Angel's Peak (Virgin River #10)(65)

“I’ll lock my car doors so the wild mules don’t get me.”

“What do you mean, she’s too liberal? Rosie’s other grandmother?” Aiden asked.

“Oh, you know. A lovely woman, really. Very likable and with a wonderful sense of humor. Just…Her values are more on the relaxed side, if you know what I mean.”

“I wouldn’t dare guess,” Aiden muttered into the phone.

“For example, she’s not too worried about Sean and Francine making this whole event right and proper. She’d be happy as a clam if they’d at least get together romantically, as if that will solve their problems. Wasn’t that what got them into this mess? Not that I’m the least sorry about Rosie—she’s the most brilliant child! I’m so crazy about her! She reminds me a lot of Patrick when he was little—except for the princess dresses and high-heeled slippers.”

Aiden chuckled into the phone. “I take back everything I said, Mom. Maybe this is a good idea.”

Maureen got the impression Aiden hoped staying with liberal Viv would loosen her up. “Don’t get your hopes up, Aiden. I’m pretty firm in my convictions.”

“Yes, Mom. Understood.” He laughed a little more. “Call in a few hours. Please?”

“I’ll try. Now relax, Aiden. I’m listening to a book on tape and enjoying the ride.”

“I hope it’s not the Bible,” he said.

“It’s James Patterson—death and sex and everything.” And without another word, she hung up on him.

It was less than thirty minutes before her cell phone chimed. She glanced at the phone and saw it was Luke. She let him go to voice mail. Next was Sean, then Patrick and finally Colin. She smiled to herself; it was nice having all five boys in the United States. She let them all leave messages. She would entertain herself later by listening to them.

Really, she thought with amusement, how did they think she got to be this old without knowing anything? Pups. They were just pups.

As Maureen had fully expected, her sons welcomed her a little more warmly given the fact that she was staying with Vivian and not with them. But she was very surprised when Franci walked down the block to her mother’s house a couple of days after Maureen’s return. It was the afternoon, before Rosie was due home from day care. “Hi,” she said almost sheepishly, when Maureen opened the door.

“Franci! I thought you were working!”

“I was. I got off at eight this morning, had a nap and I thought I’d catch you before Sean brings Rosie home. I think maybe we should have a chat. Alone.”

“Of course,” Maureen said, and she braced herself to be lectured not to interfere, to be seen and not heard, to not get in the way of things. “Please,” she said, holding open the door. “Can I make you a cup of coffee or something?”

“No. I just wanted to say I’m sorry you missed so much time with Rosie. I wish it hadn’t been necessary.”

“Oh, Franci,” Maureen said before she could stop herself. “Was it necessary?”

Franci came inside the house. “I thought so, yes,” she said gently. “The Sean I knew four years ago and this Sean—really, they’re very different men. But that aside, most of it had to do with me. I loved him so much, I just couldn’t bear to have him know everything and still walk away. Even worse was the thought that he’d grudgingly man up and marry me, but hate his life.” She shook her head. “I didn’t know which way it would go, Maureen. I had to do the best I could with the facts at hand. I’m terribly sorry for what that cost you.”

Maureen took one of Franci’s hands. She smiled softly. “I wish it hadn’t gone the way it did, but I don’t blame you, Franci. And I’m so glad that’s in the past and we can all move forward now. You’ve done an amazing job with Rosie. She’s the most wonderful child.”

“Then you won’t hold it against me?” Franci asked.

“Of course not, darling,” she said, pulling her into an embrace. Maureen held her tightly. “Of course not! That boy of mine, however…” She pulled back and looked into Franci’s eyes. Maureen’s were dancing, laughter making little crinkle lines at the corners. “Is it too late to ground him?”

Franci laughed with her. “I think so,” she said.

“I’m glad he’s different. I guess he had some growing up to do. Maybe it was his fault, maybe it was mine. Maybe I let him get by with too much when he was a kid. Whatever, it’s too late for all that blaming. Right now there’s a family to mend. You and Sean are doing a very good job of that. I’m very proud of both of you.”

Luke and Shelby had met Rosie, but only briefly—over the past few weeks everyone had been very focused on letting her get used to the large Riordan clan slowly. And there was more to come—Shelby’s whole family was in Virgin River. Luke wanted to have a big party and invited not only his family but also Walt Booth, Muriel St. Claire, Paul and Vanessa Haggerty and their two little ones. And of course there was Art, who was as much a member of his family as anyone. It was the first Riordan gathering since Luke and Shelby’s wedding, and this time it would include Franci, Rosie and Vivian.

On a Saturday when Franci wasn’t working, they all gathered at Luke’s house, and royalty could not have been welcomed with any more enthusiasm than Franci and Rosie. It was just enough family to stuff Luke’s relatively small house. All the women brought dishes to accompany a very large ham and prime rib. Furniture had to be moved around, and with the November weather growing so cold, the fire blazed in the hearth and the house throbbed with the noise of good times and the laughter of children.