My Kind of Christmas (Virgin River #20)(78)

She got slowly to her feet, Jenna and Beth scrambling to get up and follow.

When Angie got to the front door, she couldn’t quite take it in. Five cars, all lined up in front of the house, people standing beside them. Not just people. Riordans—the whole family—brothers, wives, their mother, George. A couple of kids—Rosie and Brett. And in the front, Patrick.

“You have to give me another chance, Angie,” he said loudly. Then he spread his arms and said, “I come with a lot of baggage.”

Her hands crossed over her chest. She was afraid to move, to think. Then suddenly she was nudged from behind and she stumbled forward. She looked over her shoulder and Jenna shrugged.

Patrick was walking toward her. She took a couple of steps toward him, standing at the edge of the porch. “Why are you here?” she asked.

He put a foot up on the porch step. “A better question is why did I leave?” He shook his head. “I was just confused. Ange, I was a fool to think I could leave you. And now I’m running out of time—I should have started begging you to take a chance on me at least a week ago. Angie, baby, I love you. I don’t even want to try to make it without you.”

“But, Patrick—there’s Marie!”

“She’s my friend, but I don’t love her. Not that way. And she doesn’t love me. I don’t know what got into me. Listen,” he said, crossing his forearms over his raised thigh and leaning toward her. “I’ll help Marie and Daniel whenever they need help. I’ll be the kind of friend Jake would have expected me to be. But you’ve made me believe that I have much more to offer than just friendship—to the right woman. And if you think I’m worthy, you’re the woman I want a life with.”

“We’ve only known each other a month,” she said. “And I’m supposed to go back to school....”

“I knew how I felt in only a week. I tried to talk myself out of it—it makes no sense, except I can’t stop it. I want you, if you want me, too. I’ll make sure you still get to school—and I’m up for an assignment. Maybe I’ll get to the West Coast. If not, there are awesome med schools on the East Coast and I have to believe any one of them would kill to have you. It’s not like we have to wait until all that’s behind us, we can face this together. There could be challenges, but couples do it all the time—get married, fulfill their ambitions, work as a team. By the time you’re finished with med school and residency, I’ll be retiring from the Navy. We’ll be ready for the next stage—there might even be something we can do together to make a difference. Maybe there are humanitarian organizations that need both doctors and pilots.”

“Married?” she asked weakly. “But there could be separations…”

“Oh, guaranteed! But millions of military couples have weathered that storm successfully. I don’t want to rush you, babe. I’ll wait for you if you need time. Time to be sure of me, of us. It’s not an easy life in the Navy, I know that. But what the hell—there is no easy life.” He smiled at her. “You’ll see—I can be almost as brave and strong as you. The only thing I’m not sure I’m strong enough for is a life without you in it.”

Angie heard a little squeak behind her and turned to see the entire Sheridan clan stuffed into the doorway. Jenna had her hands covering her mouth, tears running down her cheeks. “Wow,” Angie said. “Looks like I come with baggage, too.”

“Yeah,” he laughed. “I feel your pain.”

“Are you sure about all this, Patrick?” she asked.

“I didn’t even begin the drive to the airport, Ange. My legs wouldn’t go. I started wondering how I was going to leave you over a week ago—and it just isn’t in me. Trust me, I’m sure.” He looked over his shoulder. “If you just say yes, maybe we can ditch the entourage and go find some place alone. We have things to talk about. We could pack you up, make some plans, say some more goodbyes and see if we can get a flight out of California. Before you’re due back at school, we’ll have a good idea where I’m going to end up. Please, Angie—come with me.”

She took another step. “Of course I’ll come with you.”

He took her hand and pulled it, kissing her palm. “I’ll do everything I can to deserve you.” Then he pulled her into his arms, lifting her off the ground and kissing her deep and long. In front of God and everyone.

Jack dropped an arm around his sister’s shoulders and said, “You know, it’s hell being right all the time. The strain is terrible.”

“Right,” she said, wiping her eyes.

“Brie,” he yelled. “Throw another potato in the soup—we’ve got company!”

The Riordans began walking up to Jack’s house. Paddy and Angie never broke their lip-lock, not even when Aiden gave Patrick a pat on the back as he passed.

Luke was the last of the brothers to pass them. Jack was holding the door for him. “Check that one off,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at Patrick and Angie. “Kid’s got good taste.”

“I’d have to agree on that,” Jack said.