The Happiest Day

by Sandy Huth

  “I love you, too.”

  “Leave him. Leave him and come to New York, you and David. We can be a family finally.”

  “Peter, I could never do that. I have more children. I have a marriage I am committed to. I have the newspaper. Surely, you know that I could never come with you.”

  “I know. But I had to ask.” He sighed and lifted himself up on his elbow. “I have some thinking to do.”

  She reached up and stroked her fingers across his jaw. “About what?”

  “About changing my life.” He turned his mouth into her palm and kissed it. “I have missed the first ten years of my son’s life. I intend on being around for the next ten years, at least.”

  “Are you going to fight me for him?” Her lips trembled. “Peter, don’t take him from me, please.”

  “I need to be with him,” Peter said with quiet force. “I need to be his father. I could move back here.”

  “But…but your job! Peter, you’re a judge in New York—you would leave all of that behind?”

  “I would give up everything to be with my son. If I stay in New York, how often would I see him? Summers, holidays? That’s not enough for me. I want to be a part of his every day life.”

  “What would you do here?”

  “I could practice law again. I could buy a house.”

  She felt as if she didn’t have the right to ask but she plunged ahead. “Is there anyone you would be leaving behind?”

  “No one special.” He ran a thumb over her trembling lips. “There’s never been anyone since you.”

  “Peter, what happened to Blanche?”

  His eyes grew dark with emotion. “She hemorrhaged to death after a back-alley abortion.”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, stroking her hand during the side of his face.

  “It wasn’t her first, just her last.” He kissed the tip of her nose and sat up. “I’d better leave. I don’t think your husband would react well to finding me holding you on his sofa.” He stood and held out a hand to help her up. “Walk me to the door?”

  They walked slowly, stretching out their moments together, hands intertwined. “So what happens now?”

  “I’d like to pick David up from school and take him out for supper. I’ll talk to him then about my plans and see how he feels about it. He seems to be handling this well so far.”

  “He’s always been mature for his age.”

  “I could see that. You’ve raised a wonderful boy. Do you mind if I meet him after school?”

  “No, it’s fine.”

  “I’ll come to your office tomorrow and we’ll discuss my plans.”

  “All right. Just have him home early, especially if he has homework.”

  “Will do.” He looked over his shoulder to make sure they were alone, then bent to kiss her sweetly on the lips. “I love you.”

  She nodded against his lips, acknowledging him silently. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  That evening was tense again, especially once Theo learned that David would be spending time with Peter. “Son of a bitch,” he muttered in disgust when Rachel told him where their son was. “And so it begins.” He locked himself in his study the rest of the night.

  The small children didn’t understand where their brother was and bombarded Rachel was constant, unanswerable questions. Finally, in a fit of temper, she sent them all to bed early. She sat on the front porch, pretending to read a book. Around seven o’clock, Peter’s car arrived and David jumped out.

  “See you tomorrow!” David could be heard to say as he closed the car door.

  Peter didn’t get out of the car, but leaned down to look at Rachel where she sat. They held eyes for a moment then he raised his hand slightly from where it lay on the steering wheel. She responded with a slight wave of her own and he pulled away, driving down the long, winding drive.

  “Hi, Mom!” David greeted her with a broad smile. “I got an A on my history test.”

  “Great job, darling. I’m proud of you.” She rose to give him a hug. “How was school?”

  “It was fine. Guess what, Mom? Peter is going to move here. He said he’s ready to come home.”

  “How do you feel about that?”

  “I think it’s great. He’s all alone in New York but now he’ll be with family.”

  “There’s not much family left,” Rachel said gently. “His mother and step-father, as well as his sister and brother are all gone now.”

  “He has me, though,” David said hesitantly. “I mean, I am his son.”

  Rachel’s throat tightened and she had to force the words past the lump. “You’re absolutely right. He has you, and that’s the most important thing.”

  “I’m going to help him find a house to buy. I hope he finds one near here so it will be easy for me to see him.”

  “I’m sure he’ll appreciate your help. Davy…?”

  “What?”

  “You really like him, don’t you?”

  Her son grew serious—far too serious for one his age. “I really do, Mom. It’s strange. I mean, I never knew anything about him but now that I know him…I don’t know how to say it…” His dark eyebrows came together in a frown.

  “It’s like you always knew each other?”

  The frown cleared. “Yeah, I guess that’s right. Does that sound stupid?”

  “Not at all. I understand completely.” She ruffled his hair. “Come on, let’s go inside.”

  Peter made a brief visit to her the next day to inform her of what David had already told her. He was headed back to New York to resign his position on the bench, sell his home, and move his life back to Ohio.

  “I visited Bert last night,” he told her. “I told him everything. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind,” she assured him. “I don’t want to keep secrets anymore.” She pursed her lips a bit ruefully. “I suppose he’ll be along any moment to confront me.”

  “More than likely,” he agreed with a grin. “Listen, I can’t stay. I’m leaving on the ten o’clock train. I’m not sure how long this will all take but I’ll stay in touch.”

  “Through David,” she stated.

  His eyebrows raised in question. “Is that how you want it?”

  She looked down at her desk, pretending interest in the paperwork in front of her. “It would be for the best.”

  He came closer, leaning on her desk as he had done on that first day. This time, though, there was no anger, just curiosity. “Rae, how are things at home?”

  She looked up at him. “How do you think things are?”

  “Bressler is angry?”

  “Very.”

  “At you or me?”

  “He’s not discriminatory,” she said wryly, “but unfortunately I’m feeling the brunt of his anger.” She stood, arms crossed over her chest. “It’s my problem, Peter. I just have a lot of repairs to do.”

  His face was a mix of emotions and his mouth opened and closed once before he plunged in with, “Rachel, you’re sure? You’re sure you want to work on it? This could be so easy…”

  “Peter,” she stopped him gently. “I’m sure. I love Theo. I love my life. I don’t want anything to ruin what I have.”

  He nodded and straightened. “Can’t blame a guy for trying,” he said with a smile. “I want to give you a promise. I’m moving back here to be with David. I won’t interfere in your marriage, I promise.”

  “We could be friends again,” she suggested. “That would be interesting, wouldn’t it?”

  “We’ve got to be friends for David’s sake. Can you make Bressler see that?”

  “I will,” she promised. “It will just take some time.”

  “All right. I’ve got to go. I’ll be back soon.”

  “Travel safe,” she said, not moving from her defensive stance.

  He ran his eyes down to where she stood, arms crossed over her chest, chin firm. “You are just as hard-headed now as you were then. You know I want to kiss you, but I made a promise. Cou
ld you at least shake my hand?”

  She uncrossed her tense arms and held out her hand. He smiled in triumph and bent to kiss her hand. She closed her eyes briefly against the warmth of his lips on her skin. “Peter…” she said in a low voice.

  “I know, I know,” he said against her hand. “Take care, Rachel.”

  Then he was gone leaving the sensation of his lips on her hand. She raised her hand up to her lips and felt tears press her eyes.

  Chapter 25

  Peter returned to Cincinnati by the end of June and bought a house within a mile of the estate. He went to work for a moderate size law firm downtown, professing that he had no desire to run his own practice again. He wanted to have the time to spend with his son and was happy to carry a small caseload with plenty of flexibility.

  Rachel was thrilled to see the relationship between Peter and David develop. Peter, true to his word, did not interfere in her marriage and mainly communicated with her through their son. David spent every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday with Peter and even went on vacation with him in July. The younger children were confused at first, but soon accepted that their brother had another father with whom he would be spending time. They were young enough to not understand or question their mother’s convoluted past.

  It helped Bert to have his old friend back in town, as well. On the nights David was not with him, Peter usually dined with the widower and they rekindled their friendship. There was an unspoken sadness in which they both mourned the loss of Maryanne, but Bert healed enough to ask his parents to bring Alan and Rose home to him. The children were happy to be home again, with their father and with their cousins and friends. Life seemed to settle into an easy pattern.

  Only her relationship with Theo suffered. He could not seem to forgive her for her deception of David’s parentage. He was still a loving father to David and polite with Peter, but he and Rachel barely passed a word that didn’t involve the newspaper, the estate, or the children.

  In August, he entered her office after a brief knock and laid a single sheet of paper on her desk.

  “What’s this?” she asked.

  “It’s my resignation,” he answered. “I’ve accepted a job with Stars and Stripes.”

  She looked up at him, feeling her heart contract. How she wished she could go back to the days when he was in love with her. “I see. When were you going to tell me?”

  He frowned and motioned to the resignation letter. “I just did.”

  “No, you just told your newspaper editor. When were you going to tell your wife?”

  “I didn’t know there was a difference,” he said coldly.

  She tried to control the rush of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. “Apparently there isn’t. How much will you be travelling for this job?”

  “I’ll be based in London.”

  It was a blow she wasn’t expecting. The paper fell out of her hand. “You’re leaving for good?”

  “Not for good. I’ll just be based there. It doesn’t mean I won’t come home. The world is changing, Rachel, and someone needs to be there to report on it. This Hitler is a dangerous man. Do you even know what’s happening over there?”

  “Don’t patronize me, Theo,” she snapped. “Of course I do. I’m not just some girl who delivers coffee and cigarettes, I own this newspaper.”

  “Like I could forget that,” he muttered.

  They stared at each other with all the bitterness and resentment that had been building for years. “Fine,” she finally said. “I accept your resignation. Tonight at home, though, I do expect that we’ll talk about how this is going to work. You’ll have to tell the children.”

  He nodded and left her office without another word. Rachel followed and shut her office door. Stumbling to the sofa, she fell onto it and dissolved into tears. She never thought he would leave her, especially in this manner, without a definitive decision. He was just running away.

  It was Wednesday, she suddenly thought. Shit. She would have to talk to Peter about his night with David.

  His law office was only one block over from the newspaper building. Leaving her pocketbook and her umbrella, despite the growing storm clouds, she walked to his office building, her thoughts in turmoil.

  The receptionist recognized her immediately and assured her that she would summon Peter right away. Rachel sat on a chair in the reception area and stared desolately at a picture hanging on the wall without really seeing it.

  “Rae?” Peter came striding into the reception area. “What is it? Is David all right?”

  She looked up at him confusedly, forgetting for a moment why she was there. “Oh, no he’s fine. I just need to ask you if we can switch nights. I need David at home tonight.”

  “Of course.” He crouched down in front of her, taking her hands in his. “You’re as pale as a ghost. What’s wrong?”

  “Theo took a job with Stars and Stripes. He’s going to be based out of London.”

  “Does he want you and the children to go with him?” he asked already knowing that he would fight them tooth and nail to keep David here with him.

  She turned wounded eyes to him. “No.”

  Peter tried to hide his relief. “I see.” He lowered his voice. “Did he ask you for a divorce?”

  “No. He said that he’ll come home occasionally.”

  “So he’s leaving you in limbo. That’s not very fair of him.”

  “I think he must need time away to figure out what he wants. He’s so angry at me right now, it’s probably for the best.” She sighed, then straightened her spine. “I didn’t mean to burden you. I just needed to ask if David could be home tonight when he tells the children.”

  “Of course.”

  “I have to get back to work.”

  “Let me walk you back.” He talked to his receptionist quietly then offered his hand to Rachel to help her stand. “Come on, Spider. Let’s get you back to where the world makes sense.”

  She laughed a little. “That is true. Thanks for understanding, Peter.”

  As they walked outside, they heard the thunder rumbling. “Uh-oh,” he said. “I think we’re going to get drenched. Let’s hurry.”

  They got about half a block when the skies opened up and the rain began coming down in torrents. Peter pulled off his jacket and draped it over both of their heads.

  “Let’s run!” Rachel said, laughing.

  “You’ll turn an ankle in those heels!” He pulled her into a doorway where the brick archway afforded them protection from the rain. He pulled her close to him and looked upward. “It’s just one cloud. Once it passes, we should be able to make it the rest of the way without getting too soaked.”

  The air was humid and the steam rose from the sidewalk in steamy wisps. Rachel signed deeply and closed her eyes. “Oh Peter, when did it all get so complicated?”

  He chuckled. “When has it ever not been complicated?” He drew her head against his chest. “Just rest for a moment, sweetheart. Pretend that there’s nothing else you need to do but stand right here and listen to the rain.”

  They stood there together in silence, listening to the rain, his hand stroking her back in long sweeping strokes. “I wish…”

  “You wish what?” he asked, his voice husky.

  “Do you remember that first night we were together? At the beach? It seemed so simple.”

  “It was far from simple but it was one of the best nights of my life.”

  “Mine, too.” She felt his body growing hard against her and she knew she should pull away. “I’m breaking one of my rules right now.”

  “It seems like Bressler is changing the rules.”

  “Until he divorces me, I’m not free.”

  “Do you want him to divorce you?”

  “No,” she answered honestly. “I don’t want another marriage to be a failure.”

  “Rachel, you did everything you could to be a good wife to Norris.”

  “Having an affair with you was not exactly the decision a loya
l wife makes.”

  “It was more complex than that.”

  She accepted that wordlessly. “The rain is stopping.” She pulled slightly and he let her go. “I’ll be fine from here.”

  He nodded. “All right. I hope everything goes all right for you tonight. Could I have David tomorrow night?”

  “Of course.” She stepped down from the doorway and turned back. “Peter, thank you. No matter what we’ve been through, you are always there for me.”

  “I love you,” he said simply. “I could no more turn my back on you then stop breathing.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “I…I wish things could be different.”

  “I know.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Go on now. Call me if you need me.”

  Theo sat the children down that night after dinner and told them the news. Thankfully, they found it exciting that their father was going to be working for Stars and Stripes and only Matthew and David understood that this meant that they would not get to see their father very often.

  “I’ll write every day,” Theo promised, “and come home when I can.” He swung three year old Lily up into his arms. “Promise me you won’t grow up too fast, Lily-belle.”

  “I promise,” she giggled, throwing her chubby arms around his neck.

  Rachel saw the moment of pain in his face and had to turn away. Up in their bedroom later that night, as he began packing for his journey, she said, “You don’t have to leave them, you know. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if you divorced me. You could still be with the children.”

  “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” His jaw was set tightly. “That would leave a clear pathway for you and MacGregor to be together again. He’s already raising one of my children, I’ll be damned if he’ll raise the rest of them.”

  “Theo, I have no intention of being with Peter.”

  “It’s just a matter of time.”

  “So you’re willing to sacrifice being with your own children just because you don’t trust me? Just because you think I’m not committed to this marriage?”

  “I’m leaving, Rachel, because I’m smothered. I don’t want to be here any longer. I want to be a part of something bigger than this Midwestern city and your middle-of-the-road newspaper.”