Angel's Peak (Virgin River #10)(59)

There were, of course, many pictures of Franci. “Sometimes when you catch her looking at the baby, her eyes are glowing, but other times…” Maureen’s voice trailed off.

“I know. It was a very hard time—she wasn’t at peace with her decision to be away from Sean. She was already three months pregnant when she came home to Santa Rosa, but she got right to work in the local hospital. She took six weeks of maternity leave and went back. It was not only a long year, but heartbreaking to watch my daughter’s sadness. I kept thinking that any second he’d realize what he’d let slip away and come looking for her. But he didn’t.”

Maureen pursed her lips so tightly they nearly disappeared. “I’d like to box his ears,” she muttered.

“Remember, he didn’t know. Franci was the one to leave him. I was twenty-five when Franci was born,” Vivian said. “And thirty-two when my husband, a trucker, was killed in an accident. I went back to college almost immediately, in search of an education that would guarantee me a good income so I could raise my daughter alone. Franci at least had that much going for her—she wasn’t going to have any trouble supporting Rose. But, except for that, I knew how hard life was going to be for her without a partner.”

“I had a good husband while I raised my sons,” Maureen said. “He was devoted, worked hard, stayed involved. But he worked long hours and, with five kids to support, he took as much overtime as he could get. I had to be able to do it alone—I had to be strong and keep control of that brood. It wasn’t easy, even with a good husband. It’s hard to imagine how you and Franci—”

“We had each other,” Viv said. “Franci came alive when we moved up here. Actually, I said I’d come north only if I could find a good job. I only agreed to take an unpaid leave from my Santa Rosa job to give it a try. Franci flies out of Redding, so we initially went there, rented a small apartment and, on Franci’s days off, I scoured the area for work. When I had a good offer in Eureka, the decision was made—we bought a little house together here. Franci works a couple of twenty-four-hour shifts three weeks a month, then only one on the fourth week. It’s a long commute—but it’s only seven or eight days a month, and my job never requires an overnight or on-call status. After two years in one little house, another just like it down the street came on the market and I bought it. We joined forces to make sure Rosie always had one of us plus the babysitter. It’s been all right. It’s been good. She was even starting to date again. But…”

“But…?” Maureen asked.

“You didn’t know her after she broke up with Sean, so you wouldn’t see the difference—but since Sean’s been in the picture, she’s a different person. She loves him so much. And I believe he loves her just as much. I don’t know how this is going to work out, Maureen, but those three need to be together.”

“Sean told me he suggested marriage to Franci…” Maureen said.

“Really? That’s the first I’ve heard of it,” Vivian said with some astonishment. “I’m surprised Franci didn’t jump on that offer. There must be something not quite settled between them. Frankly, I don’t care whether they get married or not as long as they follow the strength of their obvious feelings! Well, I’m staying out of it. Except for one thing—I’m going to be sure Franci knows she doesn’t have to consider me in her decision.”

“You?” Maureen asked.

Vivian nodded. “I don’t want her to think I need her to take care of me—not emotionally or in any other way. I have a full life and look forward to the next stage. I have a wonderful man in my life—I expect he’ll be around a very long time. We’ve been seeing each other the past year and both of us have had commitments that have kept us from moving forward—he’s a fairly new widower with two teenagers, and I’ve had my responsibilities to Francie and Rosie. But Carl and I have both known for quite a while that when our kids don’t need us quite as much, we’ll have more of each other.”

“Really?” Maureen said, intrigued. “A man?”

Vivian laughed. “A wonderful man. He was one of my bosses. A year after his wife’s death he invited me out to dinner, and that was all it took.”

Maureen leaned toward Vivian. “An office romance? I heard that was taboo!”

“Pah! We work together very well! I imagine we will for many years!”

“How amazing.”

“You’ll meet him sometime. In the meantime, my offer stands. If you want to stay close to Rosie, but give your boys some space, Rosie’s overnight room makes a perfectly useful guest room. You’re welcome to it.”

“But you obviously have a private life!”

Vivian just laughed. “Don’t let that get in your way! Especially in your wild imagination! Once you meet Carl, you’ll be completely at ease around him. He’s a physician—a wonderful, warm, loving man. Besides, we don’t have many pajama parties, Carl and I. As I said, he has teenagers at home!”

Maureen was thoughtful for a moment. “You’re very liberal in your thinking, aren’t you, Vivian?”

“I suppose I am,” Viv said. “And you’re quite the prude, aren’t you?”

“So I’m told,” Maureen said, somewhat grumpily.