Temptation Ridge (Virgin River #6)(117)

“When I get there.”

The next morning, Walt drove her to the Garberville airport where there was a Lear waiting. The pilot and cabin steward, nicely uniformed, were waiting at the bottom of the airstairs and they fussed over her very impressively. She had only one small bag and traveled in her jeans and boots, leather jacket and cowboy hat. She kept them waiting while she gave Walt a long, deep kiss goodbye. “If there’s a break in the filming, I’ll be up for a visit. And I’ll call you when I get there.”

“Muriel, stop being reluctant and sad. You want this and I want it for you. You’re good, that’s why you’re getting this chance. Knock ’em dead. And if Jack Whatshisname makes a play for you, tell him to f**k off. You have a boyfriend already.”

She laughed. “I’ll be sure to tell him.”

“And I’m a good shot.”

“Yeah,” she said. “Thanks for taking on the animals. They mean a lot to me.”

“Me, too,” he said.

He stood there in the blistering cold until her private jet took her away. He watched it until it was out of sight. All he could think was, what if she doesn’t come back? What if she really does get that Oscar and is lured into one more and one more and one more? A private jet came for her and she didn’t even have to pack. And having her own jet didn’t make her the least intimidated or uncomfortable. This was Muriel’s real life.

What the hell was I thinking I could mean to her?

What if she’s all done being mine?

Mel heard a truck pull up in front of the clinic and thought it must be Bruce bringing mail and asking after specimens to be delivered to Valley Hospital. She walked out onto the porch, but didn’t recognize the truck. She frowned as a woman got out of the passenger side. This was an attractive woman in her early thirties—trim, brown hair, pink cheeks. She looked up at Mel and smiled somewhat shyly. “Hi,” she said.

Mel frowned, then returned the smile. “Hi. How can I help you?”

“Oh, you already have.” She took two steps up onto the porch. She wore light makeup, slim jeans, a long-sleeved turtleneck shirt and down vest.

And then it dawned on her. Cheryl Chreighton! Her transformation was nothing short of astonishing. In just a few months’ time her complexion had pinked up, her eyes were clear, she’d dropped about twenty-five pounds—probably most of it the edema that she carried from drinking—and she was not just clean, but actually groomed and styled. Someone had cut her hair and showed her how to fix it. She wore women’s clothes and a very happy smile. “Oh, dear God.”

“Absolutely,” Cheryl said. “Dear God and you.”

“Look at you,” Mel said in a breath.

“Thank you,” Cheryl said solemnly. “This is because of you.”

“No, it’s you,” Mel stressed. “All I did was make a few phone calls. You did the work. Have you come home?”

“No,” Cheryl said with a laugh, shaking her head. “This isn’t a good place for me. I have a job and a place with some roommates. Not exactly a group home, but close—we’re in recovery. Not much of a job, but I don’t need much of one right now.” Cheryl swallowed and looked down. “I doubt I’ll ever come back here,” she said. “There aren’t any meetings here or anything.” She looked up bravely and gave a shrug. “I don’t think I’d be happy in a place where I used to be the town drunk. Not just an average town drunk, a below-average town drunk.”

“That wouldn’t matter, you know that. But the meetings—you need the meetings. Recovery without aftercare is like major surgery without stitches.”

Cheryl chuckled. “Yeah, you got that right.”

“How long has it been?” Mel asked.

“A hundred and twenty-seven days. I don’t think we can count the day you took me. I was blitzed. I don’t see a time I’ll be skipping those meetings, even though I really don’t want a drink today…. Mrs. Sheridan, what I have right now, I don’t want to give it up. I’m at meetings all the time, sometimes twice a day. If it’s forever, that’s okay.”

Mel almost said, “Call me Mel,” but caught herself. This was Cheryl’s show; she could do anything she wanted. “Good for you,” she said, smiling. “Wonderful.”

“I have to see my parents. I haven’t seen them since I left here that day with you.”

“I’m sure they’ll be so happy to see you….”

Cheryl laughed. “Oh, I don’t know. My mother thought the whole rehab thing was crazy and my dad thought we were doing pretty good the way he doled out the booze on his terms so he thought he had it under control. That might explain a few things. And they’re not well, either of them. I need to see them, but I can’t stay here. I wouldn’t come alone, though. My sponsor is with me.”

Mel leaned down a bit to peer into the truck. A silver-haired woman sat behind the wheel and gave Mel a brief wave and she thought, ah good. A mature woman, hopefully with years of sobriety under her belt. That would give Cheryl a good shot at success.

“And there are amends,” Cheryl said. “I’m not sure I can cover the whole town, but I wanted to catch you and Doc, maybe Jack…”

Mel was temporarily shocked and for the first time realized she’d come onto the porch without a coat. She shivered. Tears gathered. “Cheryl, my God, I’m so sorry. Someone should’ve gotten word to you. I’m surprised your parents didn’t— Doc passed away suddenly last October. We don’t know why. His heart maybe. Or a fatal stroke. There was no autopsy….”