“What do you mean?”
“I took every penny my husband had in the bank and I’m going to use it to start life somewhere else. Anywhere else.”
Her mother gasped, “You can’t.”
“And I never want to see you or Father ever again.”
Tears in her eyes, her mother looked away from Caro’s quiet wrath. Her pain was plain.
Drake said, “You’re welcome to stay here if you need time to think about what you want to do.”
The generous offer filled Val’s heart. She reached up and covered his hand resting on her shoulder.
Her sister looked between them. “I’d like that.”
“Then consider it done,” Val said.
Her father reentered the room and announced, “We’re going back to the train station. Let’s go. The hack driver’s only going to wait a few minutes more.” Apparently, his conversation with the reverend hadn’t been resolved to his satisfaction.
Caro turned to him. “I’ll be staying, so I’ll get my trunk.”
“No, you aren’t.”
Drake moved to Caroline’s side. “I’ll bring it in. Come and show me which one is yours.”
Her father looked about to say something else, but a cool stare from Drake seemed to make him swallow his words. Drake escorted Caroline from the room.
“Mother, do you wish to stay, too? You’d be welcome.”
Her father’s eyes widened, and Val wondered if he’d ever considered what his life would be like without her, but her mother shook her head. “Your grandmother needs me.”
Val understood. “Tell her I send my love, and that Drake and I will be up to visit her before the weather turns cold.”
Her mother smiled. “She’ll like that.”
Her father declared, “Consider yourself dead to me, Valinda.”
That saddened her, but it was to be expected. He’d come to New Orleans with fiery expectations that were now ash. He wasn’t accustomed to losing and this was the response he felt would hold the most weight. “I’m sorry you feel that way. Have a safe journey home.”
He gave her such an odd look, she asked, “Did you expect me to beg or cry? I have a husband who loves me with all his heart, and I love him even more. If you don’t wish to be a part of our lives, so be it. We won’t love each other any less.”
She looked over and saw Drake standing in the doorway. It was the first time she’d publicly stated her feelings for him and she was glad he’d been there to hear them. He smiled. She smiled in reply.
Her parents left.