Second Chance Pass (Virgin River #5)(60)

His wife had never much liked big jewelry.

It was all Hollywood stuff, dedicated to the superficial. She’d obviously be more at home in a marble mansion with a pool. What the hell was she doing with that old Weatherby ranch house? That wouldn’t last long.

“Exotic chickens, my ass,” Walt muttered to himself as he shut down the computer and headed for bed.

Nine

I n the early morning Vanni felt the bed dip as Paul brought her a freshly diapered and hungry baby, placing him between them.

“Well, good morning, my angel,” she murmured, kissing the baby’s head. He sent up a loud protest at kisses instead of milk and she snuggled him close to nurse.

Paul stretched out on the bed to watch Vanessa and the baby. His hand wandered affectionately from Mattie’s little head to Vanessa’s soft, mussed hair. The baby made a lot of noise this morning, which made Paul laugh. “Have you been starving him?”

“He’s always starving,” she said. “Time for him to get some solid food.”

“I thought you said the breast only for six months? He’s barely over three.”

“I did, but look at him. He’s ravenous. Maybe he could use a little cereal…”

“He’s awesome, and growing damn fat on the breast,” Paul said. “Vanessa, call Carol and Lance about a visit, find out when they can see you. Then I’ll get in touch with my mom about a family thing. I’ll try to get more details about Terri’s pregnancy while we’re here.”

“I should meet your family right away,” she said. “Make sure they’re not all as crazy as you are. Are you going to tell them about Terri?”

“Not until I know something for sure. But I want to tell them about us—that we’re getting married when we can get our plans together. Is that all right? Because I can’t look at you without wanting everyone to know.”

“Sure. I have the same problem,” she said with a smile. “This is the part about being married that I like. Lying beside you in bed…”

“Baby between us…”

She laughed. “He has his needs. And if you want more children, you’d better get used to this.”

“This,” he said, stroking the baby’s soft head, “is everything I’ve ever wanted.”

“So odd that you didn’t find someone to marry years ago. You’re so good at it. And this thing you have for pregnant women and babies…”

“For a while there it seemed like everyone had a pregnant wife but me. Between my brothers and my friends, I was surrounded by them. Round bellies, nursing babies…Is there some rule about waiting a respectable length of time between the first ‘I love you’ and the vows?” he asked her.

She laughed at him. “What’s the difference? We’ve known each other for years. We’ve been through things together that even some husbands and wives haven’t.”

“What would your father think if we got married right away?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Daddy scares everyone but me,” she said. “Anything I want suits him fine.”

“The person most on my mind is Tom,” Paul said.

“Tommy? Why?”

“We’ve gotten real close. He’s like one of my brothers. And the way he feels about you—he tries to hide it, but he admires you. We can’t do it without him. He’s leaving right after graduation, but I want him to be there. I want him to be my best man.”

“How would your family feel about a fast wedding?”

He chuckled. “Relieved, believe me. My mother’s secret fear is that I’ll die a lonely old man.”

“Paul, you can’t tell your family that one woman is having your baby and you’re marrying another all in the same sentence.”

“I know. I’m going to get the facts as soon as possible—but, Vanni, the bottom line will be the same, whether it comes in one sentence or one month. I’ll take care of them, I’ll take care of you—but you’re going to be my wife. Period.”

“You’ve been thinking about this.…” she said.

“There’s something about lying next to you all night that disturbs my sleep.”

“Funny that you didn’t disturb mine,” she said.

“I thought I’d give you a break. But your break is almost over.”

Mattie drew in a deep sigh and fell away from the breast, satisfied and asleep. Paul leaned over the baby’s head to place a soft kiss on her lips. He then kissed the baby’s head and asked, “Would you like to hold him a while longer?”

“No, I’ll put him down,” she said, beginning to rise.

“Stay right there. Let me,” he said, scooping the baby into his arms. Mattie’s head fell right to Paul’s shoulder and before Paul had made it out of the bedroom, a loud, sleepy belch escaped the little boy.

Vanni chuckled and snuggled into the bed. Happy. She let her eyes close, but not for sleep. For a long time she had been afraid she’d never get to feel this way again. And then her man was back, pulling her into his arms, covering her mouth in a kiss that was not soft, drawing a deep moan from her as her arms went around him.

Later that morning Vanessa phoned Carol. “Hi. I’m going to be in town for a couple of days and I thought if you had time, I’d bring little Matt over for a visit.”