My Kind of Christmas (Virgin River #20)(59)

“Donna!” Jack said, surprised.

“Oh, my God, Mom!” Angie said, horrified.

Instinctively, Patrick’s arm went around Angie’s shoulders and pulled her closer, claiming her. Protecting her. Because she was his.

* * *

He’ll never let her go again, Jack found himself thinking. He’d seen it a hundred times in this town. The chemistry was just too damn strong; it rolled off them in waves. He wasn’t sure how they could make it work if Patrick had a military commitment and Angie was hell-bent to join the peace corps or a reasonable facsimile. But he couldn’t miss Patrick’s proprietary action. Publicly claiming her in front of her mother.

The shock and awe on Angie’s and Donna’s faces told the tale—Donna did not know Angie was seeing someone. Well, Jack certainly hadn’t wanted to tell her. Obviously Brie felt the same way.

He held his breath. He hoped his big sister would handle this wisely. Donna was a wonder woman, no doubt about that, but she seriously liked having her way.

She walked right up to Angie and said, “Darling. How I’ve missed you.”

Angie let herself be embraced, returned the embrace, but then she said, “This isn’t what I’d call giving me space.”

“I won’t be in your way. I might try to steal a few minutes here and there, but I didn’t come here to hound you. I didn’t have to teach so, on a wild lark, I just decided to drive up and take some time off.”

“And you’re staying where?”

“Jack’s guesthouse, of course.” She nodded at Patrick. “Hello again.”

Now everyone but Donna and Patrick were startled. In fact, typical of this bar, the din quieted so that every word could be overheard. People actually moved or at least leaned closer.

“Again?” Angie asked.

“My car battery went out in the grocery store lot in Fortuna. This lovely young man not only got me going again, he helped me buy and install a new battery.”

“Having no idea this could be your mother,” he said. Then he grinned and added, “I would have helped her, anyway. In fact, I think she liked me.”

Donna lifted her chin in agreement. “I had no idea that when you said you were ‘taken,’ the person who has taken you could possibly be my daughter. She never mentioned a young man in her life.”

“For very good reason,” Angie said.

Jack began wiping water spots out of glasses, an action that always occupied him when he didn’t know what else to do. Donna might wisely let Angie off the hook for not telling about Patrick, but Jack didn’t expect to get off so easily. “Did you call Mel or Brie? Let them know you were coming?” he asked.

Donna shook her head. “I didn’t mean to sneak into town, really. I woke up this morning feeling kind of down, missing Angie and everyone so much. If I promise not to be any trouble, can I get a pass?”

“If you’re no trouble, it might be the first time,” Jack said.

“Patrick, excuse me a minute,” Angie said. “Mom, we need to have a word. Let’s just step outside for a minute.” And without waiting for her to follow, Angie headed for the door. Donna followed, leaving Jack and Patrick at the bar.

Jack leveled Patrick with a narrowed gaze. “You know, I actually feel kind of sorry for you.”

Patrick took a drink of his beer. “Yeah, right.”

* * *

Angie stepped onto the porch, the collar of her jacket turned up and her hands buried deep in her pockets. She stared up at the beautiful tree, the bright star crowning its top. She heard the door open and close behind her and she turned around, shaking her head at her mother. “You have some explaining to do,” she said sternly.

“It’s exactly as I said—I wanted to see you, Ange.”

“You vowed to let me have a little space, Mom.”

“And I will, I promise. I had no idea what I was walking into, but I’ll tell you this—I just couldn’t stand the idea of us being at each other, estranged, angry. Especially with you bound and determined to move on to some new, strange life far, far away.” Angie opened her mouth to speak and Donna lifted her hand. “I don’t blame you, I don’t. In fact, this sounds like exactly something I would have done at your age if I could have. I guess my worry comes from the fact that it’s so soon after nearly losing you. Angie, I just want us to try to put our relationship back together before you head off to a new life. I realize I made a mistake in being so controlling. I made many mistakes. I’m sorry, I really am.”

Angie put her hands on her hips. “Okay, who are you and what have you done with my mother?”

Donna’s hands went to her h*ps also. “You know, I’m getting real tired of everyone acting like I’m impossible to deal with all the time! I’m trying. Don’t I get credit for really trying?”

“Where’s Dad?”

“He wanted no part of this. He’s convinced we’re going to fight.”

“I’m not convinced we won’t. Yet.”

Donna relaxed her stance. “Well, we’ll just have to see about that. Now, Ange, tell me about him. About Patrick.”

“He’s just a Navy guy on leave. He has to head back to Charleston before Christmas. I’ve been…dating him. As much as one dates in Virgin River. The fact that he happens to be the most wonderful man who ever drew breath is just a bonus. I’ve been working on arranging Megan’s surgery, but we spend evenings together.”