Second Chance Pass (Virgin River #5)(80)

“We’ll enjoy dinner, leave the dishes in the sink and then run out to the Sheridans’. How does that sound to you?”

“I’d love to see the baby,” she said. “I’d like to meet your daughter and little grandson. After all, I introduced you to Luce.”

“The thing is,” he said, “this is going to get Vanessa a lot more excited than Luce was when she met me.”

“I don’t know if that’s possible,” Muriel replied, thinking of her Lab’s wild reaction every time she saw Walt.

Thirty minutes later they were en route in Walt’s SUV, having left Muriel’s truck at his house. Their timing was perfect; the little baby girl was just making her first public appearance. And when Walt walked into the house with Muriel, Vanessa’s chin almost dropped to the floor. “Vanni, meet our new neighbor, Muriel St. Claire. Muriel, this is my daughter. And this,” he said, turning toward Jack, who held a small pink bundle in his arms, “must be the new Sheridan.”

“Oh my God,” Muriel said. “Oh my God, look at her! I’ve never seen a baby this new! She’s amazing!”

“Want to hold her a second?” Jack asked.

“I don’t even know how,” Muriel said. There was that look, Walt thought. Vulnerable. He’d remember that. “Puppies and foals I can handle—human newborns…Maybe I shouldn’t…”

“You’ll be all right.” Jack laughed. “Support her head.” He shifted the baby into her arms. “There you go. It’s not that hard.”

Vanni was still staring openmouthed at her father, but Walt was completely oblivious to his daughter. He had a dreamy smile on his face as he watched Muriel. He had learned that there had never been children for Muriel, that she wished she’d had a long marriage like his and maybe a couple of kids. He hadn’t asked her a lot of personal questions about her relationships because he was a little afraid of the answers, but he knew this was new territory for her. It warmed him to see her experience this for the first time.

“Dad?” Vanni whispered, sidling close to him. “Were you spending the evening with Muriel?”

“I was cooking her dinner,” he said. “You should see the way she eats. Wouldn’t keep a rabbit alive.”

“But, Dad, you didn’t mention anything about—”

“Of course I didn’t, Vanessa. She’s a new neighbor. Only been in that house a couple of months. In fact, I didn’t even know she was around till I ran into her out on the trail. She has a couple of horses. Nice woman. You’ll like her.”

“Dad?”

He finally turned to look at her. “What?” he asked.

“Dad, do you realize that’s Muriel St. Claire? The actress?”

“Uh-huh. She mentioned that, yes. Nice woman, you’ll like her.”

Vanni just shook her head in confusion. But her attention was drawn back to Jack as he presented little Emma to the rest of the gathering, giving each one a chance to admire her.

“I’m sorry, Vanessa,” Muriel said. “I should have said how pleased I am to meet you—but I was completely distracted by the baby.” She put out her hand. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

Vanessa took the hand, but she said, “You and my father…?”

“Are neighbors,” Muriel said with a smile.

Then Jack took the baby back to his wife and invited the women to follow. They all did, including Muriel.

Muriel went straight to Mel, leaned over the bed and with a smile said, “Congratulations. Excellent work—she’s magnificent.”

“Muriel!” Mel exclaimed tiredly, clearly surprised.

“I was having dinner with Walt when the call came. I’m so glad I got to be a part of this. I held the baby,” she added a little conspiratorially.

“Ah,” Mel said. “I’m glad to see you again. But we’ll have to meet under other circumstances from now on. We’re not going to keep doing this. Jack has strict orders not to knock me up again without permission.”

“Very smart,” Muriel agreed.

Shots were poured for the men, and Doc showed up right about then as if he’d whiffed the whiskey. John Stone abstained because he had another woman in early labor, but he accepted the cigar. The women stayed with Mel in the bedroom, but Muriel stepped out onto the porch with the men. They all turned to look at her with puzzled expressions on their faces as she joined their group.

“I heard there would be a drink and a cigar,” she said with a shrug. “Isn’t that right?”

They all stared at her dumbly except Walt—he was somehow not at all surprised by this. “I can take care of that,” Walt said. He went into the house to pour her a drink and brought it back to her. By the time he’d returned, Mike Valenzuela had snipped the end of a big ugly cigar for her. She accepted her drink and waited her turn for the lighter. Once she had her cigar going, she lifted her glass. “To you, Jack, and to your amazing wife, and to the newest Sheridan. Congratulations.”

It was almost midnight when John Stone reached into his pocket and pulled out his pager. “I’ve got another one coming. They come in batches,” he said, jogging off to the ambulance. “Full moon,” he yelled over his shoulder. And with lights flashing on top of the Grace Valley ambulance, John was gone.