Angel's Peak (Virgin River #10)(64)

“How’d it go?”

“As expected. I asked her not to text or call anymore because I was back with my old girlfriend and she told me to go to hell.”

“That’s all?”

“No. She said if she saw me again she’d kill me, and if she had a chance to loosen a few bolts on my airplane she’d do it. She called me some choice names and hung up. Why?”

“Nothing,” she said, shaking her head, looking away.

“You had a meeting with him,” he said. “Let me guess, he listed my shortcomings even though he doesn’t know me.”

“How’d you know?”

Sean pulled her close and, on his way to whisper in her ear, he gently sucked on her lobe. “He doesn’t want to give you up, because you’re you. Now, let’s not talk about why. It makes me want to kill him.”

“I saw a side of him that’s always been there, but I completely overlooked it. It was very disturbing,” she said. “Guess what I just realized? You’re the devil I know…”

“Good,” he said. “Let’s stick with that.”

Maureen had gone home to Phoenix as planned. She only stayed in her condo for a week, during which time she gave away her houseplants, stopped the paper, forwarded her mail, closed up her condo and headed back, her trunk and backseat full of her essentials.

Maureen and Vivian had worked things out; Maureen was going back to Humboldt County for a rather long visit. She would stay through Thanksgiving—a good three weeks. Although she would make use of Vivian’s second bedroom, usually reserved for Rosie’s overnights, and having her own car would allow her to spend quality time with Rosie, and everyone else. This arrangement would also allow her to give them all their space. In fact, not being dependent on her sons or her new friend Vivian for transportation would enable her to come and go as she pleased. After all, Vivian had a man in her life and would surely appreciate time alone with him now and then.

Other than telling Luke and Sean that she’d be back for a visit and that she planned to stay through Thanksgiving, they didn’t know her plans. They would no doubt be secretly thrilled to learn she wouldn’t be staying with them! Vivian was a remarkable woman who wanted to assist Maureen in getting better acquainted with their mutual granddaughter, a gesture generous beyond belief. But as it turned out, different as they were, the women enjoyed each other’s company.

While she was headed north, driving through the Arizona desert, she decided to check in with all her sons. Of course, she only had to call one to do so. “You’re doing what?” Aiden demanded.

“Driving to Virgin River. So I’ll have a car while I’m there. And I’m staying with Rosie’s other grandma so I don’t become an annoying mother-in-law. I like Vivian. She’s too liberal, but very sincere.”

“Oh, God,” Aiden moaned into the phone. “How many hours is the drive?”

“Well, that all depends on how fast I go,” she said. “It’s very long. I plan on stopping off for the night.”

“Stopping off where?” he asked in frustration.

“Okay, I might be all done talking to you now, since you insist on treating me like I just got my learner’s permit.”

“All right,” he said, deliberately calming his voice. “Where do you suppose you’ll stay the night?”

“I don’t know. I left early, so I might make it all the way to Carson City. I’ve been there—nice little town. And Gardnerville is nearby. So is Reno and Lake Tahoe and—”

“How many hours of driving is that?” he asked.

“Many,” she said. “I wish you’d stop this. I’m a very good, confident driver. And I’ve lived alone for twelve years. I know how to be safe.”

“Why didn’t you call me? I would have come to Phoenix and driven you,” he said tiredly.

“Oh, doesn’t that sound like fun,” she said with a short laugh. “It would probably turn into elder abuse. Besides, it’s not practical. Someone—probably me—would have had to drive you back to Sacramento or at least Redding to catch a flight home.”

He sighed into the phone. “Do Luke and Sean know your plans yet?”

“I told them I’d be back for a long visit, but they might be in denial,” she said. She heard Aiden laugh. “It makes sense for me to stay with Vivian. I’ll be very busy, running between Rosie, and Luke and Shelby, and also hanging around with Vivian when neither of us has plans. I only want to be nearby to get to know Rosie better and I don’t want to be a burden to my sons.”

“You’re not a burden, Mom,” he said.

“Oh? Then why does my doing as I please make you yell?”

Aiden took a breath. “I want you to check in every few hours as long as you have a signal. I want to hear from you when you stop for the night—I want to know exactly where you are. Can we please agree to that?”

“I hope I live to see you at sixty-two. I’d like to hear firsthand just how you handle people pushing you around as though you’re some doddering old—”

“I didn’t do that! I’m just being cautious. It’s not your age, it’s your…your…You’re a woman out on the road alone, Mom! And if I remember my geography, from Las Vegas to Reno is a pretty lonely stretch of road.”