Page 4 of A Chance at Forever
Nostalgia gripped Victoria. An overwhelming desire to return to her former life seized her heart. She missed Mia and Jonica and their husbands, Steve and Danny. They’d grown up together, and no one knew her better than they did. And she missed teaching, missed making a difference in her students’ lives. Victoria didn’t want to regret leaving her hometown and her close circle of friends and colleagues, but there were times, like now, when she couldn’t help it.
Her silence spoke for her.
“Come home, Tori,” Mia urged in a soft voice. “Your dad and your brothers will understand. They’ve never wanted anything for you but your happiness.”
*
Summertime in NewYork City. Heat shimmered off the pavement. It radiated through the windowpanes of Victoria’s high-rise office. She sipped a cup of lukewarm coffee and stared down at the people swarming the sidewalk. Where were they all going? What was it all for?
She couldn’t answer her questions about herself or them. Victoria turned away from the bank of windows and gazed around the elegant office Richard and her brothers took pride in remodeling and decorating for her. Guilt stung her. She wished it were her old classroom at Marysville High School.
Come home, Tori.
Without hesitation, Victoria picked up her landline office phone and called Mr. Noyes, the principal of Marysville High School. “Hi, Mr. Noyes. It’s Victoria Lockridge. How…?”
“Victoria! Well, it’s about time. And the answer is yes. Your old position is available. I’m sorry to say the drama department has suffered since you left, but I’m sure you’ll be able to revitalize it. So, will I see you in August? You didn’t allow your teaching certificate to expire, did you?”
Excitement rippled through her. “No, I didn’t. And, yes, I accept your offer. You’ll see me before August. I can’t wait to return home.”
The thrill she felt started to dissipate when she thought about abandoning her position with Lockridge Cosmetics, not to mention her family. Her mother had been the heart and soul of their family. When she passed away, it devastated Richard. To cope with his loss, he moved the business clear across the country to New York City and bought the farmhouse. He’d buried himself in his work, taking advantage of the opportunities the East provided and catapulting Lockridge Cosmetics to the forefront of the cosmetics industry. Now that they were forging ahead with plans to branch out into the fashion industry, Victoria planned to bail on them. She hoped Mia had been right when she’d said Richard and Victoria’s brothers would understand her decision to resign and return to her former career.
How to break the news to her family occupied Victoria’s mind most of the day. The gossip spreading through the office and the expressions of either sympathy or condemnation directed at her cemented her decision.
Dating Alan had thrust her into the public eye when she preferred to remain out of the spotlight. He had never understood her small-town values and had often ridiculed them. Looking back, Victoria realized how foolish she’d been. She didn’t have the experience to deal with men like Alan, and now she regretted her stupidity. By the end of the day, Victoria decided the best way to tell her family that she intended to resign and move back to California to resume her teaching career was to face it head on over dinner tonight. Waiting wouldn’t make it any easier.
*
On summer evenings,the Lockridges usually gathered on the patio for dinner. Tonight, Richard arrived home a half hour before his children and had already thrown thick T-bone steaks on the grill. After an affectionate greeting, Victoria changed her clothes and went down to the kitchen to prepare baked potatoes and corn-on-the-cob to accompany the steaks. Outside, she heard her father and brothers joking and laughing with one another, and her heart lurched. She would miss these moments when she left New York.
Victoria waited until dessert before she broached the subject of her leaving Lockridge Cosmetics. After she set bowls of ice cream, bananas, and various sundae toppings on the patio table and everyone helped themselves, she cleared her throat to get her family’s attention. “Uh, guys, I have something to tell you…”
Derek knew her all too well. “No, don’t say it. You’re resigning.”
Heads swiveled in her direction. “Honey, is that true?” Richard demanded.
Before she could respond, Carter interjected, “Tori? Is this about Alan? Did he do something else to you, other than cheating?”
Victoria lowered her head and gazed at the vanilla ice cream melting in her bowl. “It’s partly about Alan. I’m sorry, guys, but I don’t love the business the way you do.” She lifted her eyes. “I tried, Dad. For a while, working in Research and Development was exciting. I liked creating new products and bringing them to life. But…”
“But you love bringing plays to life on stage with your students more,” Carter finished.
She flashed him a grateful smile. “Yes, that’s it. And the good news, Dad, is that Mr. Noyes rehired me. The drama department is on life support. They need me.”
“Weneed you,” Derek mumbled.
Carter said something about being glad Alan was out of her life and out of their business, but Richard remained silent, peering at her. “Is that the truth?”
Victoria reached out and touched her father’s firm forearm. “It’s the truth, Dad. I know you’ve done your best to keep life simple for us, but as Lockridge Cosmetics expands, your workload is only going to increase. I don’t want that for myself, for you, either, if I’m being honest. You’re still young enough, and handsome, too, to find…”
He cut her off with a deep frown. “No, sweetheart. I’ve had my great love. No one could ever replace your mother. My love for her is eternal.” Richard patted her hand. “Go back home. Go with my blessing. Find your own great love story. Someone is waiting for you.”
A sob escaped Victoria’s throat. She threw her arms around her father. “Thanks, Dad. Thanks for always understanding and giving me what I need the most.”
“Always. You’re my only daughter, and I love you.”
She smiled through her tears. “I love you, too, Dad.”
“Tomorrow I’ll call a board meeting and announce your resignation. Is there anyone in your department you’d like to recommend to replace you?”
