

Thanksgiving had a special significance for John Middleton, known as Preacher to his friends. His mother passed away around this time when he was only seventeen, and for so many years after that, when the holidays approached, he just endeavored to get through them as best he could. He was always relieved when the whole season was over. But once he found Virgin River and his wife, Paige, everything in his life changed, and he looked forward to the holidays with excitement and spirit. He had a great deal to be thankful for.
Every Thanksgiving Preacher prepared a big turkey dinner and kept the bar open for anyone who wasn't otherwise occupied. It became the tradition at Jack's Bar to serve a big dinner free of charge to friends and any strangers who might wander in. Preacher could have used his new house to accommodate his Thanksgiving guests, but it just wouldn't be the same. Plus he liked the idea of being open to strangers who found themselves traveling or stranded on this very important day.
Mel Sheridan and Dr. Michaels were trading off holidays this year. Since Cameron and his wife had the new twins, they wanted to take a few days for family at Christmastime, so Mel and Jack were going to the Sheridan family home in Sacramento for Thanksgiving. But there would be no shortage of guests for Preacher's biggest dinner of the year.
He and Paige pushed the tables together in the bar into one long, wide table. Paige dressed up the table with a horn of plenty filled with gourds and colorful leaves. As well, orange candles provided soft lighting up and down the table. Each place setting had a construction-paper turkey created by her and her son, Christopher. When Preacher looked at the long table, he smiled and said, "You sure do class the place up, babe."
At four o'clock the turkey came out of the oven to sit for a half hour before carving. The side dishes were ready and the hors d'oeuvres were on the bar. A cabernet was breathing, a chardonnay was chilled, juice and sodas were cold for the kids and abstemious, the water glasses were all filled, coffee was ready to perk. Preacher looked around the room, puffing up a little in pride.
The first to arrive were Rick and Liz, helping Rick's grandmother, Lydie, into the bar. Next came Connie and Ron of the corner store and, for the first time, Connie's sister, Liz's mother. Joy and Bruce, good friends from down the street, arrived and, right behind them, Hope McCrea. Not long after, Cameron and Abby with babies, Julia and Justin, and enough baby gear to open a nursery. Preacher held on to his own little daughter, Dana Marie, and chuckled as he realized they basically had opened a nursery.
He beamed when the door opened again and Dan Brady and Cheryl came in. He'd hoped they would come, but he had no way of knowing if Cheryl was comfortable among them. It had taken her some time after adjusting to her newfound sobriety to get used to the idea that Virgin River folks didn't look down on her at all. The fact of the matter, Preacher knew, was that everyone was real proud of her.
Paige and Preacher passed around the hors d'oeuvres and drinks and, after about twenty minutes of visiting, there was a mad scurrying among the women to put out all the side dishes, settle small children in high chairs and find places for everyone to sit. Then and only then did Preacher bring out the noble bird on a large tray, surrounded by baked apples and parsley. He put it in front of his place at the head of the table and took in all the oohs and ahhs as he prepared to carve.
Right at that moment the door to the bar opened and a man stood in the entrance. His hair was too long and he looked a little on the worn side, his jacket collar frayed. "Oh, sorry. I thought you were open."
"Come in, come in," Preacher said. "You're just in time."
"Oh, no," he said, shaking his head. "I can see you're having a holiday dinner. And I have the family in the car. We're headed back to my in-laws in Trinity County and the car was sputtering, so we decided to stop for a while. But I'll take a look under the hood and we'll push on."
Dan Brady was on his feet. "Tell the family to come in, brother. Join us for a meal and then we'll have a look at the car. At least we'll send you off in good working order."
"I, ah...We have some sandwiches in the car for the kids---"
"It would be our pleasure to have you and your family join us. Please. No one pays for a meal or drink, or even for car repair, on a special holiday like this one. This is a family day," Preacher said. "Come in and meet everyone. Join us. We'd be honored."
At the Riordan household, Luke had purchased a couple of long folding tables and foldable chairs for their Thanksgiving dinner. With Art's help, he rearranged the furniture to make room so the women could set up their dinner table.
"I'm not very good at this sort of thing," Shelby told her mother-in-law.
"What nonsense! You've stuffed the bird and he's roasting beautifully! You've done a fantastic job so far."
"My uncle Walt talked me through it---he's a great cook. We don't have enough dishes, so my cousin Vanni is bringing some of her mother's, along with some table linens. It isn't going to be fancy---all mismatched plates and flatware and---"
"Darling," Maureen said, putting a hand on her arm to still her. "I can't think of a thing you could do to make it more perfect."
Shelby smiled and leaned toward her to whisper, "I can think of one thing. You have to let Luke make his announcement, but I'll give you a tip. We're going to give Rosie a cousin."
Maureen pulled her into an embrace. "Congratulations, sweetheart. When are you due?"
Shelby shrugged. "The height of next summer, just as Luke planned."
"And you're feeling well?"
"Actually, I feel like crap. Oops," she apologized. "I mean, I'm kind of tired and have some morning sickness and, according to Luke, I'm not in the best mood. I might want to have a little consult with my brother-in-law after dinner."
"Good idea," Maureen said. "Maybe he'll have a suggestion or two. Now, let's get this house ready for the company!"
The first to arrive were Sean, Franci, Rosie and Vivian. Viv jumped right into the kitchen work with Maureen, while Rosie checked with everyone present to see if anyone was going fishing!
Next came Paul and Vanni with their little ones and a couple of boxes of additional dishes, linens and flatware. Right behind them were Walt and Muriel. Walt's son, Tom Booth, and his girlfriend, Brenda, were having dinner with Brenda's family but planned to arrive for dessert. The kitchen was full of women, talking and laughing, with the general trying to edge his way into direct traffic.
The house was full of people when Art quietly asked Luke how long it would be before dinner. When he was told it would be at least an hour---right around four o'clock---he slipped away and walked to his little cabin next door to grab his rod and reel. Art loved people, but large crowds stuffed into a small house made him a little jittery. All those little children! Art thought himself a little clumsy sometimes; he was afraid he might step on one of them!
Recently, Luke had given him a very nice watch for his birthday, and when Luke told him a time to be somewhere or do something, Art was exactly on time. He loved his watch! He did just as the Riordan brothers did---he'd check his watch and mark the time in his head. He never forgot. In his fantasy life, he was a Riordan brother. Brave and handsome and courageous.
Down at the river's edge Art walked upstream to his favorite spot where the river was shallow and most narrow. There were some flat rocks he could step on to get out into the middle of the stream and, from there, he would cast. Casting was still a little new to him and learning it hadn't been easy, but Luke had been patient and never made him feel stupid. Of all the things he loved about Luke, his favorite thing was that Luke always treated him like a man.
He stepped on the flat rocks---one, two, three---very slowly and cautiously. If he didn't go too quickly, not a drop of water would wet the tops of his tennis shoes. He went easy and lightly so as not to slip. Luke said he might get waders for Christmas and he was so excited about that.
Art stood almost in the middle of the river and threw his fly into the deeper part, reeling in slowly. If he caught a fish, they would put it in Luke's freezer for another day. Today was turkey day.
Contentment always washed over Art while he fished. Not only did it relax him, but when he pulled in a fish and gave it to Luke and Shelby, he felt as if he was contributing to the family. They ate fish for dinner about twice a week---almost always fish that Art had caught. Out of the corner of his eye Art caught a glimpse of something red. He turned and saw Rosie standing right at the water's edge. She had a fistful of bread and she was tearing off pieces, tossing them in the water, watching to see if the fish would come close to her. Her feet were wet and she didn't even have a coat on!
Just then, she threw some more bread in the water and she lost her balance!
"Rosie!" Art yelled.
She righted herself, standing in water over her ankles.
"Rosie, you're not supposed to be here all by yourself!" he yelled.
"I'm fishing," she said, completely ignoring Art's concern. She threw more bread and slipped again.
She was standing near a deep pool! It wasn't too deep for Art, but she was so little! If she fell in, she could drown! The current that ran near the shoreline wouldn't pull someone as big as Art downstream, but little Rosie might be helpless!
"You stay right there!" he yelled.
He dropped his rod right in the water, giving no thought to it, focused only on Rosie. He took two quick, giant steps, but on the third step he slipped on a large flat rock and the sole of his shoe slid off. He teetered and fell forward. He put out his hands, but there was too much momentum---he fell face-first in the shallow end of the river, hit his head on a rock and lay facedown in the river.
As the turkey came out of the oven ready for carving and Walt insisted on making the gravy, Franci went looking for Rosie---it was time to clean up and get her hands washed. She'd seen her just a second ago on the floor with Mattie and Hannah, Vanni's children, but right now she was nowhere in sight. She checked the bathroom and Shelby's bedroom, but she wasn't there. Franci looked up the staircase---would she have gone upstairs?
Franci ran up and peeked into the two bedrooms, but no Rosie. Running back downstairs she wondered if the little imp was hiding. "Sean," Franci called. "Where's Rosie?"
Sean looked around. "Bathroom?" he suggested.
Franci shook her head. Then she glanced into the kitchen. There, on the countertop, was a loaf of bread. But the plastic bag was open. No adult in this house would have left it like that; it was too close to dinner to be making sandwiches. She gasped and her heart fell with a thud.
"The river!" she yelled into the living room full of people. "Oh, God, she took bread to the river!"
Sean bolted out the door, Franci on his heels, both of them frantically running for the river. Franci could hear Rosie crying and she picked up speed. The river was close; she saw her little girl standing at its edge, clutching her sliced bread. Sean got to her first. He scooped her up instantly. "Sean!" Franci yelled, pointing at Art, facedown in the water.
There was the sound of running behind them---others had followed the alarm and several people came pounding down the trail.
Sean put Rosie back on her feet at the edge of the water and ran to Art. He was barely there before Luke and Aiden waded up to their knees in the icy water, pulling Art to the bank. They rolled him over and Aiden immediately straddled Art's waist and began pressing upward on his chest. "Someone call rescue---we'll need emergency transport," he said, pressing on Art's chest. A bubble of river water rolled out. "And blankets. Lots of blankets!"
There was a flurry of activity as Rosie was taken back to the house by Maureen, while others ran to use the phone and to hunt for towels and blankets. Aiden pulled himself off Art's midsection to kneel beside him and begin mouth-to-mouth.
Franci knelt on Art's other side. "I can spell you," she said to Aiden.
"I'm good," he said, pushing another breath into the big man. "Come on, Art!"
As if performing on command, Art coughed and spewed water into the air. He coughed again; he wheezed and gasped. Aiden and Franci together rolled him onto his side and, after a great deal of coughing and choking, he threw up a lot of river water. While Art struggled to sit up, Luke was shaking out a blanket and wrapping it around his shoulders.
"There we go," Aiden said. "Take slow breaths if you can, Art. Cough it out."
Art had a terrified look on his face and a big lump on his head. He had a hard time catching his breath enough to speak and was clearly panicked. Finally, in a voice he could barely use, looking around frantically, he said, "Rosie? Did she fall in?"
"No, buddy. You did. But you're going to be all right, I think."
That didn't seem to satisfy him. "Where's Rosie? Where is she?"
Luke knelt in front of Art and pulled the blanket around him, holding it tight. "Her grandma took her up to the house where it's warm."
"Luke," he said, his voice raspy. "I stepped too fast and didn't look."
"An accident, buddy," Luke said. "Were you trying to get to Rosie?"
He nodded and coughed. "She's not supposed to fish without Sean. Did she fall in?"
"She's okay. You were a close call, though. You scared me good, Art."
"Sorry, L-L-Luke," he said, teeth chattering.
The wet blanket was pulled away and a dry one wrapped around him. When he'd recovered enough to be breathing somewhat better, Luke and Sean made a chair out of their arms and carried him to the house so he could sit by the fire.
"I called Cameron," Walt said. "Once you had him breathing and sitting up, I canceled the helicopter transport. Cameron will be here faster, in less than five minutes. Luke, you can drive the Hummer for him so he can be in the back with Art." Then the general leaned close to Art. "Art, you're going to go to the hospital so they can check you over, make sure you didn't get a concussion or get too much water in your lungs."
"I don't want to," Art wheezed.
"I'll go with you, buddy," Luke said. "Right now I'm going next door to your house to find you some dry clothes."
"O-k-k-kay," he said. Maureen came close, holding Rosie, who was still gasping with barely subsiding sobs. Art looked up at her. He frowned at her. "No f-f-fishing without Sean," he said in a bit of a scolding tone.
She turned and buried her head in Maureen's shoulder for a second, then looked back at Art and asked, "Do I hab time-out?" Her breath caught pitifully and tears streamed down her cheeks.
"No time-out," Art said. "And no more fishing without Sean!"
She nodded her head and clung to her grandmother.
The front door opened and Cameron stuck his head inside. "Did I hear someone's been swimming in this cold weather?"
By seven that evening at Valley Hospital, Art had had a clean CT and good chest X-ray. The danger of developing pneumonia from nearly drowning was the risk, so Cameron wanted him to stay at the hospital overnight, on antibiotics for infection and breathing treatments to keep his lungs clear.
"I don't want to spend the night," Art said, his voice still gruff from the strain of coughing and choking.
"I'll stay here with you," Luke said.
"But I want Thanksgiving, Luke!"
"I'll make sure---"
Shelby popped her head in the room. She carried a covered tray. "Now, Art, would I let you miss Thanksgiving?" she asked. "Don't I know you like to eat better than anything?"
He grinned at her and she came into the room. She put the tray on his bedside stand. "I drove it over on a hot-water bottle, but if it's not warm enough, the nurses might let us borrow their microwave." She pulled the aluminum foil off the dishes. "Oh, I think you're going to like this!"
He dipped a fork in the mashed potatoes first and grinned. "It's good. Are you going to spend the night, too?" he asked her.
"Probably not," she said with a laugh. "If Luke is here with you, I can stretch out at home and have the whole bed." She leaned forward and gave Art a kiss on the head. "Be more careful," she said. "I can't stand the thought you might be hurt!"
Art glowed scarlet from the kiss.
"Knock, knock," someone said from the door. Sean came into the room with Rosie on his hip. "Some Wide Iwish Rose can't go to sleep tonight without seeing you. She's never been in a hospital before."
Right behind them Franci entered the room, saying, "And we brought..." Her voice trailed off as she saw Art with a generous Thanksgiving meal in front of him. "Pie." Within five minutes, Rosie was sitting on the bed beside Art, helping him eat his dinner, which he didn't seem to mind sharing with her.
Then Walt Booth's voice boomed from the hospital room doorway. "Aw, hell, I thought this was an original idea!" He brought in his own collection of leftovers and behind him Muriel laughed, holding a large serving of pie.
Next came Paul with still more pie. "Vanni sent this over," he said.
And right behind him, Preacher. "Heard there was a little excitement at the Riordan Thanksgiving dinner," he said, bearing a couple of take-out cartons from the bar.
And, finally, Aiden and Maureen crowded into the small room. "I guess it's a good thing we didn't bring food," she said. "We just wanted to check on you and make sure you had company, Art. But look at this---you have so many friends."
"I have very many friends," Art said. "Very many."
The day after Thanksgiving was bright and sunny, though very cold. Maureen told Vivian she had errands to run, but would be back in plenty of time to help with dinner at Franci's house. Tonight Shelby, Luke, Art and Aiden were all coming over for a family dinner before they scattered to the winds in a great exodus out of Virgin River and Eureka.
Maureen drove to Ferndale and back to the cemetery. She saw George's car parked by the side of the road and pulled up behind it. He was halfway up the hill, apparently reading a headstone. She walked up the winding stone stairs till she met him.
He turned and opened his arms and she walked right into his embrace. "Do you think it's a bad omen to meet in a cemetery?" she asked him.
"I have a special fondness for this place," he said. "This is exactly where you completely lost control, threw yourself at me and passionately kissed me. I like it here."
"I think I surprised myself more than you," she said.
"Impossible. I thought I'd have to chase you for years before I got a kiss." He stroked her hair back over her ear. "Are you ready to go?"
"As ready as I'll ever be. You?"
"I'd rather not," he admitted. "But I have responsibilities. The upside is, I'm going to get those things taken care of quickly so I can get the next part of my life under way. I'm looking forward to this next stage."
"And you'll be back here for Christmas?" Maureen asked.
"Didn't I promise you?"
"I suppose I can trust you to keep a promise," she said. Then she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. "Are you still planning to leave tomorrow?"
He nodded. "I'll drive for a day and have Sunday to get myself organized before classes. I think I might drum up the hardest end-of-term exams in the history of the world. I want to be remembered for something."
"George, you'll be remembered. Who could forget you?"
"Hopefully not you!" He kissed her forehead. "Will you please give me a call when you get home? Just so I know you're safe?" They had spent one of their lunches plugging numbers into each other's iPhones. She had numbers for him on his cell phone, at the university and at home.
"Of course. Once I get rid of Aiden."
"Don't be grumpy," he said, giving her a squeeze. "You'll have a very pleasant drive with him. It's nice of him to look after his mother."
"He's not being nice, George, he's being over protective and nosy. He's got this idea we have to have a heart-to-heart talk about the fact I haven't been dating! He brought it up, you know---apparently, my sons have been concerned about me being alone. More to the point, they're all concerned that I'm determined to be alone!"
"Shame on you, Maureen! Tell the young man you're not going to be alone!"
"No! It's none of his bloody business!"
"You're just being stubborn. If he's worried, it might put his mind at ease."
"I'm not ready to talk to Aiden about you. Besides, once you tell one of those boys, they'll all know. They're worse gossips than a bunch of girls. Nothing is sacred with them. No way I'm confessing to any one of them."
"Could be a very long drive," George observed.
"I'd counted on driving alone. I like to drive. And I had looked forward to being alone with my thoughts. I have a lot on my mind, you know."
"I know," he said with a laugh. "Plus, you need time to check in with your priest, see if you can trick him into giving you a blessing."
"I'd like your opinion about something," she said, smiling slyly. "I mean, I do realize your education in the religious arts is spotty compared to a Catholic priest's..."
"Indeed?" he said with laughter in his voice.
"But do you suppose, at my advanced age, God would trust me to make my own decision about you?"
He threw back his head and laughed. "Maureen, have you ever heard the story about the Lutheran who went to heaven?"
"I don't believe I have..."
"Well, let's see if I remember it correctly. As I recall he wasn't a real bad sinner, as Lutherans go, and made it to heaven based on his good works. Saint Peter was giving him a little tour. They walked through magnificent gardens, past glorious mansions, beside breathtaking waterfalls and rainbows. There was a group of people in a fabulous park and Saint Peter said, 'Those are the Baptists---no dancing or card playing over there.' They walked farther and passed what appeared to be a big celebration, a roaring party, and Saint Peter said, 'Methodists. Anything goes.' And a little farther along there was a gathering of folks visiting, chatting and laughing, having a good time, and Saint Peter said, 'Shhh, be very quiet.' When the Lutheran asked why, Saint Peter said, 'Those are the Catholics. They think they're alone up here.'"
She laughed and gave him a playful slap on the arm.
George grew serious. "Maureen, you have to follow your heart. You're a good woman and God loves you." He smiled almost shyly. "And, I think, so do I."
"It's going to be a long month before I see you again," she said wistfully.
"You'll miss Rosie, won't you?"
"Dreadfully. And you'll miss Noah and Ellie."
"And the children. Even though I'm not Noah's father, I feel like one---I've never seen him happier. It's not so hard to be away from him, knowing how much he loves life right now. But it will be hard to be away from you." He kissed her deeply, lovingly. "Travel carefully, sweetheart. Don't be too hard on Aiden."
During the month of December, Maureen was kept busy getting ready for a very special Christmas. While she shopped for gifts for Rosie and a new Riordan baby, gender still unknown, she kept thinking, This is what Christmas is all about---children! She talked to Rosie on the telephone a couple of times a week and made plans with her, getting her all wound up and excited. "When I come to California, we will shop together and go look at Christmas lights," she had told her granddaughter. "I'll help you buy presents for your mommy and daddy, if you like. And we can bake Christmas cookies together for the whole family."
Maureen had talked to Sean; he was spending approximately four days a week---just three nights---at Beale. He had enough long weekends in Eureka with Franci and Rosie for it to almost seem as though he wasn't gone at all. He was scheduled to have the Christmas holidays off. And, he reported to his mother, Franci was now wearing his engagement ring, wedding plans to follow soon. She couldn't have worked that out better herself.
She heard from Colin and Paddy---they were going to make it to Virgin River for at least a few days over Christmas. Colin was coming from Fort Benning, Georgia and Paddy from Virginia.
She talked to George on the phone, too, even more often than to anyone in her family, and he had new ideas for big travel plans on a daily basis. According to George, Noah and Ellie and the kids had managed to make enough progress on their new old house to move into it in time for Christmas. George, however, was planning to use the guest room over the Fitches' garage that Ellie had just vacated. "I'm sure I'll be spending most of my time with Noah and the family, and with you when I can wrestle you away from your granddaughter, but according to Noah his house still has a long way to go and they don't have a place to put me except on a lumpy sofa."
"When will you arrive in Virgin River?" she asked him.
"I'm coming early. As soon as I'm done at school, I'll head down to Virgin River. Noah can probably use my help with the house. And, Maureen, I've put my house on the market."
"Have you!" she exclaimed. "You're really doing it, then!"
"I'm really doing it. Check your e-mail---I've sent you pictures of RVs! And when we see each other, I'll show you brochures from my recent shopping trip."
"But you haven't made a commitment yet, have you?" she asked.
"Not until the house sells. And I want to finish up the next semester. And, of course, your opinion matters to me. After all that, anchors aweigh!"
Since Christmas Eve would fall on a Friday Maureen was planning to arrive in Virgin River on the Saturday before. She had agreed to meet Aiden in Sacramento and drive with him the rest of the way. She decided that, on this visit, she would stay with Luke. Because it was a holiday week the cabins were not all full. It hadn't taken too much arguing to convince Luke that a couple of his brothers could stay with him in the house and Maureen could have her own space in one of the cabins.
When Maureen had driven home from California right after Thanksgiving with Aiden, he had returned to the subject of her refusal to date. She assured him nothing could be further from the facts---that if she met someone she liked, she'd most certainly keep company with him. Then she'd said the subject was closed!
The trip from Sacramento back to Virgin River was going to be much more interesting.
When she arrived in Sacramento, her son was waiting. He'd gotten there first, taken care of the car rental and was waiting for her in the baggage area at the airport. Once they were under way and zooming north, traffic rather sparse, she said, "I have a couple of things to tell you, Aiden."
"Shoot," he said, giving her a glance and a smile.
"I'm thinking of selling my condo. I might put it on the market after Christmas. I'd divvy up all the furniture and keepsakes I've been polishing, dusting and storing for over forty years, of course. Is there anything in particular you'd like to have?"
"Wait, wait, wait," he said. "You're getting rid of everything?"
"Not everything," she corrected. "But definitely the furniture that came from Illinois, the crystal and china that was left by my mother and your father's mother, and absolutely all the things from your childhoods that I've kept safe. I think it's time you boys take charge of your own fifth-grade report cards and prom pictures."
"I see," he said warily. "And what are you going to sit on? Sleep on?"
"Well, that's a rather long story, but the short version is that I haven't refused to date at all. In fact, I've had quite a few dates with a gentleman friend I met in Virgin River. George Davenport---that nice friend of Pastor Kincaid's who Luke accused me of brushing off."
Aiden was quiet for a moment. "Are you getting married or something?" he asked cautiously.
"No." She laughed. "That would be premature. I've only known him for a short time. Although I've talked to him every day since before Thanksgiving, and we had several long lunches when we were both in California."
"All right, let's back up a little bit. You didn't brush him off, after all, and---"
"Oh, but I did! I was rude, in fact, and I apologized, and we had lunch and began to get to know each other. And I found out I actually liked him. He's very nice. We have a lot in common, it turns out."
"But you're thinking of selling your condo," Aiden said. "What are you planning to do?"
"Travel," she said. "We got to talking about how spread out our families are. He has a couple of grown, married stepsons who have children---children who consider him their grandfather. And my sons are all over the country. Sean and Luke might be more or less in the same place right now, but that's temporary. And with Rosie and a baby on the way...But that's only part of it---getting around to see all the grandchildren. There are so many things I've never seen---from the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone! I'm not getting any younger, you know."
"And you're planning to travel with this George? This man I've met once?"
"I plan to introduce him to everyone over the Christmas holiday," she answered calmly. "He'll be in Virgin River, visiting Noah's family, and all you boys will be around to meet him again."
"How nice, Mother," Aiden said sarcastically. "You're going to introduce him, and then you're going to take off with him? To see the sights? This man we don't know at all and you barely know?"
"Please, don't be ridiculous." She laughed. "I thought maybe Sean or Luke might overreact, but I thought you, who lectured me about the part of my life that's not over, would remain calm and curious."
"All right---here's calm and curious. You're planning to introduce us to this man and then go traveling with him?"
"Not exactly. We've only known each other for a little while. What I'm going to do is continue to get to know him. I'll visit him in Seattle and he'll visit me in Phoenix and we'll meet in Virgin River a time or two. He's a professor, you know, and he's finishing out the term. We also e-mail and talk on the phone. If, at the end of the term in June, we haven't changed our minds, then we'll do some traveling together."
"I see," Aiden said calmly. "Then you're getting married?"
"I don't exactly know," she answered. "It's something to think about, but really, Aiden, I don't feel in a big hurry to make that kind of commitment right now. However, I do think he has a point---we're getting a little too old to put off doing the things we've always wanted to do---like travel. And there are practical considerations---like Social Security benefits, pensions, that sort of thing. I'd have to give it a lot of serious thought." Then she shrugged. "I might not have made up my mind about that by June. I might want to test the waters a bit. You know? See if our rapport is as good when we spend a great deal of time together. As good as the visits, phone calls and e-mails."
Aiden's face was getting red. "So, you're going to sell your condo, give away your furniture and go traveling? And if it doesn't work out?"
"I suppose I'll have to say, sorry, it didn't work out. And then I'll find an apartment or small house near one of you boys. I'm trying to stay flexible. I've gotten a little tired of being such a stick-in-the-mud."
"I see. You're going to spend your life savings on plane tickets? Hotel rooms?"
"No, Aiden," she said with a laugh. "George is buying a nice, new RV. He's been looking around, sending me pictures of the various models. He's bringing brochures to Virgin River. These new RVs? They're every bit as big and modern as the condo I'm living in!"
"Mother! Have you lost your mind?"
"Well, actually, once I started thinking about this adventure, I decided I'd lost my mind by closing myself off so much. I've just been marking time for the past twelve years. I stay very busy, you know, but there hasn't been much excitement in my life. I haven't really looked forward to much. You boys are wonderful about visiting when you can, but it hasn't exactly escaped my notice that you each have a three-day limit. I haven't been as excited as this in years!"
"I don't know what to say, Mother. This is sudden, it's a little crazy, and---"
She looked at her watch. "We have four hours for you to get right with the idea. I'm not the only one who will have six months to find out everything about George I want to know---so do you and your brothers. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to answer any of your questions."
"Great." Aiden sulked.
"There's a reason I wanted to talk to you first, Aiden. You've always been the voice of reason in our family. I think you get that from my father---he was like that. So, we're about to have one of the best holidays ever! Our first with Rosie, a new baby coming in the summer, Luke married, Sean engaged, all my boys together. I'm not going to have that ruined with a lot of high drama from a bunch of overprotective pups who can't be bothered to spend more than a long weekend with me, anyway. I'm ready for some company! I'm ready for some fun! Get to know George to your heart's content, ask anything you like, but I'm hoping you can keep your brothers from going off the deep end." She reached over and touched his shoulder as he drove. "I'm counting on you, Aiden."
He grumbled something. And grumbled and grumbled.
"What's that, sweetheart?" she asked.
"I said, you've gone from the nun wannabe prude who wouldn't have a date in twelve years to a crazy woman who plans to take off in a Winnebago with an old man none of us knows and live in sin, and all he has to recommend him is that he's the friend of some Presbyterian minister! And you expect me to sell this idea to my brothers?"
She couldn't help it, she burst into laughter. "Nun wannabe prude? I guess I'll have to live with that, though it sounds pathetic. And George isn't just a friend of a minister, Aiden. As it turns out, he's an ordained minister, as well. Presbyterian."
Aiden checked his rearview mirror, turned on his signal and pulled onto the freeway's shoulder. He put the car in Park and turned toward Maureen. He looked at her for a long moment. And then he said, "Who are you and what have you done with my mother?"
Sean arrived at Franci's house on December 23 at about ten in the evening. He had called at four, said he was finishing up his out-processing at Beale Air Force Base and would be on his way as soon as possible. The front door was unlocked when he arrived and he walked in, tossing his packed duffel on the floor just inside the door.
In seconds, she was in his arms. "Are you okay?" she asked him.
"I'm okay," he said. "I got everything done. I don't have to go back to Beale at all. On January 15 I leave for Iraq out of San Francisco. But we're so lucky, Fran---a six-month deployment, then a year at Air Command and Staff College. It could've sucked way worse than this. Have you told anyone?"
She shook her head.
"Not even Rosie?"
"We should do that together."
Sean got his orders a week ago and the first person he told was Franci. He would go to Iraq to fly a U-2 on a UN peacekeeping surveillance mission. He'd relieve one of the aircraft commanders who had been there since July. Then, his alternate position for the Air Force Air Command and Staff College had been upgraded and he'd have a year in residence in Alabama---a very hard slot to get. All things considered, it was a gift. He could've been sent to Iraq for a year; he could've lost that ACSC slot altogether. He almost felt as if he was stealing.
"The movers came, put everything from my house in storage," Sean said. "The Realtor has instructions to try to sell it, and if after ninety days passes with no sale, the property management division of her company will rent it. There's nothing for you to do. Except, have you thought about---"
"Yes," she said, nodding. "Let's get married before you go."
"I don't want it to be sad," he said. "It's not sad---it'll be the happiest day of my life. But if you don't have time to plan a pretty wedding..."
"I bought a dress," she said, smiling broadly. "I bought a dress, made a list, called that minister in Virgin River and swore him to secrecy. Tomorrow at breakfast we'll tell Rosie about your orders, about our wedding."
"You're sure? I'm not suggesting this because I'm afraid something will happen. Nothing will happen---I'm going to be flying one of the safest, most protected aircraft in that part of the world. But if I step in front of a jeep and get myself killed, I want the air force to take care of you and Rosie."
She rubbed her fingers along the dark blond hair at his temple. "I'm not worried about anything happening to you. I'm not afraid. I just want to be your wife." She grinned. "I want the piece of paper."
"My mother will be ecstatic," he said.
"Your mother is turning the family upside down," she told him. "I can't wait to fill you in. All your brothers are here and she has plans that they---"
"Oh, I already know," he said. "Aiden called and filled me in. We're under strict orders not to screw up Saint Maureen's Christmas with Rosie by acting out about her new plans. Besides, I don't want to talk about my mother or my brothers tonight," he said, pulling her against him. "I want to go kiss Rosie, make sure she's sound asleep and then get you alone. All alone, with the door closed."
Colin and Patrick arrived in Virgin River on the twenty-third and did a little grumbling about Maureen's proposed adventure, even suggesting once or twice that she'd officially lost her mind completely. But early on the twenty-fourth George paid his first visit to Luke's house, and it didn't take them long to begin joking about this nutty idea, this idea that no one was going to take with complete seriousness until certain things happened---like the sale of the condo, the purchase of an RV, the solidification of these crazy plans. The quick acceptance of George came not so much because of George's natural wit and charm, but because Maureen was so different when he was around. He gentled her; her smile was almost girlish, and the Enforcer had turned into a woman in love. After a couple of hours of general comradery, Colin shook George's hand and said, "My man, we should have hired you years ago to soften up the old girl."
"I heard that," Maureen said from the kitchen.
The next day when everyone was milling around in Luke's house Rosie burst through the door, coat open and curls flying. She looked around at all the people, hunting for her grandmother. When she spotted her in the kitchen, she squealed and ran to her. "Gramma Moween! Mommy and Daddy is habbing a wedding! And then Daddy's going to Iwack! It's bery important!"
Dead silence hung in the air. The men in the living room all slowly stood.
Maureen smoothed Rosie's curls. "Is that right?" she asked.
"Uh-huh. And before he goes to Iwack, we're getting us a cawendar and I will make a X on ebry day till he comes home. He's going in his plane---'member his plane? The big plane? It's a bery important job!" She stopped talking for a moment and looked around at the room full of people. Softly, she asked her grandmother, "Is that the uncles?"
"They are," Maureen said. "And very anxious to meet you." She laughed softly. "You always enter a room with flair, Rosie, I'll give you that."
The door opened and Franci preceded Sean into the house. They took in the still, silent crowd, Rosie with her arms locked around Maureen's neck. Sean smiled. "Well, I guess you got the news," he said. He hooked an arm around Franci's shoulders. "Having a daughter like Rosie is better than a town crier. If you can stick around a few extra days, there's going to be a wedding."
On December 27 there was a notice on the door of the bar that said that Jack's would be closed at 5:00 p.m. for a private party. Paige and Preacher worked all day to prepare a wonderful prime-rib dinner with all the trimmings. Preacher worked his art on a beautiful, two-tiered white wedding cake. Maureen and Shelby were at the bar promptly at five, putting out centerpieces they'd made themselves---pine boughs strung with holly and white roses. The Riordan brothers made a special run into the valley for wine and champagne to add to the bar stock, while Ellie and Noah Baldwin showed up with rolls of wide, silver ribbon, white paper doves and strands of small twinkling lights to decorate the bar and buffet table. The bar was transformed for a wedding reception.
At a little before 7:00 p.m. people started to gather around outside the bar, bundled up in their finest outdoor suits, coats and capes. By the time Jack turned on the Christmas tree lights at exactly seven, there were sixty people holding small lit candles.
With precision timing, Noah took his place in front of Virgin River's very special tree---decorated in red, white, blue and gold, adorned with military unit patches. He had his Bible in hand, standing before a formidable group of Riordans, friends and neighbors. George held Maureen's hand and Vivian looped her arm through Carl's. For this unusual wedding there were no chairs; the ceremony wouldn't be long and the setting was perfect. They made a wide semicircle around the tree, about five rows deep.
First out of the bar doors came Shelby and Luke; Luke wore his wedding suit while Shelby was decked out in a lovely new mauve-colored knee-length coat with black fur trim and black boots. She carried a bouquet of holly and white roses. Next came the bride and groom and flower girl. Franci wore a beautiful full-length white coat with white fur collar and cuffs and a matching fur hat that completely covered her super short hair; she carried a slightly larger bouquet of holly and roses. On her feet were white high-heeled boots. Rosie had a matching short coat and little white boots. Sean was resplendent in his air force dress blues, complete with hat.
Holding hands with Rose, the bride and groom walked down from the porch, over to the front of the magnificent tree, and stood between Shelby and Luke. They bent, one at a time, to put a little kiss on Rosie's cheeks before she was moved to the side to stand with her aunt Shelby. And that left Sean and Franci facing each other, holding each other's hands in front of a tree that was decorated to pay homage to the men and women who were in service to their country.
Right on cue, a light snow began to fall, the flakes glittering down to the ground in candlelight.
Noah said, "Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here together to join a very special man, woman and child in holy matrimony...."


