Paradise Valley (Virgin River #7)(41)

“Very funny,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Abby, we have things to work out every single day. We have to buy cribs, car seats, swings, layette items, lots of stuff—it’s going to take more than one trip to the mall. We have to let the families know there will be babies coming—it’s only fair. We should have dinner together every day, just so we can communicate, catch up. If there’s anything you need or anything you’re worried about, I want to be close so I can help. If you think I’m going to molest you while you’re huge with my babies—”

“You know, I’m getting sick of that word, huge.” She blinked at him. “Are you independently wealthy or something?”

“Nope,” he said, shaking his head. “Just barely got all the bills paid from med school and residency. I have a little set aside. Not too much. In fact, after the babies are a couple of months old, I’m going to try to find a second job in one of the bigger towns to supplement my income. Then I can live in or close to Virgin River so I don’t let these people down. I promised Virgin River a year. I’d hate to renege on that. They need a doctor here. But if you need me more…”

“You expect me to stay here while you give them that year?” she asked.

“Abby, I just hope I can take care of you and the kids well enough, help and make you happy enough, so you’ll give me some time before you spring some major change on me. Because I care a lot about all of you. I do. I’m trying everything I can think of. And, Abby—I wouldn’t run out on you.” He swallowed. “But,” he said with a shrug, “if you can’t stay here, for whatever reason, I’ll look for work wherever you and the babies go.”

Oh goddamn, she thought. She was getting teary. Why would she get teary? He was trying so hard. But, he asked her to be his roommate.

He’d also offered to help her with everything in her life, from her finances to her medical condition. And didn’t he suggest he’d walk the floor at night with screaming babies?

“The idea,” she said, “is totally nuts.”

“Not a first for us,” he agreed, grinning handsomely. “We’re not exactly running with the pack, you and me. Think about this. It could work. We could take care of each other and our kids real easy. Eat more of that spaghetti. I have a little cheesecake in the refrigerator.”

“When do you want an answer?” she asked.

Cameron hoped it didn’t show on his face that he was elated to have gotten this far. Realistically, he had expected to be wearing the spaghetti dinner just for the suggestion. But she was actually considering it? Amazing. “Take your time, Ab. There’s no emergency.” He glanced at her belly. “For a good week or two.”

“I think I’ve lost my appetite,” she said.

“Nah,” he laughed. “I didn’t do anything scary. I didn’t threaten or beg. I offered help. We’ve had a few rough spots, but we have good rapport. Abby, I really want to be part of this. You’re awful special to me. Keep eating and tell me about those fireflies you caught as a kid. Tell me about going to the lake with your family.”

She did. It took a couple of minutes before she loosened up, started talking about her childhood with laughter. She never expected it, but this was so much like their first night together, their one night together. They began as strangers and before an hour had passed they were telling their stories, their secrets, laughing, touching hands, like old friends. Like lovers.

She asked him about his childhood, about his family. He told her anything she wanted to know and she realized how much she had missed him since that fateful night. The only reason they’d spent the night together in the first place was because they clicked so well, had so many common feelings and experiences.

Then they picked up the dishes and began scraping and rinsing them. She pulled out the trash can from under the sink and before dumping her leftover sausage and meatball into the bin, she started to laugh so much she bent over her tummy. She stuck her fork into the opening of a discarded jar and lifted it out of the trash. She presented an empty jar of Ragú spaghetti sauce.

He grimaced.

“Old family recipe?” she asked, laughing.

“Well, they’re an old family,” he said. “Or so I heard.”

“Cameron,” she laughed. “You’re such a liar!”

First thing in the morning, Abby drove into town and went to the clinic. She had primped and tried to look her best, then she’d had a stern talk with herself about this situation.

Cameron not only made sense, he was being both reasonable and honorable. Whether they’d hand-picked each other or not, they were having a set of twins. Children who needed parents. Parents who would have to rely on each other and should not only get along, but be familiar with each other. There was no better way to accomplish that than by being roommates. She looked down at her stomach. There was certainly no chance of them being lovers.

But there was more to it. As gracious as Vanni and Paul had been about her extended stay, they deserved a life of their own. After all, she hadn’t intended to impose for the duration—she had planned to rent something and go it alone. It took about five minutes to realize, going it alone was really not an option. She had to have a support system. She could live somewhere else and see Vanni every day if she wanted to. Not only did Vanni and Paul need their space, so did Abby. She wasn’t used to living with people. She’d had a roommate years back, but they had been very independent of each other. And there was that brief time with her husband—very brief. Other than that, she was used to solitude.