Nico released her to pull up the photos on Roger’s phone, the ones of the bakery and the two women.
“Rory?” said Roger faintly. “Her name is Rory.” He sat down with a bump on the rock. “Rory. I love that name.”
Valerie gave him a quick summary of what Andrew had told her.
“Is she…?” Roger paused. “Do you think she’s happy?” He looked at the photo again. “This Alon guy loved her, I can tell. Look how proud he is. And Yvette. He loved them both.” He sounded relieved.
“Rog?” David’s voice echoed through the trees. “Roger!”
Roger didn’t look up from the photo. “Over here,” he called.
David appeared a minute later, puffing and red-faced from the exertion. He had a six-pack in one hand, a bottle of whiskey in the other, and stopped when he saw Valerie and Nico.
“She’s gone,” he said to Roger. “She and Brayden packed up and left. I thought you’d like to know.”
“Thanks.”
David shifted back and forth. “Is it all true? What those two said?” He paused. “Valerie and Nico.”
“Looks like.” Roger’s lips were trembling. “My daughter’s name is Rory. She’s in BC. I just found out.”
“When?”
“About thirty seconds ago.”
“What?” David’s jaw dropped. “God, you actually found her.” He glanced at Valerie. “The real her?”
Roger passed over the phone with the photo. “Here she is.”
“Nice-looking girl,” David said. “Lucky she took after her mom.”
Roger laughed, but it was short and then he fell silent. David cleared his throat. “Hey.”
“What?”
“I didn’t know anything about your kid.” He looked up, his face surprisingly vulnerable. “I’d never do that, Rog. I swear. You’re my brother. What Penny did was messed up. I don’t know how she could have done that. Dad I can see, but Penny?”
“I know,” Roger said. “Me neither.”
David held out one of the beers. “Thought you could use some company, though.”
Roger grabbed it. “I’d like that.”
That was Valerie and Nico’s cue to leave. Actually, they probably should have left before this brotherly bonding moment, but it had seemed awkward to interrupt. They stood and so did Roger.
“I get if you want to leave, but you’re welcome to stay,” he said. “Have a real vacation.”
“Thanks, but we’re going to a friend’s house,” said Valerie. “I should get back to the city soon. I need to get Ad Astra going.” Andfigure out her sublet situation, but now was not the time to bring that up.
“I’m here to help.” Roger pulled her into a bear hug, his face wet with tears. “Thank you,” he said. She felt him nod at Nico. “Both of you.”
He released Valerie, and Nico helped her over the rocks. They were almost at the path when Roger called out.
“Before you go, can you text me Yvette’s number? I’ve missed thirty years. I’m not going to miss a second more.”
Nico sent the text and Valerie heard the small ping from Roger’s phone. There was almost too much to discuss as they walked back, and Valerie took refuge in Nico’s comforting silence as he started the car and they went down the drive.
“Hey,” said Valerie, squinting into the distance. “Look. Do you see that?”
