Angie circled her raised knees with her arms and put her head down. “Temporarily caught. He’s on his way back to the East Coast, I’m on my way back to school and that’s that.”

“But what was he like? Really?” Jenna asked.

“He is the best man alive,” Angie said with a small smile. “You guys got to know him a little—what did you think?”

“I think I would have followed him all the way to Charleston,” Jenna said.

“That’s the thing—I wasn’t invited. He has other plans....”

Uncle Mike came from the kitchen with three glasses of white wine and some snacks on a tray—torn hunks of bread and a plate of artichoke spinach dip. Jenna took it out of his hands and brought it to the floor in front of the fire. “The help around here is outstanding.”

Mike gave a snort, but he put his big hand on top of Angie’s head. A comforting hand. And she reached up and gave the hand a pat.

When he was gone Jenna asked, “Were you in love with him?”

“Stop it,” Angie said.

“Can’t you talk about it?”

“Maybe next week. Talk to me about something else. What are the family plans?”

“Well, in support of our emotional cripple of a sister, we’re having Christmas here. Are you going to come home with us right after? Or are you still on romantic hiatus?”

“You’re being kind of bitchy,” Beth told Jenna.

“Sorry. I was looking for some details. Didn’t I tell you every detail the night I lost my virginity?”

“And every time after,” Beth put in.

Jenna made a face at that sister, but to Angie she said, “And you had that gorgeous man all to yourself for a month and haven’t said a word.”

“Give her a week,” Beth said. “Where did you come from, really? Are you adopted, Jenna? You shouldn’t be so pushy.”

“I’m not talking,” Angie said. Then in a quiet voice she added, “My heart hurts. And I don’t want to cry in front of everyone. So please, Jenna—stop being such a brat. Just tell me what’s in the news or something.”

“What’s in the news is that we are stuck in Virgin River where the one single guy has officially fled and the big event to look forward to is the Christmas Eve children’s pageant at the church.” She took a gulp of her wine. “That’s the news. Drink up.”

Beth and Angie both laughed in spite of themselves. And once they got off the topic of Angie’s romance, they yammered like girls would. They sipped their wine; Beth and Jenna ate the dip and bread. Angie just wasn’t ready to eat. Someone yelled, “Dinner in thirty minutes,” but the girls had formed a tight, protective little circle in front of the fireplace and were somewhat oblivious to the rest of the house.

Angie noticed it was getting dusky outside and she was surprised she’d made it through the day without him. There was a small table between the great room and dining room set for David, Emma and Ness and it brought to mind all those years of setting up the adult table and the kids’ table for the holidays. She remembered being the first of ten grandchildren to graduate to the adult table, an event that filled her sisters with jealousy and loathing.

She abstractly noticed Mel rounding up the kids for their dinner, getting them settled at the table. Mike and Brie were carrying dishes and plates of food to the table. And some fool was honking a horn outside.

Jack went and opened the front door to see who was making the noise. “Holy shit,” he said. He turned and looked into the great room. “Ange. It’s for you.”

She got slowly to her feet, Jenna and Beth scrambling to get up and follow.

When Angie got to the front door, she couldn’t quite take it in. Five cars, all lined up in front of the house, people standing beside them. Not just people. Riordans—the whole family—brothers, wives, their mother, George. A couple of kids—Rosie and Brett. And in the front, Patrick.

“You have to give me another chance, Angie,” he said loudly. Then he spread his arms and said, “I come with a lot of baggage.”

Her hands crossed over her chest. She was afraid to move, to think. Then suddenly she was nudged from behind and she stumbled forward. She looked over her shoulder and Jenna shrugged.

Patrick was walking toward her. She took a couple of steps toward him, standing at the edge of the porch. “Why are you here?” she asked.

He put a foot up on the porch step. “A better question is why did I leave?” He shook his head. “I was just confused. Ange, I was a fool to think I could leave you. And now I’m running out of time—I should have started begging you to take a chance on me at least a week ago. Angie, baby, I love you. I don’t even want to try to make it without you.”

“But, Patrick—there’s Marie!”

“She’s my friend, but I don’t love her. Not that way. And she doesn’t love me. I don’t know what got into me. Listen,” he said, crossing his forearms over his raised thigh and leaning toward her. “I’ll help Marie and Daniel whenever they need help. I’ll be the kind of friend Jake would have expected me to be. But you’ve made me believe that I have much more to offer than just friendship—to the right woman. And if you think I’m worthy, you’re the woman I want a life with.”

“We’ve only known each other a month,” she said. “And I’m supposed to go back to school....”

“I knew how I felt in only a week. I tried to talk myself out of it—it makes no sense, except I can’t stop it. I want you, if you want me, too. I’ll make sure you still get to school—and I’m up for an assignment. Maybe I’ll get to the West Coast. If not, there are awesome med schools on the East Coast and I have to believe any one of them would kill to have you. It’s not like we have to wait until all that’s behind us, we can face this together. There could be challenges, but couples do it all the time—get married, fulfill their ambitions, work as a team. By the time you’re finished with med school and residency, I’ll be retiring from the Navy. We’ll be ready for the next stage—there might even be something we can do together to make a difference. Maybe there are humanitarian organizations that need both doctors and pilots.”

“Married?” she asked weakly. “But there could be separations…”

“Oh, guaranteed! But millions of military couples have weathered that storm successfully. I don’t want to rush you, babe. I’ll wait for you if you need time. Time to be sure of me, of us. It’s not an easy life in the Navy, I know that. But what the hell—there is no easy life.” He smiled at her. “You’ll see—I can be almost as brave and strong as you. The only thing I’m not sure I’m strong enough for is a life without you in it.”

Angie heard a little squeak behind her and turned to see the entire Sheridan clan stuffed into the doorway. Jenna had her hands covering her mouth, tears running down her cheeks. “Wow,” Angie said. “Looks like I come with baggage, too.”

“Yeah,” he laughed. “I feel your pain.”

“Are you sure about all this, Patrick?” she asked.

“I didn’t even begin the drive to the airport, Ange. My legs wouldn’t go. I started wondering how I was going to leave you over a week ago—and it just isn’t in me. Trust me, I’m sure.” He looked over his shoulder. “If you just say yes, maybe we can ditch the entourage and go find some place alone. We have things to talk about. We could pack you up, make some plans, say some more goodbyes and see if we can get a flight out of California. Before you’re due back at school, we’ll have a good idea where I’m going to end up. Please, Angie—come with me.”

She took another step. “Of course I’ll come with you.”

He took her hand and pulled it, kissing her palm. “I’ll do everything I can to deserve you.” Then he pulled her into his arms, lifting her off the ground and kissing her deep and long. In front of God and everyone.

Jack dropped an arm around his sister’s shoulders and said, “You know, it’s hell being right all the time. The strain is terrible.”

“Right,” she said, wiping her eyes.

“Brie,” he yelled. “Throw another potato in the soup—we’ve got company!”

The Riordans began walking up to Jack’s house. Paddy and Angie never broke their lip-lock, not even when Aiden gave Patrick a pat on the back as he passed.

Luke was the last of the brothers to pass them. Jack was holding the door for him. “Check that one off,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at Patrick and Angie. “Kid’s got good taste.”

“I’d have to agree on that,” Jack said.