My Kind of Christmas (Virgin River #20)(41)

While both of them were devoted to Donna, there were also times it felt as though they shared a common enemy. Donna was strong willed; she could be a force of nature. Also, Donna would often be the one to step in during a crisis large or small and take charge, manage the situation, resolve the problem. She seemed to be able to do that effortlessly.

When Donna and Brie’s mother died, Brie leaned on her big sister heavily, and there was no question she’d have been lost without her. Angie leaned on both her mother and her aunt. Together, they all propped up Angie’s grandfather, Sam.

Everyone knew Donna was a good, strong woman.

She could be difficult and hard to satisfy, tough to please.

She could also be so warm and compassionate.

Brie remembered too well a time when she was Angie’s age, a law student messing with a professor. Donna had had a hissy. Brie would’ve died before listening to Donna, though. In fact, she wondered if it was Donna’s warnings that might’ve driven her into the professor’s arms. And, still, when her heart was breaking, Brie ran to Donna, who consoled her.

And here they were, full circle. Brie had learned a few things since she was Angie’s age, things she hoped she could remember when her own daughter was twenty-three. For now, Brie pulled Angie into a hug and said, “Please be careful.”

“Of course I will.”

“Would you like to have dinner with us tonight? At the bar?”

Angie laughed. “Not a chance.”

After saying their goodbyes, Brie made her way to the bar for dinner. Mike was meeting her there, as was Mel with her kids. This time of year the place had an even bigger draw than during deer-hunting season, given the tree and that amazing star on top. It was a crazier place—people came from miles to see the tree and it was only natural to stop into Jack’s for dinner or dessert. And fortunately, Brie’s daughter, Ness, and her cousins Emma and David were big enough now to sit at the table, feed themselves, maybe do a little coloring, sometimes sneaking off to Preacher’s quarters to play with Dana and the toys.

Even with that advantage, the bar was not conducive to quiet conversation. And yet, Brie really needed to talk.

“Can you spit it out?” Mel asked, once they’d all settled at a table.

“Are you psychic or what? Because I don’t recall saying I wanted to talk.”

“You and Paige have been my best friends for going on five years. Both of you chew on the inside of your cheek when you’ve got a problem. Don’t ask me why both of you do that....”

“I’m going to stop immediately,” Brie said. “I honestly don’t know if I should be talking about this.”

“Patrick and Angie?”

“She told you?”

Mel shook her head. “I guessed.”

“And she admitted it?”

Mel shook her head again. “She got red as a beet when I mentioned him. Dead giveaway. Even if I hadn’t already noticed her bright eyes, distracted behavior and whisker burn.”

“Shew. You should really be a cop.”

Mel laughed.

“What are we going to do?” Brie asked.

“I think nothing.”

“Do we tell Jack?”

“I think definitely not. Angie might see that as a betrayal. Besides, it’s not going to take Jack long to figure it out himself.”

Brie leaned back and took in the scene of the loud, packed room. Mike was behind the bar, as was Denny Cutler, Jack’s part-time help. Preacher and Paige were serving; every few minutes Denny made a swing through the room with a large tub and bussed and wiped tables. “Maybe not at this time of year,” Brie observed. “He’s awful busy.”

“He’ll get around to it,” Mel said.

“Did you talk to Angie about this…this…”

“Love affair?” Mel asked. She shook her head. “She seems very private about it. Shy. I don’t want to shake her confidence or worry her.”

“But, Mel!”

“Are you really surprised?” Mel asked. “Why would you be? I guess because Angie has always been most impressive in the academic arena, not the social. But, Brie, there are a few things I’ve learned about the women in your family—you’re all so smart and so passionate and so loving. Angie was bound to do something like this eventually. Didn’t she have a serious boyfriend last year?”

“Alex. But he was a wiener. I don’t know why they were together, anyway, and when he disappeared while she was in the hospital, it didn’t seem to bother her too much. I suspect she was glad to be rid of him.”

“This one is not a wiener,” Mel said. “He’s a Riordan. If anyone can match the passion of the Sheridans, it’s a Riordan.” She fanned her face.

“But isn’t this one, Patrick, in a bad place right now?”

“Isn’t Angie?” Mel asked, lifting a brow. “I’m probably too sentimental, but I think people find each other when they’re supposed to. When they need to. And, no, I don’t fantasize that this will all work out sweet and happy—in fact, I think there might be tears and heartache. But does she need this right now? I don’t know. Maybe. Can we stop it? No way. Brie, that ship has sailed. Listen,” she added, leaning close, “if I could be in charge, I’d work it out so that we always gained our greatest wisdom from the easy, fun stuff. That makes more sense to me. But it doesn’t seem to be the case. It’s usually the roughest waters that teach us the most.”