Once the Haggerty family had been told a wedding was imminent, Paul called Joe. “How are those plans coming for Preacher and Mike?”
“Close to ready for you, buddy,” Joe said.
“Maybe you could sketch up another house and we could talk about design…”
“Yeah? What you got?” Joe asked.
Paul took a breath. “You’ll never believe it,” he said. “It didn’t go the way we thought it would. Vanni—she didn’t let me down easy. Turns out I was a little slow, which shouldn’t surprise you. We’re getting married.”
“Whoa! You serious?”
“Why wait?” Paul said. “It’s not like we need time to get to know each other.”
“But what about that little problem we talked about?”
“It turns out, it’s not my problem after all. And Vanni—God, man. She’s been just wonderful about everything—me taking so long to come clean, having a serious complication to work out, everything. We’re gonna get it done before Tom leaves for boot camp in two weeks. I thought maybe, if you had some plans lying around, it might be a good time to visit Virgin River. And if the plans work for your clients—I could stay right here and build.”
“Who’s the third set for?”
“Me and Vanni,” Paul said. “The general gave us a nice big parcel on the other side of the stable and, brother, having our own house down here sounds better all the time. Might as well build it before I get real busy.”
Joe laughed. “Good for you, man,” he said. “Any idea what you’re looking for?”
“Oh, yeah—Vanni loves my house in Grants Pass. But that’s set up for a bachelor or a couple without kids—sunken great room, that kind of thing. Raise the floor and level it, add a bedroom, more kitchen… You know what to do.”
“I know what to do.” Joe laughed.
“And come down for the wedding. It’s gonna be small and quick, but Jack tells me he’s calling the boys and there could be poker.”
“Deal me in.”
* * *
There was enough going on in Virgin River in June to create a great deal of excitement. First there was high-school graduation and the following weekend Vanni and Paul would be married. Somewhere between the two, Rick would be home on leave before shipping out to Iraq and for both his leave and the wedding, the rest of the marines would hit town.
Vanni had been busy in her father’s kitchen whenever she wasn’t tending to the baby, trying to prepare hors d’oeuvres for a Saturday-evening open house for Tom’s graduation. The youngsters would be roving from party to party and would barely make an appearance, but Walt still insisted Tom deserved a celebration of his own, not just one coupled with the wedding the following weekend. And he was right in this—Tom had graduated with honors and an appointment to West Point was a huge achievement. Even though Tom had a three-star for a father, it still required a near-perfect GPA and a congressional recommendation.
Vanni took a short break and, wiping her hands on a dish towel, walked out on the deck for some cool air. What she saw took her by surprise. Paul was standing in front of Matt’s grave. Memories of standing there herself came flooding back, and she walked down the deck stairs and across the lawn, up onto that small rise. “Paul?” she asked.
He turned, saw her there and gave her a small, sad smile, lifting his arm. “Aw, Vanni, Vanni…”
“Are you all right, Paul?”
“Sure,” he said, giving her shoulders a squeeze.
“You know, if we both start brooding at this grave, it’s going to drive Dad nuts.”
“I’ll try not to make a habit of it. Listen, can I say something? Just once, then I won’t again?”
“Paul, you can say anything to me. Are you missing him?”
“I’ll always miss him, honey. Sometimes I think about when we were just boys together and I can see it so clearly, it’s like being back there. When we were kids in high school, we never even talked about the Marine Corps. We talked about girls, sports, girls, tattoos, girls, trucks… He had all the girls, though. I never had any nerve. I wouldn’t have even had a prom date if Matt hadn’t made it happen. Who knew the crazy fool was going to make himself into a lifer.” Paul turned and held her upper arms in his big hands, looking down into her eyes. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?”
“I do,” she said, smiling.
“Well, I’d give my life for you, that’s how much. I’ve never been happier than these past few weeks. But I was just telling Matt—I’d give it all up and live alone and miserable and jealous till the end of time if I could get him back. He was the most amazing man, the most incredible friend. It would probably kill me, but I’d give this up if it meant he could live.”
Vanni put a hand along his cheek. “He knows that already, Paul. He always knew that.”
“You have to be real sad sometimes, honey. Even now. You don’t ever have to hide that from me. I’ll hold you through the tears now, just like I did before—and I won’t feel cheated. Not by a long shot.”
“Paul, I wouldn’t hide anything from you,” she said sweetly. “Not long after Matt and I met, I lost my mom—and she was the best friend I ever had. And then I lost my husband to a war. Do you have any idea what a gift I have in you? It was like being rescued. I didn’t know I could feel like this. I thought every day would hurt forever. It’s probably not really stronger than what I felt for Matt, but coming after all that loss and pain, it sure feels like a miracle to me. Oh—I’ll always miss him, too. I can’t help that. But I’m so grateful to have you in my life. I’m not giving you up.”
“I just wish there was a way I could know—I wish I knew he was okay with this—you and me.”
“Remember, I told you,” she said, smiling. “I ran it by him already. A few times. Before you ever let me know how you felt.”
“I wish I could know he forgives me for—for wanting you all those years you belonged to him…”
She laughed softly, sweetly. “I think you’re being silly now. You showed him such incredible respect, never letting anyone know. Paul, there’s nothing to forgive.”
“The night Mattie came, I was out here talking to him. Jack came and got me—he said Matt had moved on. He said we each have our destiny and Matt’s took him somewhere else.”
“Yeah—wherever he is, he’s tearing the place up, making people laugh, feel good. Paul, this would make Matt happy. You know how much you love him? He loved you that much or more. I can’t think of anyone he’d rather have raise his son.”
“I’ll do the best I can with that, honey. I’d sure like to make Matt proud. I’ll try to be as good a husband as Matt was….”
She shook her head and smiled at him. “You’re not going to have to try. As far as I can tell, you’re a natural.”
* * *
Jack stood on his front porch with his morning coffee. He saw something in the distance that caused his pulse to pick up. He looked out over the valley to the northeast and saw a thin column of gray smoke that wound its way to a plateau in the sky and he hoped, beyond hope, it was nothing to worry about. It had been an unusually dry spring.
Mel came outside and he dropped an arm around her shoulders as she snuggled close. “What is it?” she asked.
“Fire. Could be a controlled burn, could be wildfire. It’s been awful dry.”
“Has Virgin River ever been threatened by fire?”
“Not the town, no. There was a big one just north of here a few years ago. Right after Preacher showed up. Everyone pitched in. We dug a lot of ditches, hauled drinking water, drove trucks. Then we got certified in training so we could be ready.”
“What would happen?” she asked. “If a fire got too close?”
“Well,” he said, his arm tightening around her. “We’re sitting in the middle of a forest, Mel. This place could end up looking like the face of the moon.” He lifted his eyes to the horizon. “We need a good, solid rain. And there isn’t any forecasted. This forest is pure kindling.”
* * *
Tom graduated with honors and the general and Vanessa hosted a party at their home, open to all their friends and all of Tom’s friends. The young people were on the move—they’d spend the entire weekend going from one open house to another. Tom and Brenda and some of their friends spent about an hour at the Booth home before taking off for other graduation parties, but the adults didn’t mind a bit that they were left to themselves.
Everyone dropped by to pass along their congratulations, including Muriel St. Claire.
“Can we count on you to come to the wedding next Saturday?” Vanessa asked her.
“Oh, sweetheart, thank you for including me. Actually, I’m driving to Sebastapol to pick up a dog. A little guy named Buff. Another Lab—this one is yellow. I’ve got a good hunter already—Luce, my little girl and best friend, a year and a half and brilliant. But no dog should grow up alone.” And then she grinned. “But I hope to see you soon after the wedding. It would be lovely to have dinner with you and Paul. I’ll speak to Walt about that, since I can’t cook.”
“At all?” Vanessa asked.
Muriel shrugged. “At all. I’d like you to know, though, I have other talents. I can paint, hang paper, sand and varnish, grow vegetables, hunt duck and tell jokes. Besides, I heard there’s great takeout at Jack’s.”
“There is.” Vanni smiled. “And you ride, too.”
“I do. I have two horses with me. We should go out for a ride sometime. We can meet midway between our houses along the river.”
“I would like that so much,” Vanni said. “We have a lot to talk about.”
“Yes, we do,” Muriel agreed, then gave Vanessa a conspiratorial wink.
* * *
As he was leaving the party Tom took Paul aside for a minute. Just outside the closed front door, Tom asked, “So. You ready to take on Vanessa?”
“More than ready, pal.”
“Great, man. I couldn’t have planned this better myself.”
“Good. I hoped you’d say that.”
Tom took a matchbook out of his pocket and flipped it around in his hand. “There’s an all-night graduation party tonight that Brenda and I are going to,” he said. He put the matchbook in Paul’s hand. “Except we’re not going to it. Someone should know where we are, in case there’s any kind of emergency. Someone who can keep his big mouth shut.”
Paul looked at the matchbook. The Brookstone Inn. He met eyes with Tom.
“Someone who isn’t going to ask me one more time if I have a condom in my pocket.”
“Why would I ask that?” Paul said. “You’re way outta my league, brother.”
“Just in case someone has a heart attack or something.”
“Thanks,” Paul said, slipping the matchbook in his pocket. “I appreciate that you think smart. Have a good time.”
“See you tomorrow.” And he was gone.
When Paul went back in the house, Vanni was waiting for him. “What was that about?”
Paul leaned close to her ear. “Just asking your brother’s permission to be his brother-in-law,” Paul said. “It’s official. I’m welcomed to the family.”
* * *
Tom checked into the Brookstone in Ferndale while Brenda waited in the car. The way it had gone lately, they’d make wild love, and then there would be some tears about him leaving, and then they’d make wild love again, then they’d have a few more tears. There hadn’t been any long nights together since that first time at his house, but there had been some remarkable sessions, here and there, especially evenings at the Booth house when Vanni was in Grants Pass and Walt was down at Bodega Bay with Shelby.
“Before you start crying again, I have something for you,” he said.
“You do?”
“I do.” He leaned over the bed and dug around on the floor for his pants, pulling a box out of the pocket. He passed it to her. “It’s how I feel about you.”
She opened the box and there, curled around a velvet circle, was a sparkling diamond bracelet. She was speechless. “My God,” she finally said. “My God.”
“Here’s how I feel. If we somehow manage to keep it together, through separations and school and all that stuff, I want to be with you forever. I didn’t want to get you a ring—that would be too crazy. I mean, a senior in high school wearing an engagement ring? A senior like you who practically aced the SATs and is going all the way—you can’t be wearing an engagement ring. I want you to be thinking about yourself now—you’re just a girl.” He took the bracelet out of the box and put it on her wrist. “But you can wear this. To remind you that I love you. And I’m not leaving you to be away from you, but to start building what we’re going to have.”
“Oh God,” she said again. “Is it real?”
He laughed. “It actually is.”
“How could you afford this?”
“I have a couple of bucks and college is paid for by the Army. It’s not the best diamond bracelet ever made and the rocks are real little, but for your first one, it’s okay. Later, I’ll get you better diamonds, I promise. Brenda, I love you, honey. And I need you to stop crying. Leaving is hard enough. I’ll be back in August for a little while, before I start West Point. You can make it till then, can’t you?”
“I can make it as long as you need me to,” she said.
“It’s not going to be easy, you know. Even if you go to school in New York. We’re going to be mostly separated for four years, maybe five while you finish—”
“No,” she said. “Four. I’m going to finish college in three.” She stared at her bracelet, then when she lifted her eyes to his, she raised one light brown brow and smiled. “Do you have any doubt I can do that?”
He grinned at her. “None whatsoever.”
“Then I’m going wherever you go, Tom.”
“The Army is going to keep me from getting married while I’m at West Point. This next four years, this is when we’re going to find out what we’re made of, because Army life isn’t easy. It’s good, and it’s strong, but it’s not easy. My dad always said that sometimes the Army spouses have to be tougher than the soldiers—my mom was left to raise us alone so many times. I know she was lonely, sometimes scared, and she was probably pissed some of the time, but she was so proud of my dad’s work. You’d never know it was hard for her. You have to know that going in, it’s just not easy. If you change your mind, if someone else comes along that can offer you—”
She put a hand against his cheek. “What if someone comes along for you?” she asked.
“Brenda—I think all I’m going to get in the Army are sore muscles and a completely worn-out brain.”
“You never know—there could be some really sexy drill sergeant,” she said with a laugh.
“Right,” he said. “Listen to me now. My mind is made up, but I want you to promise me—keep your options open. Have fun, be a single girl and enjoy yourself. Take a good hard look around you, a long look at the world. When this four years is up, you have to be sure. You have to think I’m your best choice—not your only choice. I don’t want you to ever think you made a mistake, betting on me and this life. Because if you’re still my girl, I’m going to marry you the first day I can, and then I’m not letting you go without a fight.”
“I’ll keep my eyes open, Tommy,” she said. “But I bet my heart will only be able to see you. And I’ll miss you so much, but I’m proud of you. I know we’re pretty young—but I’m not too young to know I have to marry a man I can be that proud of.”
It made him smile. “I’ll work on making sure you always feel that way.”
“Yeah, I know you will.”
“I used to hate my dad for coming up with Virgin River,” he said with a laugh. “Now I’m thinking of putting him in my will.”
* * *
Jack drove to Garberville to pick up Ricky from the bus early the next Wednesday morning. He was thinking about the phone call he’d had from Ricky a few weeks ago. It changed his world, but it was something he could have predicted.
The boy stepped off the bus not in uniform, but in his jeans and boots. Even so, that jarhead haircut branded him as a marine on leave. Jack’s chest swelled with pride. Boy? This was no boy. Here was a man, a fighting marine, who had matured and grown even stronger in the months he’d been away. His grin, however, was the same young, infectious, optimistic smile as when he first rode his bike up to Jack’s years ago.
It took willpower not to run to him and fetch him up in his arms, but Jack stood stock-still, letting the boy—the young man—come to him. They grasped hands and brought themselves shoulder to shoulder. Rick had grown yet taller. He was every bit the six-two Jack was. “Hey, man,” Ricky said.
“Damn, boy. Look at you. You’re almost as old as me.”
“Hardly.” Ricky laughed. “Look at you. You’re getting gray, what’s this?”
“Melinda, naturally. She’s working me over. You should be careful, Rick. Strong, sexy women? They’ll kill you slow.”
“What a way to go, huh?”
“Yeah, I can’t complain. It’s turning out to be a big weekend here, man.”
“Yeah?”
“Paul’s getting married. I’ll catch you up on all that—but the two events, your leave and Paul’s wedding—it’s bringing the boys to town. We’re going to have us a time. They’ll start arriving in a couple of days.”
“Good. How’s Mel?”
“Getting around a little slow, but don’t worry—she’s bossing me around like crazy, which tells me she’s fine. She can’t wait to see you.”
“And Preach?” Ricky asked.
“About to be a father, in a month or so.”
“Damn,” Ricky said. “When I first laid eyes on him, I would never have put money on that.”
“Tell me about it. By the way, your grandma is doing well. And from what I hear from her aunt Connie, your girl is excited about your leave.”
“Yeah, I called Lizzie. She’s a little freaked about Iraq, but it’ll give her time to finish school. It’s been a real headache, getting her through school…”
“She still trying to marry you?” Jack asked.
“I’m sticking to my guns, man. Four years, that’s the deal. Down to three now. But holy Jesus, I love her like crazy. I can’t wait to see her.”
“You going to have time for the rest of us?”
“I can cut you a few minutes,” he said with a grin that was all boy. “Try not to jam me up too bad, huh? I’ve been totally faithful to this girl for nine whole months and I am in bad shape. Bad.”
Jack cracked out a big laugh. He put an arm around Ricky’s shoulders. Something he couldn’t help but wonder was how his life might have been different if he’d met his Melinda when he was sixteen. They’d be broke and have twenty-seven kids by now. But he said, “Iraq. What shit is that?”
“It’s just the usual. I’ll be fine.”
“Of course you will. There are some people I want you to meet. Paul’s new wife—she’s something else. And I want you to meet her younger brother. He’s slated for West Point. Daddy’s a retired Army three-star and the kid’s a year younger than you. Good kid. Sharp. He’s been seen around with Brenda Carpenter this whole past year.”
“Brenda? No kidding.”
“You two—you should meet. Talk. For both of you, Virgin River will always be your base, you know?”
“Yeah, Jack. As long as you’re here,” he said.
“I hooked you up with some wheels.”
“Yeah?” Rick asked.
“Mel’s not able to work yet, which leaves Doc the Humvee and his truck sitting idle. He says it’s all yours.”
“Perfect,” Rick said. “I think I’ll check in with my gram, then head over to Eureka to find that girl. I mean, first things first, Jack.”
* * *
By noon on Friday the first of the marines arrived in the person of Joe Benson from Grants Pass. He had hooked up Paul’s fifth wheel as his home away from home for the weekend and walked into Jack’s with rolls of parchment under his arm and a big grin on his face. He had preliminary architectural drawings for Paige and Preacher, Mike and Brie, sketches for Paul and Vanni. Tables were pushed together, coffee was poured and plans were spread out.
Only Preacher and Mike were available to scan the drawings as Brie was at Jack’s helping Mel with the babies and Paige was sharing Christopher’s nap.
“How’s Mel doing?” Joe asked Jack.
“She’s doing great, but she hates being stuck out at the house all the time. Brie’s bringing her and the little ones over later on, once most of the boys are here.”
“She feeling okay now?”
“She gets tired real easy—and you can imagine how that pisses her off,” Jack said. “Wait till you see her. She doesn’t look like someone who damn near bought the farm three weeks ago. I’ll tell you what, buddy. That about did me in.”
“Bad, huh?”
“Boy howdy, as she would say.”
By two, Paul came into the bar and the reunion continued. For Joe and Paul, who hadn’t seen each other in at least a few weeks, there was a hearty embrace, robust congratulations to Paul. “I didn’t figure to see you until much later,” Joe said.
“There’s a maid of honor at the house,” he explained. “I was told I was in the way. Which suits me fine. And I think the general and Tommy will be kicked out pretty soon, too.”
Next to arrive, Josh Phillips and Tom Stephens from the Reno area, pulling up in a nice cushy RV, a new purchase for Tom. Finally, Zeke, which made the crowd almost complete. “Corny’s putting in a no-show,” Jack explained. “He’s got a baby coming in a couple of months and has to save his time off for that. Number three. He’s still chasing that boy.”
Beer was set up and at about four, Paige came out of the back and walked right under her husband’s arm. Zeke was the first to spot her and sent up a whoop of excitement, rushing toward her with a huge grin on his face. “Whoa, baby, look at you! Damn me, girl—you’re cooking a good one there!” He rubbed a big hand over her belly. “Preacher, you dog—you did fine work here!”
“Yeah, I sure did.”
“You’re about to pop, girl.”
“Pretty soon,” she said, grinning. “How’s your wife doing?”
“She’s great,” Zeke said. “I thought I could sneak one more kid by her, but she says I’m all done. I don’t know what her hang-up is. We only have four. You think four is enough?” he asked Paige.
“I think that’s more than I’m having.” She laughed. “I don’t know how you tricked her into that many.”
“What can I say.” He shrugged. “The girl’s been lightin’ my fire for almost twenty years now—since the first time I saw her in that cheerleading outfit.” He whistled. “Those pom-poms just knocked me out.”
“To say nothing of that short skirt,” someone supplied.
“And those itty-bitty panties,” someone else remarked.
“I am so cut off,” Preacher grumbled.
“John,” Paige warned, though she couldn’t help but laugh. Joe was next, hugging her, checking out the stomach. Right behind him, Josh. “All right, all right,” Paige said. “One at a time! You guys,” she happily admonished. This crowd of men, each one of them what would be called a man’s man, so driven in the masculine pursuits of soldiering, hunting, fishing and the like, loved women, pregnant women especially, and the babies they brought. It was uncanny. And tremendous fun.
Doc turned up for his whiskey, the general and Tom finally came in. Jack pressed a beer into Tom’s hand.
“Where’s the cop?” the general asked with amusement. “This kid’s underage!”
“I get around that by giving it away,” Jack said. “In fact, when this crowd’s here, I end up giving away the bar!”
“Hey, where’s Rick?” someone asked.
“He went over to Eureka to fetch Lizzie,” Jack said. Then he grinned and added, “Wednesday.”
The place was soon throbbing with the noise of men, and Paige made her escape, but not without the plans Joe brought. The barbecue was lit, the party spilled out onto the porch when Doc’s old truck rumbled into town and stopped in front of Connie and Ron’s corner store across the street. A hush fell over the crowd. The marines who hadn’t already been outside quietly gathered there as Rick got out, helped his girl out to go visit her aunt and uncle, but not before pulling her to him for one last kiss. The moment their lips met, the marines sent up a wild cheer.
The couple bolted apart in surprise. Rick saw them and his face was split in a huge grin. The cheering and jeering continued and with his arm still around Lizzie’s waist, he obliged the crowd by pulling her against him again to finish what he started. Then he let her go, gave her a little pat on the rump and sent her into her aunt’s store.
Tom leaned toward Paul and said, “I hope Brenda stays indoors until these whack jobs leave town.”
“Aw, don’t worry, Tom. They wouldn’t do that to you.”
“No?” he asked.
“No way. You’re Army.” He grinned. “It’s just not the same stuff, Tom.”
To the welcoming cheers, Rick walked across the street and stopped in front of the bar’s porch. “You guys are so frickin’ rude,” he said with a smile.
“Hey, jarhead,” someone yelled. “Last I heard, Eureka was only a couple hours away.”
“Make a stop or two, buddy?”
“He looks pretty loose to me.”
“Come on up here, pal—we don’t have much time before the invasion of women! I wanna hear about recon training. They scare you?” Rick was asked.
“They did,” he replied. “Reconnaissance rappelling looked like a suicide mission to me, but then I just couldn’t stop doing it. It’s such a rush. And I got pushed out of an airplane a few times—that really turned me on.”
“I don’t know,” Zeke said, shaking his head. “Airplanes make me throw up. Well, not regular airplanes. But when I’m in one painted up in camouflage with about a hundred and fifty pounds of gear on my back, it just does something to my stomach.”
“‘Cause you’re a sissy,” Rick said, laughing.
The next to arrive to a huge and affectionate welcome was Mel and Brie and Jack’s babies. Jack took immediate charge of David, but couldn’t hang on to him long as he was passed around and admired. Next came Vanni and her girlfriend Nikki. “Hey,” she said, smiling. “Is this some kind of bachelor party?”
Joe Benson was sitting up at the bar when these last two women walked in, and he was brought instantly off the stool and to his feet. Nikki, small and dark-haired with big dark eyes and a small pink mouth, knocked the wind out of him for the second time. He had to shake himself. He’d met her briefly a couple of months ago and the memory hadn’t let him go. There was something about her that made his mouth drop open and his eyes shine. He couldn’t stop staring at her.
Paul hung on to little Matt for Vanni so she could be welcomed and introduce her maid of honor. Steaks were turned on the grill, salad tossed, potatoes baked, ears of corn buttered and some of Preacher’s finest pies set out. There was feasting and laughter. Toasts were made to Rick, Tom and the wedding couple. Women disappeared to nurse babies and reappeared as the sun slowly set.
The general found Paul. “You ready to take the plunge, son?”
“Sir, I’ve been ready for a long time. I promise you, I’ll do right by her.”
“I have no doubt. Nice group of men you have at your back.”
“They are, sir. The best. Thanks for making them welcome. Thanks for sharing Tom’s going away with all of us.”
“It’s an honor, Paul. It’s good for him to see this—he’ll have this in no time, a crowd of brothers, shoring him up. I’m going to miss that boy.”
“We’ll all miss him, sir.”
“Think you’ll ever just call me Walt? Or even Dad?” he asked.
Paul smiled. “I don’t know, sir. I think I’d kind of miss the edge.”
As the evening aged and dinner was done, Joe stepped out onto the porch, pulled a cigar out of his pocket and snipped the end. He struck a match against his shoe, when he heard a sound and looked up. Nikki was leaning on the porch railing. “Oh, sorry,” he said, shaking out the match. “I didn’t know anyone was out here.”
She smiled at him. It seemed a shy smile, maybe a sad smile. “Vanni’s nursing the baby,” she said, then looked upward again. “I couldn’t figure out what she saw in a little town like this. But then I had a look at this sky.”
Joe stepped up beside her. “It’s something, all right. Nikki, isn’t it?”
“Yes. And you’re Joe. Paul’s friend from Oregon.”
“That’s right,” he said with a smile. She remembered him. She remembered him? “You must be a city girl.”
“San Francisco. What’s Grants Pass like? Big? Small?”
“Small, but not this small. Twenty-three thousand, some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.”
“Have you lived there a long time?”
“Pretty much all my life. I have a big family there.”
“Lots of kids?”
“No kids.” He shook his head. “No wife.”
She frowned at him. “Still single?” she asked.
“Divorced.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“No problem. It’s been a long time. You?”
She looked away. “Single,” she said. “Recently broken up, actually.”
“Oh, then I’m the one sorry,” he said. “He must be an idiot.”
She laughed. “He is. You can have your cigar. It doesn’t bother me.”
He slipped it into his pocket. “It’ll keep. How long have you known Vanni?”
“We started flying together eight years ago. She stopped flying when she got pregnant, so we don’t see each other as often as we used to.” She looked out at the sky again. “This is the second time I’ve been her maid of honor. She promises it’s the last.”
“I think you can trust her on that. She can be yours next time.”
“I doubt that’ll ever happen,” she said, looking down.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said. “You’re young. You even thirty yet? And beautiful. It’s just a matter of days, probably.”
She just sighed. “Imagine, Vanni finding two wonderful guys like that in such a short period of time. You knew Matt?”
“Very slightly. We grew up in the same town but went to different schools, and I didn’t serve with him. I met him through Paul later, after I started designing houses for Paul’s company. If Matt was on leave, home for a visit, we’d run into each other for a beer when he was out with Paul. Good man.”
“These all seem like good guys. Does this happen often? Gatherings like this?”
“It used to be a lot of hunting and fishing, but lately these old boys have been tying the knot a lot. First Jack, about two years ago. Then Preacher last year. Mike, just a few months ago. Now Paul. Bunch of bachelors who no one could catch, everyone real slow to find the right woman, then all of a sudden there’s a rush on. The only one who found his girl real early was Zeke—he’s been married since he was about seven. Four kids. Now it looks like I’m the last one left.”
“They’re all so good-looking. I mean, you’re all so good-looking—it’s pretty amazing you weren’t snapped up early.”
“That turned out to be my fatal mistake.” He laughed.
“How long have you been divorced?”
“Over ten years,” he said.
“I guess you’ve recovered your bachelorhood.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I guess. Can I get you anything? Something to drink, maybe?”
“No, thanks. I think I’ll just enjoy the stars.”
“Mind if I enjoy the stars with you for a while?” he asked her.
She looked at him and tilted her head slightly. His question finally coaxed a smile out of her, a real one, and he thought, damn. This girl is beautiful. “That would be nice, Joe.”
* * *
Jack was the first to leave when he noticed Mel was looking tired. He collected his son, said goodbye to his boys and took Mel out onto the porch. They passed Joe and Nikki and said good-night as they left. Next to leave was Brie, giving Mike a kiss good-night on the porch before walking across the yard to their RV. Paige disappeared for good as she tucked herself in with Christopher for the night—advanced pregnancy requiring rest. Next was Vanessa, out on the porch looking for Nikki. “Hey, you can stay as long as you like—there are plenty of people around to take you home.”
“I could do that,” Joe offered. “I’d be glad to do that.”
“No,” Nikki said. “A maid of honor’s work is never done.”
Finally it was the general and Tom. Rick walked outside with them. Tom shook his hand and said, “Come out to the house tomorrow. Bring your girl.”
“Thanks, I might just do that. But not till after the wedding. No way I can let Lizzie see a wedding.”
By the time Rick walked back into the room, the tables were pushed together, the cards were out and the cigars were being snipped. “Get over here, boy,” Zeke said. “Get out your money.”
Rick laughed. Someone pressed a cigar on him and he said, “God, do I have to smoke this ugly thing?”
“As long as you get your money out, you can do whatever you want.”
“I don’t have that much money, guys,” he complained, but he was sitting down.
“Don’t worry about it, kid. We’ll take whatever you’ve got.”