Virgin River (Virgin River #1)(95)

He pulled the T-shirt she wore up and over her head. “I like what you’re wearing right now. In fact, I find you overdressed in this thong.”

“Jack, I thought we decided, we’re not going to do it in your father’s house…”

“No, you said you weren’t going to.” He slipped the thong down. “I’m thinking of going after that G-spot again…”

“Oh, God,” she said, weakening. “We shouldn’t. You know how we get…”

He rose above her and grinned into her eyes. “Want me to get a sock for your mouth?”



Susan Stone delivered her son in August—a robust eight-pounder. She went to Valley Hospital, had a stunning delivery and was home in Grace Valley in forty-eight hours. It was in Mel’s mind to give her some time alone with her baby, but both John and June called and urged her to come the next Sunday afternoon, the baby not yet a week old.

Jack would not be left behind. He brought the beer and cigars.

Susan was very fit for a woman who had just delivered, but still she stayed on the couch, bassinet nearby, and let her friends fuss over her. In typical country fashion, women brought food so that the new parents wouldn’t have to be bothered with cooking. Mel was surprised to see such an air of celebration and atmosphere of an open house so soon after bringing a baby home.

There was another couple present, a very pregnant Julianna Dickson and her husband Mike. John dropped an arm around Julianna’s shoulders and said to Mel, “This one is legendary—she could never seem to wait for the doctor. June and I finally got to attend one of her births—it was the last baby, and it was sheer luck. She delivers with about fifteen minutes notice. This is number six. We’re going to admit her tomorrow and induce.”

“Don’t let the baby hear you say that,” Julianna said. “You know what always happens.”

“Maybe we should go over there right now?”

“Maybe you should strap yourself to me and keep one hand on my stomach.”

The women gathered in the living room around Susan with cups of coffee and cake. John plucked the baby out of his bassinet to show him off. As Jim already had baby Jamie in his arms, John offered the baby to Jack. And he willingly, happily took him into his arms. He cooed at the little bundle.

Mel’s eyes warmed as she watched him.

“You’re pretty good at that for a bachelor,” John said appreciatively.

“Nieces,” he said.

“Eight of them,” Mel added.

Jack jiggled and the baby sent up a loud wail. “I guess you’re not that good,” John said.

“Jack did fine. He’s hungry,” Susan said, reaching for the baby.

“Okay—there’s going to be breast-feeding,” John said. “We should find something to do.”

Jack pulled cigars out of his breast pocket and immediately a very grateful hum of approval sounded. Jim handed Jamie off to June and left the women and babies in the house to go outside and indulge.

“They’re going to stink,” Julianna said.

“To high heaven,” June agreed.

“At least they’re out of our hair.” Susan settled the newborn onto her breast and Mel watched with longing. “Mel,” she said. “How’d it go in Sacramento? With Jack’s family?”

“Oh, they’re fantastic,” she said, coming back to herself again. “Four sisters who tell every secret he’d ever dream of keeping, and eight nieces, all beautiful, all in love with their uncle Jack. It was delightful. So, Susan—how was your labor? Back labor, like you predicted?”

“Epidural,” she said with a grin. “Piece of cake.”

“I’ve never had time for one of those,” Julianna said somewhat wistfully, smoothing a hand over her round tummy.

“You and Julianna are awful close to the same due date,” Mel observed.

They all laughed. “I might’ve neglected to mention—the big fight John and I had before this little conception? It happened at a night of cards with Julianna and Mike.”

“We were both so furious with our husbands—they had both been banished. Apparently we let them both into bed at about the same time.” More laughter. Julianna rubbed her swollen tummy. “I meant to stop doing this…”

“What in the world happened?” Mel wanted to know.

“Long story short—they had a couple of beers and started in on working women. I wanted to work alongside John and June in the clinic, but John wanted me to stay home, mind my own business and clean house. And make sure he had one of those solid country meals in front of him when he got home. Now, I come from the part of the world where a salad with some chicken strips is a dining delight.”

“Mike, on the other hand, thought it was wonderful that I didn’t work. With five kids and a farmhouse to run,” Julianna said.

“Oh, brother,” Mel said.

“They were made to suffer very appropriately,” June put in. “No conversation, no sex. Perfect discipline for idiots.”

“How’d it turn out?” Mel asked.

“Well, when I’m not nine months pregnant or post partum and nursing, I run the clinic.”

“And very well, at that.”

“But a side effect was… Well, as you can plainly see—we had been knocked up. You might not want to drink the water around here,” Susan advised.