His words stung. Vince partied whenever he wanted, but her freedom? Gone. Even when she was pregnant with Tessa, he’d stay out late, leaving her alone. After Tessa’s birth, his control tightened. Valerie took freelance copyediting gigs during maternity leave, polishing reports for local businesses to make ends meet. But Vince dismissed her efforts, insisting he was the family’s sole provider. Her sacrifices—helping her parents, caring for Tessa—meant nothing to him.
When her dad, Victor, got sick, Valerie spent every spare moment with him. He was her confidant, her hero. Vince resented it, accusing her of neglecting him. His outbursts grew scarier, and she feared he’d turn violent, especially around Tessa.
Her mom, Linda, urged her to stay. “He’s her father, Valerie. You chose him. Make it work.”
But Valerie’s patience ran dry. Vince’s jealousy, restrictions, and constant criticism suffocated her. When she mentioned divorce, he exploded, refusing to let her go. The fights escalated, and she knew staying was dangerous.
Her parents sided with Vince, worried she couldn’t raise Tessa alone. But Victor, in his final days, gave her strength.
“Listen to your heart,” he told her. “If Vince isn’t right for you, leave. Don’t waste your life on regrets.”
Those words became her mantra. Against her mom’s protests, Valerie filed for divorce, packed up, and moved to Chicago with Tessa, chasing a fresh start.
Now, love felt like a distant dream. Vince’s betrayal had scarred her. As she tucked Tessa into bed that night, her daughter’s voice broke the silence.
“Mom, are you gonna work in a big office?”
“I hope so, sweetie,” Valerie said, brushing Tessa’s hair. “Today’s interview got postponed, but I’ll try again soon.”
“If you really want it, they’ll pick you!” Tessa said confidently.
“I think so too,” Valerie chuckled.
“I have a dream, Mom,” Tessa said, yawning. “I see us at an ice cream shop, eating sundaes together.”
“That’s an easy one,” Valerie laughed. “Once I get a job, we’ll hit the ice cream shop every weekend.”
Tessa grinned and drifted off. Valerie sat beside her, guilt gnawing at her. She couldn’t even afford a $3 sundae right now. She hated letting Tessa down.
The next morning, Valerie woke early, determined to make the day count. She whipped up pancakes with the last of the milk—Tessa’s favorite. Their apartment was modest, but it was filled with love, and that mattered more than anything.
After breakfast, they strolled to a nearby playground, Tessa giggling as she splashed in a fountain. Valerie watched, her resolve hardening. Leaving Peoria was the right call. Back there, Vince would’ve hounded her, and Linda would’ve pressured her to reconcile. Here, she controlled her own path.
Valerie knew little about her dad’s family. Victor had mentioned his parents disapproved of his marriage to Linda, cutting contact after. Valerie didn’t even know if her grandparents were alive, but she’d always wanted to meet them, to understand their story.
That evening, she prepped for the rescheduled interview. This was her shot. Failure wasn’t an option—her bank account was nearly empty. She walked to the bus stop to save on fare, her stomach in knots.
At the office, she sat in the waiting area, feeling out of place among the sharp suits and polished briefcases. She smoothed her simple blouse, doubting herself. A young receptionist checked her name and pointed to a door.
“You’re up,” the woman said with a smile.
Valerie stood, took a deep breath, and walked in. Behind a massive desk sat an older man. Her jaw dropped—it was Stephen, the man she’d helped on the street.
“Hi, I’m here for the interview,” she said, her voice shaky.
Stephen’s face lit up. “No way—it’s you! What a coincidence!”
“Yeah, it’s me,” she laughed, relaxing. “How’re you feeling?”
“Much better, especially seeing you,” he said warmly.
“Good to hear,” she said, her nerves easing. “So, about the job…”
“You’re here for the assistant manager role?” Stephen asked, incredulous. “How has someone as kind and sharp as you not been snapped up already?”
Valerie blushed, hope flickering. Stephen seemed genuinely kind.
“Can I see your resume?” he asked, then grinned. “Though, honestly, I’d hire you on the spot.”
Her heart soared. She pictured celebrating with Tessa over ice cream. But as Stephen skimmed her resume, his expression changed. He paled, gripping the desk.
“Everything okay?” she asked, concerned.
“You lived on Maple Street in Peoria?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah, why?” she replied, confused.
Stephen poured a glass of water, drank it in one gulp, and took a deep breath.
“Valerie, are you… my granddaughter?”
“What?” She stared, dumbfounded.
“Victor… he was my son. Your father. I’m your grandfather,” he said, his voice breaking.
Valerie froze, processing his words. He pulled an old photo from his briefcase—a young boy, identical to a picture of her dad she kept at home.