Second Chance Pass (Virgin River #5)(55)

“Okay, baby. As long as you want me here,” he whispered back.

“Forever,” she said. “Is forever too long?”

He kissed her cheek and pulled her against him. “Might not be long enough…Give me a second in the bathroom. I’ll be back.”

He grabbed the towel and wrapped it around his waist. He was lucky; no traffic in the hall. He made it a quick, quiet trip and was back in bed beside Vanessa, pulling her close. Paul lay awake for a long time, just listening to her breathe, drinking in her scent. Holding her like this, na**d against him, it was like a miracle. You don’t just go to sleep on miracles. You savor them, give thanks for them.

It wasn’t until Paul looked out Vanni’s bedroom window at dawn and caught sight of the general trudging down to the stable to feed the horses that he finally made the short journey back to his own bedroom.

Vanessa was in the kitchen in the morning with a cup of coffee, Mattie in his bouncy chair on the table beside her, when Walt came back from the stable. “Good morning, Daddy,” she said brightly. She looked at her watch. “You must have had a very early start.”

“About the regular time,” he said, going for a mug of coffee. “I’m going to miss the hell out of Tom. I’m just starting to realize what it must have been like for him, up so early, getting all that stable work out of the way before school.” He took a sip. “I’m going to miss more than that, of course.”

“But you wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said. “We’re all so proud of Tom. He’s going to do well.”

“That’s the hard part—sending him off like this, knowing it’s the best thing, even while it feels like the worst thing. And I’m losing you, too,” he said.

Vanessa had no trouble imagining how the general could look scary as hell to his troops. But this morning, at the kitchen table with just his daughter and grandson, he was soft as a puppy. She reached across the table and patted his hand. He played with the baby’s foot with his other. “You’re not losing me, Daddy. Not ever.”

“It’s okay, Vanni. You’re a young woman in your prime. Paul’s a fine young man, despite the fact that he’s fathering the nation…”

“Daddy…”

“Nah, he’s a good man. His incident aside.”

She leaned toward him. “You’re not losing me,” she said again. “But I packed a bag this morning. I’m going home with him, Dad. Just for a few days. We’ll be back before the weekend.”

“That doesn’t surprise me a bit. I’m surprised you didn’t take off in the dark of night.”

Then she asked softly, “Did I disturb your sleep last night?”

He shook his head. “I suppose we’re an odd family,” he said. “Not quite the stiff and upright family I had always thought we were, but the facts of our lives have changed all that. Relaxed our expectations…At least mine.” He looked down. “I heard you, yes. It wasn’t too disturbing. In fact, those are happy sounds.” He lifted his eyes. “There were other nights I heard you—and your brother. Nights of crying over loved ones lost. Your mother. Your husband. And I don’t doubt there were nights young Tom, at only fourteen, wondered what to do about a tough old three-star crying in his bed over his wife’s death.”

“Oh, Daddy…”

“Vanni—life is rough. It can’t help but be, especially for military families like ours. But we have to soldier on, be strong, do the best we can. If you tell me you’re happy with Paul…”

“Oh, Dad, I love him so much. I loved him before I fell in love with him, if that makes sense. He loves me. And—he loves you.”

“Any man who would do all he did after his best friend’s death—this is a man who deserves my respect.”

“Thank you, Daddy. We still have plenty of time before Tom’s graduation and his exit to basic training, even if I spend a little time in Grants Pass.” She laughed. “Tom may have trouble fitting us in, anyway—I know Brenda is on high priority right now.”

“Leaving is hard for him, too. But he’ll be swept up in it in no time. There’s something about being with those boys, competing, trying to prove yourself. He won’t have time to miss anyone.” He laughed a little. “The girl. He’ll miss the girl. He’s not a eunuch, after all.”

She smiled but didn’t say anything. Her father—he’d looked at so many young faces over his career—his read was solid.

“Paul’s hoping to do some building here. We’ll live down here as much as work provides.”

Walt’s eyes widened. “Did you insist on that?”

“No,” she said. “He loves this place. He has good friends here. He loves coming to meet the boys. He’d like to build us a house here.”

“Vanni,” he said, touched. “That would be wonderful. I can let you go if it’s what you want but, selfishly, I’d be so happy to have you nearby.”

“He’ll have details to work out. And there’s that other matter—”

Before she could continue, Paul walked into the kitchen. “Good morning, sir,” he said, heading to the coffeepot.

Walt stood. “Vanni tells me you’re considering working here.”