Second Chance Pass (Virgin River #5)(36)

“Okay,” she said, a sentimental look in her eyes. “Will you stay with me tonight?”

“I can’t, Terri. It’s about those boundaries.”

“Well, it’s not as if I’m going to get pregnant!”

“Terri—you want me in this with you or not? I told you, I’ll be an involved father and I’ll support you the best I can. I hope we can cooperate, work together, be friends. I’d like us to do a good job with this—but we’re not a couple, and we’re not going to be intimate anymore.”

“Jesus,” she whispered, leaning against him to cry some more. “I have myself so upset I can’t eat, I can’t sleep. It’s like you feel completely different about me because I got pregnant, and it’s not my fault!”

“Shh. Since we were both taking precautions, it’s not really anyone’s fault, but it’s still a responsibility we both have. You’re going to have to settle down and be more rational. This isn’t good for you or the baby. Try to calm down a little, okay?”

“It’s just so hard,” she said. “We might not have been together that much, but when we were, it was wonderful. We got along, we liked each other. I thought when you knew we’d made a baby, you’d at least give us a try. But man—you won’t even think about it.”

“Yeah, honey…We liked each other fine, got along great, had fun—four whole times in a year. I think it takes a lot more than that to make a successful marriage. Besides, if there was potential for it to be any more serious than it is, we’d have known a long time ago. But you know what I’d like?”

“What?” she said, turning her face up to look at him.

“We’re going to be parents together. Not under the same roof, but still—we have to do this as a team. I’d like it if we could do that as friends. Two people who might not have what it takes to be a couple, but have everything we need to be good parents. That’s going to take some practice, I think.”

“You think?” she whispered.

“Yeah,” he said with a weary sigh. “Lots.”

“That woman,” she said with a sniff. “Did you know you loved her right away?” she asked.

“Right away,” he said, his arm around her.

Terri was quiet for a moment. Then she said, “I guess you probably know exactly how I feel.”

He thought it made as much sense for Terri to think herself in love with him after a couple of one-night stands as it did for him to be in love with Vanni the second he laid eyes on her. And Vanni had been as unavailable to him as he was to Terri.

“Come on,” he said to Terri. “Let’s lay down on the bed, see if you can calm down enough to rest. I can’t stay the night, though. You understand?”

“I think so, yes,” she said. “I don’t like it, but I get it. I’m not usually this crazy.”

“It’s okay. Let’s quiet you and the baby down, then I’m going to leave and go home. You feeling a little better yet?”

“There’s just no way for us, is there, Paul?”

“There’s a way for us to have this baby and be good parents, Terri. In my mind, that’s a lot.”



First thing Monday morning the phone rang at the Booth household, and Vanessa lunged for it. It was Cameron and she let out a disappointed sigh that she hoped he wouldn’t interpret. The man she’d been thinking about was Paul. She’d been worrying about him. Frantically, in fact. He hadn’t called as promised and by ten o’clock the night before she’d left messages for him at his home and office, getting no response. She’d hardly slept, afraid he’d been hurt or killed on the drive home. It didn’t feel good to have something between them yet to be resolved.

She collected herself. “Well, hello, Cameron.”

“Vanni, how are you?”

“Very well, thanks. And you?” She chewed her lip a little bit. Why couldn’t this just be Paul?

“I’m good. Listen, I know Virgin River is perfection, but I was wondering if you’d like to get out of town for a weekend.”

“A weekend?” she asked, completely unprepared for such a question.

“There’s a great seaside hotel in Mendocino, on the ocean. Lots to do around there. Very relaxing and entertaining.”

“Cameron, I have a baby.”

He chuckled. “I thought maybe I could bring along a pediatrician.”

“But, Cameron, I’m really not ready for—”

“Easy, Vanni. We’ll get two rooms. Think of it as a chance to get to know each other better, that’s all. And no, I have not mentioned my plans to Carol.”

“Oh. Listen—I appreciate the invitation, but I’m not sure I’m ready for something like a weekend date. That’s moving a little fast for me…”

“I’ll be a Boy Scout,” he laughed. “Two rooms, good views, great food, a little relaxation, conversation, no pressure…”

“I appreciate the thought, really. It’s very nice of you, but…”

“All right,” he said. “It was worth a try. Well, then, can I wrangle another run down to Virgin River? I have Jack’s phone number. I could make a reservation at that little cabin…”