Second Chance Pass (Virgin River #5)(36)

“Something unexpected came up. I had to, ah, just help out a friend with something. I was home too late to call you. I didn’t even check the messages until this morning.”

She sighed heavily. It wasn’t like her to panic, but she’d had far too many losses over the past few years, and Paul felt like one more. “If you hadn’t said…”

“Vanni, I’m sorry. That will never happen again.”

Taking care of the widow again, she thought. He got home, got sidetracked by the woman in Grants Pass and she was the last thing on his mind. How could he be any more clear? Still, she heard herself ask, “What was the problem that sidetracked you until so late?”

“Ah, it wasn’t anything. Not as serious as it sounded at first. I’ll tell you all about it, Vanni, but I’d rather do it in person. I’m so sorry I didn’t call.”

“I’m not your keeper,” she said. “You have a private life, as you tried to explain…”

“Vanni, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea here…”

“I doubt I have the wrong idea,” she said. “Don’t worry about it, Paul. I’m glad everything is okay. We’ll catch up later.”

“I’ll talk to you this week,” he said. “I’ll see you on the weekend.”

“Sure,” she said. She hung up the phone and went to her bedroom. She sat on the edge of her bed. She could tell by the nervous sound in his voice—he hadn’t been home too late to call—he hadn’t been home at all. He spent the night with the woman. The woman who had complicated his life.

We have things to talk about…. Those were his parting words, along with the promise to call. That thing he wanted to talk about—it would be an explanation about his relationship in Grants Pass, as if she needed more of his lame attempts. What did she expect, really? He had a life before Matt was killed, before Vanessa needed him, and that life went on. She had to find a way to let go of this, of him. If she didn’t, it was going to tear her apart. Worse, it would tear Paul apart because more than anything, he was faithful to Matt.

The best thing she could do for herself, for Paul, was attempt to get on with her life.

She remembered back to those old flying days when she and Nikki got each other through a dozen bad boyfriends, the pain and disappointment. “Raise your right hand and repeat after me,” Nikki would say. “I will not be pitiful! I will not be pathetic!”

She checked little Matt to find he was still sleeping. She wiped at her eyes. It was so ridiculous to cry—it had been very clear for a long time. Paul was devoted to her, bonded with her in some special ways. Probably her best friend. He was loving and affectionate and genuinely cared about her—but it wasn’t romantic. It never had been. She’d better get over it.

One thing she absolutely couldn’t take—Cameron and Paul both in Virgin River for the weekend—Cameron trying to seduce her, Paul shyly and clumsily trying to find a way to tell her he had a girlfriend. Chinese water torture would be sweeter.

She went back to the great room and sat beside the phone for a few minutes, thinking. She picked up the receiver and dialed. “Cameron? Yes, I’ve been thinking about it and a little trip to the coast might be just what I need. Mattie and I would love to go. But it’ll have to be two rooms. And only if you’re sure you want to do this with no expectations. I don’t want to disappoint you.”

“I understand your position, Vanessa,” he said. “Let’s just have a good time.”

“That sounds so nice. Can we make it early on Saturday and home Sunday?”

“Perfect.”

“Good, I’ll be ready.” And she hung up.

She looked at Walt, whose newspaper was folded into his lap. He stared at her over the top of his reading glasses. “Vanessa, just what the hell’s going on?”

“I’m…ah…I’m going on a little weekend trip with Cameron. I’ll be taking the baby, of course.”

He had heard her side of all three conversations and she knew it. “There seems to be a lot more to the story here…” he said. “Fighting with Paul? Making a date with this doctor?”

“It’s really nothing, Dad,” she answered. “You don’t have a problem with me going away for a weekend, do you?”

“You’re a grown woman,” he said.

“Paul will be coming down for the weekend.”

“And you’re not going to be here to see him?”

She stood up. “He’s not coming to see me. I think I’ll just go for a quick ride, if you don’t mind listening for the baby.”

“Not at all,” he said. “Don’t hurt the horse.”

If Cameron had hoped to impress and charm Vanessa, he certainly was on the right track. First of all, he borrowed his brother’s SUV so that the car seat and stroller would fit. She had some misgivings about going away with him for the weekend, especially when her motivation was mostly to avoid Paul. But he entertained her with stories on their drive to the coast—growing up with a brother and sister close to his age, fraternity pranks, med school horror stories that made her laugh in spite of herself. She was immediately comfortable, enjoying herself, and decided there were some perks involved in avoiding Paul.