My Kind of Christmas (Virgin River #20)(68)

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After making sure Lorraine had some solid breakfast in her belly, Patrick took her back to the surgical center with a to-go coffee. He excused himself to make a phone call. As he paced up and down the sidewalk between the building and the parking lot, he phoned Marie.

“Well, hey,” she answered. “You’re calling from your cell phone.”

“I’ve got good reception. How are you doing?”

“I’m having a good day today. I did a very brave thing—I made a deposit on a house.”

“A....house?”

“That’s right. Small but very nice, near my parents and brother and in a very good school district on the likely chance I’m still here in a few years. I can’t wait to show it to you, Paddy. I think you’re going to love it.”

“You couldn’t wait for me to get there?”

“I had to jump on it! It’s a foreclosure and came at an excellent price and the repairs are not too extensive. In fact, this is going to sound a little crazy, but getting this house in shape, it gives me something to look forward to.”

As he paced, he ran a hand through his hair. “Damn, I wish you could be just a little more flexible....”

“In what way, Paddy? I have to have a home. I don’t want to live with my parents forever.”

“I had this idea that maybe I could convince you…” Unsure of how to word it, he let his voice trail off.

“Convince me of what?”

“I have to ask you something. Do you ever dream about Jake?”

“Oh, no! You, too?”

“You do?”

“Oh, Paddy, I conjure him, that’s what it is. I miss him. I’m going to miss him for a long time—probably long after I’m over him! So you see him, too?”

“I’m not convinced I conjure him. What does he say to you?”

“It’s all memory stuff. It’s private moments. And sometimes he tells me I’m pretty. The thing that disappoints me and makes me cry and know that it’s my conjuring—he never talks about Daniel and he was gaga for his son. What does he tell you?”

He took a breath. Better to be honest. “To take care of you and Daniel.”

“Aw, how sweet is that! And I know you’ll always be there for me, Paddy.”

“I’ll be there in less than a week. When do you close on that house?”

“Within thirty days. We’re putting a rush on the closing to see if I can get the keys right away. I was hoping that just after Christmas I could get moving on the interior. Listen, I can’t wait to show you, but I completely understand if you want to reconsider spending Christmas here in a little motel down the street from my parents.”

He was quiet for a moment before he said, “I’m looking forward to seeing you, Marie. I miss you.”

“And, Paddy, I miss you, too! I just don’t want to take you away from your family.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” he muttered, thinking of Maureen and George.

“Say, how’s it going with that little girl? Did you work out the surgery thing?” Marie asked.

“I told you about that?”

She laughed. “In detail. I donated to the cause.”

“You did?”

“Absolutely! I don’t know if you even realize it, but the way you talked about that young woman, Angie, it was with such tenderness, such respect and admiration. I really hope you don’t lose track of her. She might be just the kind of woman you should stay in touch with. Did the little girl get enough funding for the surgery?”

“I’m standing outside the surgical hospital now, waiting for the operation to be over.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful! You’ve made my day!”

“Marie, how much money did you give the cause?” he asked.

“It’s not important, Patrick. Just a little something from Jake.”

“Jake?”

“There was a widow’s benefit and life insurance. I put some of it in a college fund, some down on the house and I thought—this is important to Paddy, Jake would approve. I admire you, Patrick. What a great way to spend some leave. Spreading some goodwill, paying it forward.”

“I have to get back to Charleston soon.”

“Of course—but you’ll find out your new assignment soon, right? I know there’s no big gray boat in Oklahoma City, but maybe you’ll get something awesome, like Hawaii. I wouldn’t mind visiting Hawaii.”

“Marie…”

“What?”

He took a deep breath. “Listen, we should be together. Me and you. If you can’t do any more Navy, I get that—it’s not your fault. Let’s mull this over a little. We’ll talk about it at Christmas and decide. I can get out of the Navy.”

“Paddy, are you thinking this way because of Jake?”

“No, I—I mean, maybe part of it has to do with Jake. But I really want to be close to you and Daniel. I want to be able to look after you properly.”

“And I don’t know what I’d do without you, but…”

“Is there any possibility you could live in Charleston again?” he asked. “Because I admit, I want the best of both worlds. I want you and Daniel and I want the Navy and that damned plane. Marie, I really care about you.”