Redwood Bend (Virgin River #18)(63)

“You see what you want to see, D,” Lang said. “Like we’re the perfect married couple? Hell, we’ve had some knockdowns. I’ve spent my share of nights on the couch. In fact, it’s making up that really gets us into trouble—that’s usually when we slip up and get pregnant.”

“Didn’t you promise her a vasectomy?”

“Yeah, when little D is two, and guess what? He had a birthday just after I got back from our ride. As soon as I can put together some days off, I’m going to get that done. We can’t afford another one. And there are so many kids, I never get any time alone with my wife.”

“Man,” Dylan said. “No one’s ever cutting on me…”

Lang laughed heartily at that. “We’ll talk after you have five kids.”

“Like that’ll ever happen…”

“It’s a pretty simple formula, Dylan. Once I found a woman I loved, I stopped worrying about whether I’d ever find a woman I loved. I ask Sue Ann what I want and she’s only too happy to tell me. And then, my friend, she rewards me. It’s a beautiful thing.”

The reward he was talking about flashed in Dylan’s mind, but the players certainly were not Lang and Mrs. Lang. It was Dylan and Katie, of course. The first image happened to be on the floor. His mouth watered. Then the bed, then the shower, then the bed… He cleared his throat. “Sounds like you know what you’re doing. Even I think you have the perfect life. And everyone knows I’m impossible to please.”

“I don’t think that,” Lang said. “I’ve told you what I think a hundred times, but you don’t listen.”

“Tell me one more time.”

Lang drew an impatient breath. “When I found my woman, I focused on her. You’ll never find your woman, because you’re focused on your silly demons. Demons you barely remember from your childhood anyway. Demons that have nearly died of old age, by the way. Speaking of those demons, how’s the movie business these days? And the family?”

Dylan was speechless. Had Lang said that before? Was he always living inside his own head, worrying about how certain things would make him feel, not thinking about how other people might feel? But no, that wasn’t right, because he felt very bad about the way he made Katie feel and came back to apologize…came back to apologize because he hadn’t been sleeping and he wanted a clear conscience. And while he’d been gone, Katie had grown thin.

Oh, God, he thought. I was trying not to, but I found her. I can’t stand it, it’s so scary. But I found her. My woman.

“Dylan?” Lang said. “How’s the sick and twisted family?”

“They’re everywhere you look in Hollywood, all angling for a break, an endorsement, a part in a movie. I exchanged a few unpleasant words with my mother and a couple of sibs, but otherwise I haven’t talked to the rest of them. I’m sure that makes me the bad guy.”

“Nah,” Lang said. “You’re the all done guy. Very reasonable behavior. It is perfectly all right to stay away from vampires.”

“Silly demons?” Dylan heard himself ask.

“I’ve known you for over fifteen years,” Lang said. “Those characteristics you’ve complained about your family having—that narcissism, envy, cruelty, lack of accountability. If you showed those traits, we wouldn’t be friends.” Then he laughed and added, “Sue Ann wouldn’t let me.”

Dylan laughed with him. “One question,” he said. “What makes you think I’m obsessed with my demons? Why don’t you assume I avoid attachments to save women the bad luck of getting hooked up with me and my demons?”

“You ever ask anyone if they’re willing to take a chance on you? Because I asked Sue Ann. I told her I wasn’t good enough for her, that I probably wouldn’t amount to much, but I had a good temperament and was trainable. She thought about it and decided I was worth the risk.”

“Would you have gone away quietly if she’d said she thought it in her best interests to keep looking?” Dylan asked.

“Nah, I probably would’ve asked at least three times. I let her domesticate me. Now she’s stuck with me.”

Again Dylan laughed. And air hung in the line—dead air.

“Dylan,” Lang finally said, suspicion dripping from the name. “Where are you?”

He didn’t answer at once. “Virgin River.”

“Ah.”

“I wanted to apologize for being such an ass, for leaving suddenly, for making her feel dumped, for hurting her feelings like that.”

“Ah. How’s that working out for you?”

“About like you’d expect,” he said. “Katie’s real pissed and her brother beat me up. But I rented a truck. Think you can manage Childress Aviation without me for a while longer?”

Katie was never one to follow orders. She didn’t stay at home, locked in the cabin, as Dylan commanded. She thought she’d drive into town, visit with Mel Sheridan and ask if they could delay that ultrasound appointment for a few more days. Surely Dylan would be gone again soon. When she drove into town she noticed a truck parked at Jack’s with a logo on the side—Cavanaugh Apples. Perfect, she thought. So she parked there and went to the bar. There he was, Tom Cavanaugh, having a cup of coffee with Jack and Preacher.