Second Chance Pass (Virgin River #5)(92)

“Lots of kids?”

“No kids.” He shook his head. “No wife.”

She frowned at him. “Still single?” she asked.

“Divorced.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“No problem. It’s been a long time. You?”

She looked away. “Single,” she said. “Recently broken up, actually.”

“Oh, then I’m the one sorry,” he said. “He must be an idiot.”

She laughed. “He is. You can have your cigar. It doesn’t bother me.”

He slipped it into his pocket. “It’ll keep. How long have you known Vanni?”

“We started flying together eight years ago. She stopped flying when she got pregnant, so we don’t see each other as often as we used to.” She looked out at the sky again. “This is the second time I’ve been her maid of honor. She promises it’s the last.”

“I think you can trust her on that. She can be yours next time.”

“I doubt that’ll ever happen,” she said, looking down.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said. “You’re young. You even thirty yet? And beautiful. It’s just a matter of days, probably.”

She just sighed. “Imagine, Vanni finding two wonderful guys like that in such a short period of time. You knew Matt?”

“Very slightly. We grew up in the same town but went to different schools, and I didn’t serve with him. I met him through Paul later, after I started designing houses for Paul’s company. If Matt was on leave, home for a visit, we’d run into each other for a beer when he was out with Paul. Good man.”

“These all seem like good guys. Does this happen often? Gatherings like this?”

“It used to be a lot of hunting and fishing, but lately these old boys have been tying the knot a lot. First Jack, about two years ago. Then Preacher last year. Mike, just a few months ago. Now Paul. Bunch of bachelors who no one could catch, everyone real slow to find the right woman, then all of a sudden there’s a rush on. The only one who found his girl real early was Zeke—he’s been married since he was about seven. Four kids. Now it looks like I’m the last one left.”

“They’re all so good-looking. I mean, you’re all so good-looking—it’s pretty amazing you weren’t snapped up early.”

“That turned out to be my fatal mistake.” He laughed.

“How long have you been divorced?”

“Over ten years,” he said.

“I guess you’ve recovered your bachelorhood.”

“Yeah,” he said. “I guess. Can I get you anything? Something to drink, maybe?”

“No, thanks. I think I’ll just enjoy the stars.”

“Mind if I enjoy the stars with you for a while?” he asked her.

She looked at him and tilted her head slightly. His question finally coaxed a smile out of her, a real one, and he thought, damn. This girl is beautiful. “That would be nice, Joe.”

Jack was the first to leave when he noticed Mel was looking tired. He collected his son, said goodbye to his boys and took Mel out onto the porch. They passed Joe and Nikki and said good-night as they left. Next to leave was Brie, giving Mike a kiss good-night on the porch before walking across the yard to their RV. Paige disappeared for good as she tucked herself in with Christopher for the night—advanced pregnancy requiring rest. Next was Vanessa, out on the porch looking for Nikki. “Hey, you can stay as long as you like—there are plenty of people around to take you home.”

“I could do that,” Joe offered. “I’d be glad to do that.”

“No,” Nikki said. “A maid of honor’s work is never done.”

Finally it was the general and Tom. Rick walked outside with them. Tom shook his hand and said, “Come out to the house tomorrow. Bring your girl.”

“Thanks, I might just do that. But not till after the wedding. No way I can let Lizzie see a wedding.”

By the time Rick walked back into the room, the tables were pushed together, the cards were out and the cigars were being snipped. “Get over here, boy,” Zeke said. “Get out your money.”

Rick laughed. Someone pressed a cigar on him and he said, “God, do I have to smoke this ugly thing?”

“As long as you get your money out, you can do whatever you want.”

“I don’t have that much money, guys,” he complained, but he was sitting down.

“Don’t worry about it, kid. We’ll take whatever you’ve got.”

Fifteen

T he general’s house was a busy place on Saturday. The nuptials were scheduled for 4:00 p.m. with a party to follow. Sunday night would belong to Tom, his family and his girl since he’d be leaving early Monday morning.

Caterers arrived in the morning, setting up a trellis strung with white drape in the yard behind the house. Fifty folding chairs were unloaded, champagne chilled, flowers placed around the house and yard. Paul’s family arrived just after noon and his mother gratefully took charge of Mattie so the bride could primp. The general was happy to host the Haggerty men and Tom out on the deck while activity around the house and yard kept them out of those regions.

The next to arrive was Shelby. She drove up from Bodega Bay. It hadn’t been that long since her mother’s passing, but she was already changed; she’d dropped a few pounds, wore her shiny, honey-colored hair free, flowing down her back, and for the first time in years, she wore makeup. She looked so great that when Tom saw her, he grabbed her up in his arms and whirled her around, making her laugh. “Look at you,” he said. “What have you done to yourself?”