Page 48 of Bae

“I’ll have to see if I can find a pair next time I go.”

That surprised me. I thought Valerie Anderson would scoff at the thought of buying a pair of shoes at Target.

Maybe she was working on turning over a new leaf as well.

These days, things between Valerie and me were cordial. We were friendly at family dinners, football games, and anytime else we were together. She came to the house the day after I lost the baby, something I wasn’t prepared for at all. I was almost convinced I’d see some kind of disappointment or even condemnation in her eyes.

There wasn’t any. Not even a hint. It was that morning I recalled a conversation we’d had a long time ago about her struggles with having a child. I’d thought about that talk a lot in the days since, wondered about it. About her.

I didn’t dislike Romeo’s mother, not anymore. Disliking a mother for wanting to protect her son seemed really trivial these days.

But I would never forget some of the things she’d done to hurt me. In all truth, I was scared to be here right now. I felt as if I were opening myself up for additional potential hurt. There was a time long ago when I thought she and I would have a relationship.

That was before she announced my father killed my mother. That kinda put a kibosh on things.

She’d worked hard over the last two years to rebuild some kind of relationship with me. I think she finally conceded that Romeo truly loved me and I truly loved him. The beautiful wedding she put on for us (and B and Ivy) was her way of extending the olive branch, and I accepted it.

But today was a first.

I’d never driven over here on my own, knowing Tony wouldn’t be here, with full intentions of spending time with her.

Healing.

That’s what this was about, and if there was anyone who understood the loss of a child, the desperation to have one, it was her. Perhaps in my quest to heal the deepest of my wounds and reconcile my future with my past, I would also begin again with my mother-in-law.

“Roman’s in Texas right now, correct?” she asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“Yes, then he’ll be back here in Maryland for a home game this weekend.”

Valerie nodded as she poured me a mug of hot tea and added the exact amount of sugar I always took. She’d been paying attention. “Anthony and I are driving down for the game.”

They went to almost all of Romeo’s home games. I thought it was sweet. It made me miss going as well. I’d grown to love football over the past few years.

“He’s grateful for your support,” I told her, accepting the mug when she held it out. “I am, too. He should always have family there to support him.”

Valerie tilted her head a fraction. “You’re welcome to join us in our box anytime. The press is kept out.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I wrapped my hands around the mug, allowing the heat of the tea to seep into my cold fingertips.

“Let’s sit.” She gestured toward the small table in front of a few windows on the other side of the kitchen. “I have to say, when I heard a car coming up the drive, you were the last person I expected to look out the window and see.”

I set the tea down to run my fingers through the blown-out strands of my hair. It was sleek and silky feeling against my skin and, in many ways, a little jarring. I hadn’t worn it straight and down like this for quite a while.

“I was hoping we could talk.” I fidgeted some more with my hair before abandoning it for the mug. “I don’t really have anyone else to, um, go to.”

“I’m always here to talk, anytime you want,” she replied gently. Valerie was a perceptive woman, and I was certain she knew coming here today had been a challenge in itself.

“It’s about the baby,” I blurted out, not knowing how else to bring it up.

“I figured as much. I wanted to call you so many times, but after everything…” She paused, then forged on. “I didn’t want to push or pry. I know we haven’t had the easiest of relationships.”

I laughed lightly. “That’s putting it politely.”

Valerie smiled. I could only hope to age as gracefully as she had. As usual, she was dressed perfectly in a pair of black skinny pants and a cream-colored silk blouse that tied at the side of her neck in a fashionable bow. Her hair was cut into a shoulder-length style that showed off the thick, blond strands, and her makeup was so seamless it practically looked airbrushed.

In addition to her wedding ring, she had several other statement rings on various fingers and a diamond tennis bracelet around her wrist.

“Well, I am a lady,” she retorted with a slight twinkle in her eye.

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