Angel's Peak (35 page)

“I’m thinking of selling my condo. I might put it on the market after Christmas. I’d divvy up all the furniture and keepsakes I’ve been polishing, dusting and storing for over forty years, of course. Is there anything in particular you’d like to have?”

“Wait, wait, wait,” he said. “You’re getting rid of everything?”

“Not everything,” she corrected. “But definitely the furniture that came from Illinois, the crystal and china that was left by my mother and your father’s mother, and absolutely all the things from your childhoods that I’ve kept safe. I think it’s time you boys take charge of your own fifth-grade report cards and prom pictures.”

“I see,” he said warily. “And what are you going to sit on? Sleep on?”

“Well, that’s a rather long story, but the short version is that I haven’t refused to date at all. In fact, I’ve had quite a few dates with a gentleman friend I met in Virgin River. George Davenport—that nice friend of Pastor Kincaid’s who Luke accused me of brushing off.”

Aiden was quiet for a moment. “Are you getting married or something?” he asked cautiously.

“No.” She laughed. “That would be premature. I’ve only known him for a short time. Although I’ve talked to him every day since before Thanksgiving, and we had several long lunches when we were both in California.”

“All right, let’s back up a little bit. You didn’t brush him off, after all, and—”

“Oh, but I did! I was rude, in fact, and I apologized, and we had lunch and began to get to know each other. And I found out I actually liked him. He’s very nice. We have a lot in common, it turns out.”

“But you’re thinking of selling your condo,” Aiden said. “What are you planning to do?”

“Travel,” she said. “We got to talking about how spread out our families are. He has a couple of grown, married stepsons who have children—children who consider him their grandfather. And my sons are all over the country. Sean and Luke might be more or less in the same place right now, but that’s temporary. And with Rosie and a baby on the way…But that’s only part of it—getting around to see all the grandchildren. There are so many things I’ve never seen—from the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone! I’m not getting any younger, you know.”

“And you’re planning to travel with this George? This man I’ve met once?”

“I plan to introduce him to everyone over the Christmas holiday,” she answered calmly. “He’ll be in Virgin River, visiting Noah’s family, and all you boys will be around to meet him again.”

“How nice, Mother,” Aiden said sarcastically. “You’re going to introduce him, and then you’re going to take off with him? To see the sights? This man we don’t know at all and you barely know?”

“Please, don’t be ridiculous.” She laughed. “I thought maybe Sean or Luke might overreact, but I thought you, who lectured me about the part of my life that’s not over, would remain calm and curious.”

“All right—here’s calm and curious. You’re planning to introduce us to this man and then go traveling with him?”

“Not exactly. We’ve only known each other for a little while. What I’m going to do is continue to get to know him. I’ll visit him in Seattle and he’ll visit me in Phoenix and we’ll meet in Virgin River a time or two. He’s a professor, you know, and he’s finishing out the term. We also e-mail and talk on the phone. If, at the end of the term in June, we haven’t changed our minds, then we’ll do some traveling together.”

“I see,” Aiden said calmly. “Then you’re getting married?”

“I don’t exactly know,” she answered. “It’s something to think about, but really, Aiden, I don’t feel in a big hurry to make that kind of commitment right now. However, I do think he has a point—we’re getting a little too old to put off doing the things we’ve always wanted to do—like travel. And there are practical considerations—like Social Security benefits, pensions, that sort of thing. I’d have to give it a lot of serious thought.” Then she shrugged. “I might not have made up my mind about that by June. I might want to test the waters a bit. You know? See if our rapport is as good when we spend a great deal of time together. As good as the visits, phone calls and e-mails.”

Aiden’s face was getting red. “So, you’re going to sell your condo, give away your furniture and go traveling? And if it doesn’t work out?”

“I suppose I’ll have to say, sorry, it didn’t work out. And then I’ll find an apartment or small house near one of you boys. I’m trying to stay flexible. I’ve gotten a little tired of being such a stick-in-the-mud.”

“I see. You’re going to spend your life savings on plane tickets? Hotel rooms?”

“No, Aiden,” she said with a laugh. “George is buying a nice, new RV. He’s been looking around, sending me pictures of the various models. He’s bringing brochures to Virgin River. These new RVs? They’re every bit as big and modern as the condo I’m living in!”

“Mother! Have you lost your mind?”

“Well, actually, once I started thinking about this adventure, I decided I’d lost my mind by closing myself off so much. I’ve just been marking time for the past twelve years. I stay very busy, you know, but there hasn’t been much excitement in my life. I haven’t really looked forward to much. You boys are wonderful about visiting when you can, but it hasn’t exactly escaped my notice that you each have a three-day limit. I haven’t been as excited as this in years!”

“I don’t know what to say, Mother. This is sudden, it’s a little crazy, and—”

She looked at her watch. “We have four hours for you to get right with the idea. I’m not the only one who will have six months to find out everything about George I want to know—so do you and your brothers. I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to answer any of your questions.”

“Great.” Aiden sulked.

“There’s a reason I wanted to talk to you first, Aiden. You’ve always been the voice of reason in our family. I think you get that from my father—he was like that. So, we’re about to have one of the best holidays ever! Our first with Rosie, a new baby coming in the summer, Luke married, Sean engaged, all my boys together. I’m not going to have that ruined with a lot of high drama from a bunch of overprotective pups who can’t be bothered to spend more than a long weekend with me, anyway. I’m ready for some company! I’m ready for some fun! Get to know George to your heart’s content, ask anything you like, but I’m hoping you can keep your brothers from going off the deep end.” She reached over and touched his shoulder as he drove. “I’m counting on you, Aiden.”

He grumbled something. And grumbled and grumbled.

“What’s that, sweetheart?” she asked.

“I said, you’ve gone from the nun wannabe prude who wouldn’t have a date in twelve years to a crazy woman who plans to take off in a Winnebago with an old man none of us knows and live in sin, and all he has to recommend him is that he’s the friend of some Presbyterian minister! And you expect me to sell this idea to my brothers?”

She couldn’t help it, she burst into laughter. “Nun wannabe prude? I guess I’ll have to live with that, though it sounds pathetic. And George isn’t just a friend of a minister, Aiden. As it turns out, he’s an ordained minister, as well. Presbyterian.”

Aiden checked his rearview mirror, turned on his signal and pulled onto the freeway’s shoulder. He put the car in Park and turned toward Maureen. He looked at her for a long moment. And then he said, “Who are you and what have you done with my mother?”

Sean arrived at Franci’s house on December 23 at about ten in the evening. He had called at four, said he was finishing up his out-processing at Beale Air Force Base and would be on his way as soon as possible. The front door was unlocked when he arrived and he walked in, tossing his packed duffel on the floor just inside the door.

In seconds, she was in his arms. “Are you okay?” she asked him.

“I’m okay,” he said. “I got everything done. I don’t have to go back to Beale at all. On January 15 I leave for Iraq out of San Francisco. But we’re so lucky, Fran—a six-month deployment, then a year at Air Command and Staff College. It could’ve sucked way worse than this. Have you told anyone?”

She shook her head.

“Not even Rosie?”

“We should do that together.”

Sean got his orders a week ago and the first person he told was Franci. He would go to Iraq to fly a U-2 on a UN peacekeeping surveillance mission. He’d relieve one of the aircraft commanders who had been there since July. Then, his alternate position for the Air Force Air Command and Staff College had been upgraded and he’d have a year in residence in Alabama—a very hard slot to get. All things considered, it was a gift. He could’ve been sent to Iraq for a year; he could’ve lost that ACSC slot altogether. He almost felt as if he was stealing.

“The movers came, put everything from my house in storage,” Sean said. “The Realtor has instructions to try to sell it, and if after ninety days passes with no sale, the property management division of her company will rent it. There’s nothing for you to do. Except, have you thought about—”

“Yes,” she said, nodding. “Let’s get married before you go.”

“I don’t want it to be sad,” he said. “It’s not sad—it’ll be the happiest day of my life. But if you don’t have time to plan a pretty wedding…”

“I bought a dress,” she said, smiling broadly. “I bought a dress, made a list, called that minister in Virgin River and swore him to secrecy. Tomorrow at breakfast we’ll tell Rosie about your orders, about our wedding.”

“You’re sure? I’m not suggesting this because I’m afraid something will happen. Nothing will happen—I’m going to be flying one of the safest, most protected aircraft in that part of the world. But if I step in front of a jeep and get myself killed, I want the air force to take care of you and Rosie.”

She rubbed her fingers along the dark blond hair at his temple. “I’m not worried about anything happening to you. I’m not afraid. I just want to be your wife.” She grinned. “I want the piece of paper.”

“My mother will be ecstatic,” he said.

“Your mother is turning the family upside down,” she told him. “I can’t wait to fill you in. All your brothers are here and she has plans that they—”

“Oh, I already know,” he said. “Aiden called and filled me in. We’re under strict orders not to screw up Saint Maureen’s Christmas with Rosie by acting out about her new plans. Besides, I don’t want to talk about my mother or my brothers tonight,” he said, pulling her against him. “I want to go kiss Rosie, make sure she’s sound asleep and then get you alone. All alone, with the door closed.”

Colin and Patrick arrived in Virgin River on the twenty-third and did a little grumbling about Maureen’s proposed adventure, even suggesting once or twice that she’d officially lost her mind completely. But early on the twenty-fourth George paid his first visit to Luke’s house, and it didn’t take them long to begin joking about this nutty idea, this idea that no one was going to take with complete seriousness until certain things happened—like the sale of the condo, the purchase of an RV, the solidification of these crazy plans. The quick acceptance of George came not so much because of George’s natural wit and charm, but because Maureen was so different when he was around. He gentled her; her smile was almost girlish, and the Enforcer had turned into a woman in love. After a couple of hours of general comradery, Colin shook George’s hand and said, “My man, we should have hired you years ago to soften up the old girl.”

“I heard that,” Maureen said from the kitchen.

The next day when everyone was milling around in Luke’s house Rosie burst through the door, coat open and curls flying. She looked around at all the people, hunting for her grandmother. When she spotted her in the kitchen, she squealed and ran to her. “Gramma Moween! Mommy and Daddy is habbing a wedding! And then Daddy’s going to Iwack! It’s bery important!”

Dead silence hung in the air. The men in the living room all slowly stood.

Maureen smoothed Rosie’s curls. “Is that right?” she asked.

“Uh-huh. And before he goes to Iwack, we’re getting us a cawendar and I will make a X on ebry day till he comes home. He’s going in his plane—’member his plane? The big plane? It’s a bery important job!” She stopped talking for a moment and looked around at the room full of people. Softly, she asked her grandmother, “Is that the uncles?”

“They are,” Maureen said. “And very anxious to meet you.” She laughed softly. “You always enter a room with flair, Rosie, I’ll give you that.”

The door opened and Franci preceded Sean into the house. They took in the still, silent crowd, Rosie with her arms locked around Maureen’s neck. Sean smiled. “Well, I guess you got the news,” he said. He hooked an arm around Franci’s shoulders. “Having a daughter like Rosie is better than a town crier. If you can stick around a few extra days, there’s going to be a wedding.”

On December 27 there was a notice on the door of the bar that said that Jack’s would be closed at 5:00 p.m. for a private party. Paige and Preacher worked all day to prepare a wonderful prime-rib dinner with all the trimmings. Preacher worked his art on a beautiful, two-tiered white wedding cake. Maureen and Shelby were at the bar promptly at five, putting out centerpieces they’d made themselves—pine boughs strung with holly and white roses. The Riordan brothers made a special run into the valley for wine and champagne to add to the bar stock, while Ellie and Noah Baldwin showed up with rolls of wide, silver ribbon, white paper doves and strands of small twinkling lights to decorate the bar and buffet table. The bar was transformed for a wedding reception.

At a little before 7:00 p.m. people started to gather around outside the bar, bundled up in their finest outdoor suits, coats and capes. By the time Jack turned on the Christmas tree lights at exactly seven, there were sixty people holding small lit candles.

With precision timing, Noah took his place in front of Virgin River’s very special tree—decorated in red, white, blue and gold, adorned with military unit patches. He had his Bible in hand, standing before a formidable group of Riordans, friends and neighbors. George held Maureen’s hand and Vivian looped her arm through Carl’s. For this unusual wedding there were no chairs; the ceremony wouldn’t be long and the setting was perfect. They made a wide semicircle around the tree, about five rows deep.