Chapter 82 – Moving On

After Victoria’s death, Delia ran upstairs to hold baby Lucas. She needed to feel his soft little arms around her neck and look into those sweet amber eyes.

"Lucas," she cooed, "I promise you I will always love you and take care of you the best way I know how. And you know, little one, I have raised a quite a few children in my day! That is our secret!"

Fortunately Lucas was only 18 months old and would not have to suffer losing a parent in the same way that his mother had. No doubt it would be hard on him anyway. He would grow up without his mother, but not without love, Delia would be sure of that.

Delia put Lucas down for the night and climbed in the bath to calm herself and wash off the chlorine smell from the pool. 

She was still upset and she and Valerie hadn’t said much to each other and she knew Valerie was also suffering even though they weren't close. While in the bath she heard music wafting up from the sitting room and figured Valerie must be playing the piano.

There was something decidedly familiar about the scores that were being played. It sounded more like the haunted tunes that Vladimir used to play. Delia hadn’t thought about him for awhile and a pang of sadness overcame her before she pushed it back. She dressed and headed downstairs. She needed to be with Valerie.

When Delia walked into the sitting room, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Vladimir was sitting at the piano playing the same tunes he played in life.  He must be grieving for his daughter.  But now, weren’t they reunited in death?


She stood and watched her husband’s ghost playing a mournful tune before she couldn’t hold back any longer and the tears began to flow once again.

Then she turned and saw Valerie coming in.  Valerie didn’t seem to see or hear her father playing the piano.  Was she the only one that could see him?  She wondered.  But now wasn’t the time, Valerie needed her mother and Delia quickly pulled her into a hug, comforting her as best she could while Vladimir continued playing his songs for her and only for her. 

After one final song, Vladimir wordlessly vanished in a puff of red smoke and left the two women alone.

Delia and Valerie continued to comfort each other until they were too exhausted to stand up anymore and went to bed to get some much needed sleep.

Valerie had a good job with a promising future and couldn’t let this get in the way. She has a life to live and it would be wrong for her to stop living.

And Delia, well, she now had a little child that she was going to have to raise as her own. There was no way that she would ever let Glen know that this little boy was his. Lucas was all she had left of her daughter and she’d be damned before she let anyone take him away from her. 

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Fortunately Valerie had the next day off from work. She got up and got dressed to appease her mother and then because she just needed someone to talk to, she called her best friend Walter and told him she really needed to see him. He came right over.

When she met him at the front door, Valerie told Walter what happened. Then she fell into his arms and he held her while she cried. Walter wished the circumstances were different. He liked holding her in his arms. She smelled so good and he had an overwhelming urge to kiss her, but figured now was not the time. 

She pulled back and Walter kept holding her hands while they talked not wanting to lose contact with her just yet. He wanted to comfort her more. She just looked so sad.

Then impulsively, Walter embraced Valerie and told her he would do anything he could to take the hurt away.








As they locked eyes, his embrace quickly turned into a kiss.  Walter couldn’t help himself, besides he was pretty sure she wanted it too by the way she kissed him back.

Valerie hugged him tightly after he kissed her. She couldn’t believe how warm and tingly his kiss made her feel.  She was afraid to look at him. What if he didn’t feel the same way?

But when their eyes met again, he quickly kissed her a second time; this time more deeply and urgently than before and then she knew it wasn’t just her. He felt it too. The hurt was definitely melting away in his wonderful kisses.  Valerie was on cloud nine and very much in love with this beautiful man.

Walter knew right then and there that this sweet, unassuming woman was the one he had been waiting for. She was not like all of the others that had thrown themselves at him at the salon and even at his magic shows. He knew was in love.  

Neither Valerie nor Walter had any idea her mother was watching the whole scene play out from the window. Delia was worried. She knew that Valerie really liked Walter and he liked her too. They had become friends. She just hoped he wasn’t taking advantage of her.

She went outside and interrupted their little tete-a-tete and asked Walter to come inside. She needed to have a talk with him - privately.

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Walter followed Delia into the Dining room.  “Sit down Walter,” started Delia, “we need to talk. What are your intentions with my daughter? She just lost her sister and I will not have you waltzing in here like a knight in shining armour and break her heart.”

“Mrs. Schlick, I have nothing but the best intentions when it comes to Valerie. She is the sweetest, kindest most unassuming person I have ever known. I would NEVER hurt her,” said Walter. “In fact, if you must know, I am in love with your daughter.”

“Don’t you talk to me about love!  I spent the last two years trying unsuccessfully to heal the broken heart of my daughter who thought someone loved her. We just buried her, and instead of watching her graduate from high school, I am going to be raising a child born of that so-called love that was nothing but lust! I will not have that happen to Valerie.”

“Mrs. Schlick, please. I do LOVE your daughter.  I am not a 16-year old with raging hormones.  Look at me. ”

“I know your type. 16 or 25, boys or men want the same thing.”

“Listen to me right now!" exclaimed Walter, "I resent that. I have been over here several times to visit Valerie and could tell she was – uh – inexperienced so I took it slow. I have NOT forced anything. Today was the first day I even kissed her. I have been nothing but respectful. So with or without your blessing, I do plan to let her know my feelings.”

“Okay, Walter.  Perhaps I jumped the gun. But you must understand, my nerves are shot and my emotions are raw. I just lost one daughter and now it appears I may be losing another one. You do seem like a very nice – man - well, gentleman. Go find Valerie.  She obviously wants to be with you right now. She called you to come by and I am keeping you two apart. You have my blessings….but mark my words Walter, if you hurt her, you will sorely regret it.”

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Valerie was so embarrassed when her mother came outside and saw her kissing Walter right there in front of the house. She was so caught up in the moment she could have been standing in the middle of a crowded room and wouldn’t have cared.

She went outside and sat down in the swing in their back yard thinking about what had transpired between the two of them and waited.  She only hoped her mother didn’t make Walter leave. 

Valerie was so deep in thought she didn’t hear Walter walk up behind her.  “Hello beautiful,” said Walter.  Her heart leapt into her throat when she heard his voice. “That looks fun, how about I push you?” he asked. Valerie smiled. Thank god her mother didn’t chase him away!

Walter pulled the swing back and he let her swing back and forth for a few minutes gently pushing her while he gathered his thoughts.  After his discussion with her mother, he knew that he was going to ask her to be his wife. But he needed to give her a little time and it had to be perfect. He would never hurt Valerie.

Valerie could feel all the stress leaving her body as Walter gently pushed her on the swing. Such a simple activity made her love him all the more.  When he stopped the swing, she caught her breath hoping….

He didn’t disappoint.  He walked around to the front of the swing and took her hand. He picked her up out of the swing, laid her back and kissed her passionately. When he released her he told her that he loved her. She began to cry and told him she felt the same. He said he had to go, but would call her the next day. Valerie floated off to bed.

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As Delia cared for Lucas in the months that followed she knew she would probably be losing her daughter to her handsome prince. She thought ironically, now I am doing it, the prince and the princess.

She was just so tired these days. Lucas’s total care had fallen to her. He had cried for his mom for a few days after her passing, but was easily distracted and eventually, when he started talking called Delia momma. She didn’t correct him. For all intents and purposes, she was his mother and she loved him as if he were her son.  

Delia had lots of alone time to think about their future now that Valerie spent all of her free time with Walter. He was true to his word and was treating her like a princess. He was as much in love with Valerie as she was with him. Delia knew she was just feeling a little jealous. She and Valerie had become so close and she had hoped to have time to explore her mom’s journals with Valerie by her side. That might not happen now. Perhaps she would do it herself once Valerie and Walter got married and Valerie moved out. She expected he would propose soon. That would be exciting – a wedding!

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