Victoria chuckled as she continued into the hallway, walking the short distance to where the wall fell away and opened to the large living room.
She scanned the people there, her gaze magnetically drawn to Cillian first, as usual. My, he looked handsome in his charcoal blazer layered over a black turtleneck that perfectly complimented his dark coloring and broad-shouldered physique.
His gaze found hers across the space, his mouth tugging up at the corner. Since he was speaking with Torin, Victoria only smiled, then continued to look for her dad.
There he was. Dad stood with Treese near the modern fireplace, discussing something Victoria couldn’t hear.
Treese laughed, picking a bit of nonexistent lint off his black blazer. Their father never allowed anything to blemish his deportment. But Treese was the only one who could behave so familiarly with him, and she always took advantage of it.
Victoria regretted the thought—or rather, the resentful edge to it—as soon as it passed through her mind. It was an unbelievable blessing that her siblings had returned to getting along with each other and to their former relationship status with their father. That meant Robert was still effortlessly staying on Dad’s good side, Hank was trying to bear the weight of his expectations, Spring was planning to patch things up, and Treese was still his princess.
Their father, for his part, had seemed to decide to let pass the things his children had said against him, at least for now. He seemed remarkably unchanged and unaffected by it, which was perhaps the most surprising development of all. Hopefully, he wasn’t merely suppressing his true feelings—anger, resentment, or hurt—only to have them explode at a later date or inform his treatment of the children who had confronted him.
The appearance of peace felt tenuous, fragile, and artificial. But such had been the so-called peace that Victoria had created during most of her siblings’ lives. If, or when, the veneer fell away, she was prepared to respond differently than she had in the past. She would speak the truth in love, even to her father, instead of guiding her siblings to please him at any cost. When he was wrong, she would speak out and try to prevent any further harm to her family, some of which she had unintentionally facilitated.
But at least for the present, the birthday dinner disaster hadn’t had as much of a damaging effect as Victoria had feared. Except with Treese. She’d barely spoken to Victoria since, losing her smile and sense of humor whenever Victoria entered a room.
And she noticeably kept her distance from Sydney and her new baby during the party this evening.
Victoria swung her gaze to the armchair tucked into a corner of the room where Sydney held her daughter in her arms. It was so kind of Robert to invite her to the celebration, especially given her unwitting involvement in their family’s division and her brother’s violence.
Sydney looked up, and Victoria headed her way.
Victoria paused by the empty chair angled to face Sydney’s. “Mind if I join you two?”
Sydney shook her head with a bright smile. “Sure.” She looked down at her sweet daughter. “Mariah’s sleeping.” The wonder in the young mother’s tone warmed Victoria’s heart. What a gift to have been a part of keeping this mother and daughter together.
Victoria leaned closer to see the baby’s perfect, tiny features. “She’s so beautiful.”
“Isn’t she?” Disbelief and love lit Sydney’s face as she studied her baby. “Warren says she looks more like me than Lawrence.”
Victoria paused before answering, not wanting to misstep and cause any hurt.
Sydney’s gaze jumped to Victoria’s face as her mouth rounded. “Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned them.”
Victoria gave her a gentle smile. “No, of course you can mention them, Sydney. Warren is your family, and I know you still miss Lawrence.”
“Not really.” The girl lifted one shoulder. “I mean, he’ll always be Mariah’s dad, so there’s that. But I’m getting it now. Robert’s helping me with all that stuff. I know Lawrence never loved me.” She nodded slowly. “I’m okay with that.”
“That’s wonderful, Sydney. You know I’m here, as well, whenever you need to talk. And God is even more available than I am. Bring your worries and cares to Him, and He’ll help you.”
“I’m doing that more now. Kathleen talks about that in Bible study. I think it’s really helping. I’m starting to feel…different about things.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.” What a hopeful sign that Sydney was still in Kathleen’s Bible study, which the girl had joined shortly after moving into the room that had opened up at Life Pregnancy Care Center. Bible study participation was mandatory for the residents, but it sounded like the Lord was creating in Sydney a desire for Him and His Word. Perhaps soon, He would also give Sydney new life in Him.
“I’m starting to get how you could forgive Warren.” Sydney’s tone grew more serious as she met Victoria’s gaze. “Even after he tried to kill you. And he did kill your friend.” Her mouth pulled into a frown. “I still can’t wrap my head around it. That he’d do anything like that.”
Victoria reached to cover the teen’s hand where it rested on Mariah’s blanket. “I know. I’m so sorry for the grief this is putting you through. But it wasn’t your fault. It was Warren’s decision to do those things.”
Sydney bit her lip and nodded.
“Have you seen him again?”
The teen took in a deep breath. “Yeah. I visit him every week. I’m the only family he’s got, and he was there for me when I messed up. Mom doesn’t want anything to do with him either now.”
“I’m sure he appreciates seeing you.”
Warren would have a long wait in jail before his case would come to court. Victoria’s dad had said the District Attorney assured him they would get a conviction and likely life in prison for the litany of crimes Warren had committed.
