Bring Me Home for Christmas - By Robyn Carr Page 0,68
“Something wrong?”
“Yes and no. Been a while since we had a shot together. Tonight might be a good night for it.”
Jack pulled down a bottle and two glasses. He poured a couple of shots and raised his glass. “What are we drinking to?”
“I got things all worked out with Becca.”
Jack grinned. “Well, here’s to you!”
They drank, then put their glasses down. “Thing is, it’s not going to work here, Jack. I’m leaving with her. She wants to be near her family and the only home she’s known. I asked her to give us a chance here because I love it. I’ve never had such great jobs and friends. But the bottom line is she’s real close to everyone down there, and she just can’t see making this big a change.”
“Yeah,” Jack said slowly. “It’s not for everyone.”
“I can’t let her get away again….”
Jack’s hand came down on his shoulder. “I know, Denny. I understand. I’ve been there.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah. Mel talked about leaving Virgin River from the day she got here. One thing or another held her here for a while. Six months later, I had her knocked up—”
Denny’s eyebrows shot up. He didn’t know that.
Jack cleared his throat. “Yeah, she was pregnant, and I wasn’t letting her leave me behind, so I told her I’d go anywhere she needed to go, but I had to be with her.”
“How’d you get her to stay?”
“There’s the thing—I didn’t. She made the decision by herself. I didn’t have anything to do with it. Seriously, I would have been disappointed to leave, but I would have gone anywhere I had to go. There was a lot at stake. Kid, much as I hate to see you go, you have to put your life together the way it works best for you. For you and Becca, if she’s what you want.”
“No question about that, Jack. I love her,” he said. “But I kind of saw myself growing that farm with Jillian and growing a family in a safe, quiet place like this.”
“Remember, son, the safest place for a family is under the umbrella of a happy marriage. That’s going to take compromise.” He smiled. “You’ll visit. This is a great place to visit. My whole family, except Brie, are city people. I can hardly keep them away.”
“I’m going to visit,” Denny promised.
“When are you out of here?”
“I hate to do this to you, Jack. I’m going to tell Jillian tomorrow, offer her some suggestions for help, but she won’t be in a real fix till spring. Then I’m going to pack up my stuff and my girl and head south. We’ll leave first thing Tuesday morning. I thought about taking her home for Christmas and then coming back to tie up my loose ends, but I don’t have that much. Better to come back in spring if I can, to visit and check out the farm. But I’m leaving you high and dry during a busy time and I’m sorry. I know you were counting on me.”
Jack was shaking his head. “Nothing to worry about, son. We can always get a little help around here.” He laughed a little. “Cheaper than you, as a matter of fact.”
“Hey,” Denny said, smiling back. “I didn’t set any salary! You did that all on your own.”
He chuckled. “If we get a crowd, I can always call Mike V., Walt Booth, Paul Haggerty. As for Jillian, she’s got Colin and Luke if she needs anything in a hurry. And plenty of time to look over prospective assistants before spring planting. Does Becca know this? That you’re taking her home?”
“Sure,” he said. “We talked about it last week and I said I’d get her home in time for Christmas.”
“Hmm,” Jack hummed, scratching his chin. “Shouldn’t she be a lot happier about it? If that’s what she wants?”
“That could be my fault,” Denny said. “I’m pretty sure she still doubts me. When I asked her to give Virgin River a try, she asked me, what if all she had here was me and I decided we should break up. ’Course, I know I’d never be that stupid twice, but you can’t blame her for wondering if I’d let her down again. So I told her I’d get her home before Christmas. Suppose she wonders if I’ll keep my word?”
“Then I guess the best thing to do is get on down the street, boy. Reassure your girl that if she throws her lot in with you, she’s gonna be safe.” He stuck