Bring Me Home for Christmas (Virgin River #16)(56)

“I hope we meet her soon,” Mel said.

Becca cleared her throat. “Well, you should know… I asked Denny to take me home before Christmas. I hate that I’ll miss the pageant, but I want to be with my family for the holidays. Though it’s hard to imagine, I miss Rich, too.”

“Perfectly understandable,” Mel said. “How long will you be gone?”

She cleared her throat again. “Maybe I’ll be back for a visit…”

The only sound in the room came from the television. The complete absence of the women’s voices was heavy. Finally, Paige asked, “Are we losing Denny?”

“Probably not,” she said, lifting her chin and trying to be brave. “He loves it here so much….”

“But I thought…” Paige began.

Mel touched her hand to stop her. “I’m not going to kid you, Becca—I would have been so happy if you chose our town. We all would. But there’s nothing mysterious about wanting to live near family. Sometimes I miss my sister in Colorado so much.”

Before long, the movie was ending. Jimmy Stewart was united with all his family, friends and neighbors, Clarence had earned his wings and Becca was sobbing. “This movie always makes me cry.”

“Wait till you get to White Christmas…” someone said right before she blew her nose.

The Sunday night before Christmas, the bar was busier than other Sunday nights. People from the lower elevations drove up to see the spectacular tree with the amazing star, and since there was a bar and grill right there, stopped in for food and drinks. It seemed many hands were called upon to help. Brie’s husband brought their toddler daughter to her so he could help behind the bar; Denny shoveled his dinner in his mouth and then began helping Paige serve and bus while also fetching ice, bringing clean glasses from the kitchen and sometimes taking orders. Becca sat at an out-of-the-way corner table with Brie and the little girl. Denny occasionally brushed his lips against her cheek as he passed.

Once he stopped and whispered, “Everything all right, honey?”

“Sure, fine. Why?”

“I don’t know, you seem a little down.”

“Oh, I love those holiday movies, but they make me cry! Then it takes me a couple of hours to recover.”

“Then why do you women watch them?” he asked, looking between Brie and Becca.

“Because they’re so wonderful,” they both said at once.

He just frowned for a second, then said, “Right.”

There was so much he really didn’t understand about women, he thought. They were an eternal mystery. Did they actually like to cry?

But there was one thing he understood perfectly—Becca needed to go home soon. She was moody. A little bummed out.

When he saw Brie stand up and start helping her toddler into her jacket, Denny glanced at his watch. Seven-thirty. He went to their table. “Want me to get you home, honey?” he asked. “I can help out for another couple of hours and then I’ll be down.”

“That would be good,” she said. “I’m ready.” She stood on one leg, put the knee of the vulnerable leg on her chair for balance and pulled on her jacket. She leaned on her crutches and made her way out the door with him.

“There aren’t any stars tonight,” she said.

“I think it’s going to snow,” Denny told her. “I don’t think I’ll be at Jack’s late—it’s Sunday night, people work tomorrow. And with snow forecast, those out-of-towners are going to head down the mountain early.”

“Take your time. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you still sad about the movies?”

“No,” she said with a laugh. “I’m fine. I’m going to get a hot bath, put on my ugly pajamas and crawl into bed with my book.”

He carried her up the stairs and into his little room. “I’ll see you in a little while. And if you forget the pajamas, I’m okay with that.”

Denny’s prediction was right—it was only another hour before the crowd in the bar was down to just a few people. “Go ahead, Denny,” Jack said. “You wanna get back to your girl.”

Denny walked around the bar and jumped up on a stool facing Jack. “But I wanted to talk to you first,” he said.

Jack tilted his head. “Something wrong?”

“Yes and no. Been a while since we had a shot together. Tonight might be a good night for it.”

Jack pulled down a bottle and two glasses. He poured a couple of shots and raised his glass. “What are we drinking to?”

“I got things all worked out with Becca.”

Jack grinned. “Well, here’s to you!”

They drank, then put their glasses down. “Thing is, it’s not going to work here, Jack. I’m leaving with her. She wants to be near her family and the only home she’s known. I asked her to give us a chance here because I love it. I’ve never had such great jobs and friends. But the bottom line is she’s real close to everyone down there, and she just can’t see making this big a change.”

“Yeah,” Jack said slowly. “It’s not for everyone.”

“I can’t let her get away again….”

Jack’s hand came down on his shoulder. “I know, Denny. I understand. I’ve been there.”