Page 26 of Chasing the Horizon

But a second later, his phone dinged with a message from Dr. Frank Gallagher.

Victor couldn’t believe it.

Did Frank sense that something was off with Victor? Did he sense that he was emotionally fraught?

He doesn’t know anything, Victor reasoned.He just wants access to my head. He wants my money, too. I know how these things go.

Victor forced himself to listen to Frank’s message, biting his tongue the entire time.

“Hey, Victor! Happy Thanksgiving. I wanted to reach out to you and say that I know how complicated it can be to ask for help, especially when you have been giving that help to so many patients throughout your career. I myself find it difficult, and I’m sure I can only fathom half of what you’re experiencing. Let me know if you want to talk—as friends or as colleagues or as anything at all—and figure out how we might approach this. I know it’s important to you. Talk to you soon.”

Victor’s heart thudded.

He hated to admit it—but he might actually need help.

But just because things weren’t easy, mentally or emotionally, didn’t mean Victor couldn’t throw himself completely into Thanksgiving. It was the most perfect of all distractions. It was the first he’d be spending with his family, and it allowed hours of gorgeous conversation, eating sensational foods, and playing board games with his grandkids. Often, he caught himself thinking that his eldest grandchild—Rebecca’s daughter, Shelby—was something of a genius, and he even heard himself mention to her, “You know, you would be a brilliant doctor, if you wanted to get into that field.”

What was he saying? Did he really think anyone should get into this field? Did he really think anyone—including himself—was qualified?

A few hours after their first meal, Esme announced it was time for pie. Victor went into the kitchen to help slice and even smeared bits of his apple and pumpkin pies with whipped cream. Valerie was smiling at him from across the kitchen, eating her pumpkin pie, looking incredibly beautiful and young.

Suddenly, only Victor and Valerie were in the kitchen. Victor felt immediately calmer with his youngest. He almost caught himself telling her about Kade, about how he’d had a flashback to Joel’s baseball game, and it had felt like being run over.

“We haven’t told everyone the best news yet,” Valerie said suddenly.

Victor realized he couldn’t tell her. He couldn’t tell anyone. Not today.

“What is it, sweetheart?” Victor asked.

Valerie put her half-eaten pie to the side and clasped her hands together. “We’re buying a house!”

After that, Valerie threw her arms around her father and burst into tears.

Victor knew what these big decisions felt like. He understood they were enormous rocks on your chest, filled with questions.Is this the right thing? Is this really my future?

“That’s fantastic, honey,” he said.

Valerie went on to explain where it was, just a few minutes’ walk from Bethany’s and Rebecca’s, and that they could already move in the week before Christmas.

“I’m worried,” Valerie confessed. “I’m worried what all the stress will do to me. Maybe it’s too much?”

She meant too much for the baby.

Victor touched her shoulder. “We’re going to help you every step of the way, honey. We’ll make sure you and the baby and even Alex are cool, calm, and collected. Heck, we’ll even set up the Christmas tree in your new house the minute you move in.”

Valerie’s eyes glinted with happy tears.

Soon after, Esme, Bethany, and Rebecca returned to the kitchen to get more plates of pie for partners and children, and Valerie announced the house news to them, too. The kitchen was in an uproar. More alcohol-free wine was poured, and more celebrating ensued. Bethany and Rebecca were excited about thehouse’s location, talking about how they’d come over for coffee whenever they wanted.

“We can even borrow cups of sugar from each other!” Rebecca cried.

“I think it’ll be me borrowing cups of sugar from you.” Valerie laughed. “You’re both the responsible older sisters.”

Rebecca and Bethany laughed in agreement.

“All right. But we can be there every step of the way with the baby!” Bethany assured her. “We can babysit!”

Victor’s eyes filled with tears. No matter how beautiful this moment was or how gorgeous it was to imagine his daughters’ lives together after this, he still struggled from last night’s meeting with Kade. He just wished things could be different.

---