probably would have allowed it, after seeing what her sister had gone through, he didn’t want to risk her thinking that sex was all he wanted from her.  They had never made love until that night – all night.  

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Delia and Lucas finally got home. Her little guy was so tired. She learned that you don’t take a three year old to a wedding. She missed most of the ceremony trying to keep him quiet. But that was okay, she would have worried herself sick if she had left Lucas with a sitter. “Well Lucas, it’s just you and me kid! Wasn’t your Aunt Val beautiful and your Uncle Walter, well he cleans up good!”

“I want Walwer!” said Lucas at the mention of his Uncle’s name.  Delia just laughed and said “Sorry handsome, your Uncle Wawer is busy with your Aunt Val! And it's bedtime for you.”

Delia changed Lucas into his PJs and took Lucas to his crib. “I want Walwer!” he protested. 

“Shh Lucas,” said Delia, “How about we go to the fair next week?  Maybe Uncle Walter will join us. How does that sound? Now you need to sleep and so do I."  Delia planted a kiss on his sweet little forehead and tucked him in his crib.

Once Lucas was settled, Delia went into the kitchen to scrounge something quick to eat since she didn’t have time to eat anything at the wedding.  She found some leftover pancakes in the refrigerator and heated them up in the microwave. 

As she sat there alone eating her leftovers, she thought about what her and Lucas’s future would be like.  It really is ‘just you and me kid’ she thought. 

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When Valerie and Walter returned from their honeymoon, they came to the house to gather the last of Valerie’s things. Delia stood in the drive and watched them leave.  She couldn’t imagine what she was going to do with a giant house like this with only her and Lucas. And it had bad memories.  Whenever she saw the pool, all she could see was her daughter floating at the bottom.  Maybe it was time for a change and a smaller house.

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