Cameron smiled. “Yeah? Well, maybe I’m not the only one.”
Vanessa sat in the chair that had recently been Cameron’s. The baby was out of sight with Lance and so was Carol for the moment. Vanni was seething. Beyond furious. She picked up Cameron’s drink and took a long, deep swallow of liquid courage and grimaced at the taste of scotch. It was another minute before Carol showed herself.
“Well,” Carol said. “That was a bit uncomfortable. I didn’t realize you’d invited Paul.”
“You didn’t? And why didn’t you insist he be invited? He was Matt’s best friend. And you know how much he means to me!”
Carol stiffened indignantly. “I’m not sure I do,” she said.
Vanni stood to meet Carol at eye level. “Then let me be very clear about this. He means the absolute world to me. Paul was in Virgin River when Matt was killed and I asked him to stay on until the baby was born. I asked him to be with me for the birth. I’ve known him for years. I’ve always felt comfortable with him, I trust him—he’s wonderful. We’ve always been close, closer still when we lost Matt. For God’s sake, Matt asked him to take care of us if anything happened to him. How can it be so impossible for you to understand that I would come to love him?”
“I couldn’t imagine it,” Carol said, anger barely reined in. “Matt’s hardly gone…”
“He’s gone enough for you to try to set me up with a doctor.”
Carol lifted her chin. Her mouth took on a strained line. “That’s uncalled for!”
“How dare you treat Paul as if he’s inferior! Shame on you!”
“I never meant that. I never meant to—” Carol swallowed. “I thought Cameron was perfect for you…”
“Cameron knew about me and Paul. What in the world did you tell him to get him here for dinner?”
“I…ah…I told him Paul was dropping you off and you’d love to see him. I didn’t think I was making it up—you said Paul coming back here from Virgin River was a perfect opportunity to visit us and—”
Vanni was shaking her head. “Why don’t you just ask if I’d like Cameron to join us for dinner? More to the point, why don’t you listen?”
“I do listen,” she said, insulted.
“No. You don’t listen. When I say I don’t want coral bridesmaids’ dresses, you buy them and dress up my girls in them. When I say I don’t want to be set up, you invite the man to dinner not once, but twice. When I say I’m staying with Paul and he’ll bring me to dinner, you plan your own party without asking, without listening. For heaven’s sake, Cameron is a wonderful man who didn’t deserve what just happened to him. And that you would humiliate Paul after knowing him for so many years, after knowing how he loved your only son, treating him like he’s my chauffeur, offering to set another place like he’s some last-minute addition to your private little dinner party…”
“I just couldn’t imagine it. Not Paul,” she said.
Lance appeared, coming out of the kitchen with his grandson cuddled against his chest, and the expression on his face was not a happy one. Carol said, “I was trying to help… Maybe Mattie could benefit by being raised by a doctor. Instead of…” She glanced away uncomfortably.
Vanni laughed suddenly and hollowly. Here the woman was in real estate and had no concept of how successful the man who built some of the finest houses in the region might be. And that was nothing compared to the fact that Paul was the most incredible human being, and would be the most wonderful father. “Paul is such a catch, you can’t even imagine, but I’m not going to waste your time. Carol, I’m sick of the way you take over and I won’t have it anymore.” She walked toward Lance and reached for the baby just as Paul was coming in the front door. “I’m sorry, Lance, but we’re leaving. This was horrendous, and I’m never going through anything like this again.” She looked over her shoulder at Paul, who stood across the room, just inside the door. In his eyes she saw warmth and understanding. Patience. Kindness. Everything was going to be okay.
Vanni walked over to Paul. She turned at the door and said, “Carol, you should be more considerate of people’s feelings. What you did tonight was in bad taste, it’s beneath you.” And with that they left the house.
The next night was dinner with the Haggertys and Vanessa was tense. After what she’d been through with Carol Rutledge, she couldn’t imagine what kind of paces these people might put her through. The fact that Paul was so down-to-earth and kind didn’t reassure her much. After all, Matt had been so charming and fun, yet Carol could be a nightmare. When Paul drove up to the large, stately home in the beautiful countryside, Vanni gulped. Another big house. She knew their family business was successful, but at this point their obvious prosperity was making her nervous. It seemed to be the fulcrum on which so many opinions were balanced. Opinions that had little to do with the true quality of life.