by Robyn Carr
“Of course,” George said. They stood on an incline in the middle of the cemetery and he stepped closer. He lifted her chin to look into her green eyes. “You lost all track of time because we were enjoying ourselves. That means the date was a success.” He leaned toward her and gave her a peck on the lips. “Now relax and I’ll take you home.”
And out of nowhere, completely unplanned and unprepared, Maureen threw her arms around George’s neck and planted her lips on his. He stumbled backward a couple of steps before he came up against a large tombstone that balanced him. He was finally able to get his arms around her and hang on to her. He kissed her back, but as kisses go it wasn’t much. It was the gesture that was startling.
She let him go.
“Well,” he said. “You should warn me when you’re going to do that. We could have gone down the hill, then we’d have to explain a couple of broken hips. That’s more complicated than being a little late to day care.”
“I don’t know what came over me,” she said.
“It doesn’t matter. Just make sure it comes over you again before long. I like it.” He held out his hand. “Come on. I’ll walk you down. Slowly.”
As the end of November approached, Franci and Sean talked to Rosie about the fact that Daddy had to go back to his flying job after Thanksgiving. It would mean that he could only visit when he had a few days off. They explained that he hoped they could spend Christmas together, but he wasn’t sure he’d be able to. “But I will call you and talk to you on the phone whenever I can. Sometimes every day.”
To which Rosie replied, “’Kay.”
They avoided telling her about the larger problem—that Sean would be transferred somewhere, probably soon after the new year. Perhaps someplace where he wouldn’t be allowed to take a family.
They did get their marriage license and a very nice ring was being made for Franci, but their plans would have to wait until they knew more about the future.
Franci was past all the fear and anger she’d felt when Sean had first reappeared in her life—she no longer worried that her heart would be broken again, nor was she still angry about the way they’d parted four years ago. Those thoughts were now all forgotten and she wondered how she had managed to live without him. As well, she didn’t know how he’d accomplished it, but he’d turned into a wonderful father—affectionate and devoted and completely comfortable in his role.
“Didn’t we used to fight all the time?” she asked him.
“It seemed like a lot of arguing, but once we broke up all I could think about were the things we had going for us,” he said. “Here’s what I know, babe. I think now we got it down. We might have some hurdles with the air force assignments, but from here on we’re making it.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Rosie,” she said to him.
“I’m sorry I was so impossible to tell,” he replied.
Every day Maureen found herself in very unfamiliar territory. Without saying a word to anyone besides Viv, she’d spent several lunch hours with George Davenport over the couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. Like herself, he was heading back to Seattle after the holiday weekend. “End of term,” he said. “I really need to be there. But what say we meet right back here for Christmas?”
“I’d like that,” she said.
“How attached are you to that condo in Phoenix?” he asked.
“It’s perfect for me,” she said with a shrug. “I don’t have to cut grass or shovel snow.”
“But do you like it?”
“Sure. Do you like where you’re living?”
“It’s been a good home for over twenty years, but I’m thinking ahead. Mary’s grown kids have moved away and they’re really my only family besides Noah. I don’t believe I’m going to stay in that house in Seattle much longer. Or at the university, either. I’m ready for the next step. A more portable lifestyle—more freedom and travel.”
She smiled and said, “Maybe you’ll visit Phoenix.”
“Maybe I will. You’ll let me have your guest room, won’t you?”
She grinned and shook her head. “The complex has some guest apartments we can reserve for out-of-town company.”
He lifted a brow and said, “You’re not afraid to be alone with me, Maureen.”
“Not at all, but I won’t have the gossip.”
“You would have made a fantastic nun,” he told her. And then he laughed.
But she let him kiss her. Small, affectionate kisses—that was enough. But something she was completely unprepared for was beginning to happen for her. Bringing George into her life was not simply about practicality or companionship at all, but more about the little tremors that vibrated inside her when he was near, when he touched her ever so briefly, when he brushed his lips against hers. She had no idea that a woman in her sixties could feel like a teenager.
She kept remembering what Vivian had said about mature love—that it was slower, sweeter, more tender and very fulfilling. Such thoughts made her shiver.
She had yet another long lunch with George planned for today. They were making the most of their time together before Aiden appeared for Thanksgiving week and Maureen concentrated on family again. When she heard the blast of a horn in front of Vivian’s house, she was astonished. She went to the window thinking that it couldn’t be George honking for her. He was, above all else, a gentleman. He was debonaire.
But there, sitting in front of the house, was Noah’s old RV, and George was standing outside the door. Her mouth slightly open, she wandered out of the house.
“George, what’s this?”
“What I really want to do is take you for another picnic, this time on the coast by the ocean, but it would be torture in this cold wind. So I volunteered to take Noah’s RV for its weekly housekeeping—empty the lavs, load the potable water, all the stuff that has to be done regularly. He was more than happy to put me on that job since I’ve been using the RV as a hotel room. But I’ll tell you the real reason I wanted to steal the RV—I’m going to take you to the ocean and we’re going to have a picnic. But we’ll sit inside, at the table next to the big window, and be nice and warm and comfy. And alone.”
She grinned and knew it was a girlish smile. “I don’t know if I ought to get into a vehicle that private with you.”
“Well, you can be sure the neighbors won’t talk! Now get your jacket and purse, lock up the house and let’s get going.”
“I’ll just be a minute,” she said. He was in the driver’s seat by the time she got back. She climbed up and inside and sat in the seat beside him. While he drove the big vehicle down the street, she turned in her seat and craned her neck to take in the interior. “That’s a cute little kitchen,” she said. “What did you make us for lunch?”
“Takeout,” he said. “I don’t want to waste my time preparing food. How does it feel? Riding up here?”
She looked out. “I like it. It’s wonderful being high. I’ve been frustrated by all the big cars on the road. Big SUVs, trucks, vans and such. I’ve always hated being behind them and blind to what’s going on up the road. This is nice.”
“Not only is there a bathroom, kitchen, washer and dryer, master bedroom and living room, but a satellite for TV and radio reception, and storage underneath. And this is an old RV. I’m not much of a mechanic, so I hope it runs without any problems.”
“Oh, George, what would we do if it broke down?” she worried.
“Call Noah,” he said. “He’d come with his toolbox. He’s been keeping this thing going for years. It’s kind of nifty, don’t you think?”
“I do,” she said. “Is it hard to maneuver?”
“Not a bit. I could let you try it, if you like.”
“No, thanks.” She laughed. She ran a hand along the console. “But it’s fun, George. I have to hand it to you—you’re always fun.”
“Why, thank you, Mrs. Riordan,” he said. “Thing is, I’ve decided what I’m going to do next. I have to go back to the university, of
course. Next semester, I’m cutting back my schedule. I need more freedom. I’m going to transition out, sneak up on retirement. I’m going to get myself one of these!” he exclaimed, smacking the steering wheel. “Mary’s sons are married and have children—they’re great kids, superior stepsons. One lives in Texas, one in Florida. I’m going to put my house on the market and retire by the end of school, just in time to begin traveling. I’m going to see this country one state at a time, and I’m going to drop in on those boys. They both have amazing wives. One has three children, one has two—and even though I’m a stepfather, they call me Papa instead of Grandpa. I’m going to visit them occasionally while I’m traveling, then move on to other sights, then check back in. What do you think of that idea?”
Her smile was alive. “It sounds wonderful. You’ll enjoy that. Maybe I’ll even see you now and then in Virgin River.”
“Or, you could come along,” he said. “You have all those military boys all over the place. We could check on them, as well. And believe me, once a couple of them get married and have children, the others fall in line. I’ve seen it a million times. As soon as I get an offer on the house—which is a good house and should bring a nice price even in a depressed economy—I’m going to start shopping for a quality RV. I’ve been looking at pictures online. Maureen, you have no idea how high tech these things have become! They now come with expandable sides, two people showers, freezers, big screens in the living room and bedroom, Whirlpool tubs—you name it! How’d you like to have a hot tub on wheels, Maureen?”
She looked over at him. He was so excited by his idea, he was actually a little flushed, and she found herself hoping it wasn’t high blood pressure. If the moment ever presented itself, she’d ask about that. But after all his rambling about his future RV, all she could say was, “Come along?”
“A perfect solution for both of us,” he said. “We’d have time together, we’d have fun together. We’d see the families, travel…”
“George, that’s outrageous. We’ve had a few lunches—”
“And we’ll have a few more! We’ll also e-mail, talk on the phone, get together occasionally—in Virgin River, but also in Phoenix and Seattle. We’ll spend the next six months figuring out if we fit as well as it seems we do.”
“Long distance? Occasional visits?” she asked doubtfully.
“It’ll give you time to look over my accounts to be sure you’re not getting conned out of your retirement.” He laughed at his own joke, slapping his knee. “Of course, with five brawny, overprotective sons you’re relatively safe from a dangerous guy like me.” He glanced at her and his expression was playful. “We’re not young, Maureen. We should be sure we’re attracted to each other and that we get along, but we shouldn’t waste a lot of time. Every day is precious.” He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “I’m very attracted to you. I’d love to get you alone in a fancy RV for a few years.”
She laughed at him; she hated that she was behaving like such a girl. “Have you lost your mind?”
“I’ve been wondering what to do next. I’ve had a couple of fulfilling careers, but I can’t go on preaching and teaching forever—I’ll get bored. At a point I should retire again. When I lost Mary, I filled my time with activities—friends for dinner, going to the movies, attending a new play. I had a very nice life with Mary. I loved her deeply, as I’m sure you loved your Patrick. I miss her. But I also miss having a best friend to spend time with. Maureen, this is guaranteed not to sweep you off your feet, but you’re the first woman I’ve met in years who could actually be that kind of friend! We have so much in common it’s amazing!”
“You’ve slipped a cog,” she said. “We have nothing in common! I’m Catholic, you’re Presbyterian! I was almost a nun, you were a minister!”
“Almost a nun with five sons in ten years and, for your information, I’m still ordained.”
“Phhhtttt,” she emitted. “I like to play tennis, golf and bridge!”
“I jog,” he said. “I could learn tennis. I’ve always enjoyed golf but bridge bores the crap out of me.”
She burst out laughing. “Bores me, too,” she said. “But the women gather for bridge and so I play with them. But, George, I’m not about to commit to a man I’ve known such a short time and—”
“Of course not, Maureen! Here’s my proposal. Let’s carry on! How hard is that? Let’s communicate, visit, get to know each other and, even better, spend quality time together when we can. You’ll want to visit that little granddaughter, and I have to keep tabs on Noah so he doesn’t go astray! And six months down the road, we’ll be more sure of ourselves, and of our relationship. And, believe me, six months is asking a lot of a seventy-year-old guy!”
She narrowed her eyes. “How’s your health?”
“Excellent! After what happened to Mary by avoiding the doctor, I get a good physical every six months. I’m on cholesterol medicine, though. But I think it’s a waste of time. My father lived to be eighty-eight.”
“I’m on cholesterol and high-blood-pressure medicine.”
“You don’t say?”
“It’s working.” She shrugged.
“Isn’t it amazing? My doctor says, as long as we can find and treat these things, we’re going to be fairly hard to kill!”
Maureen shook her head and laughed. She would not let him get a foot in the door with this insane idea, but she knew, at once, she would have fun with him. Piles of fun. “I would have to run this idea by my priest,” she said.
“Whatever works for you,” he agreed. “But what idea are you talking about? The idea of getting to know me better, or the idea of joining me in the RV if it works out?”
She didn’t answer. She chewed her bottom lip and thought about when she’d gone to her parish priest as a young mother and said she could not keep having babies—she just wasn’t up to it! She wanted his blessing—the church’s blessing—on birth control before she lost her mind and her body. He wasn’t much help, and she’d already given natural birth control—timing her cycle, et cetera—two fair shots. They were named Sean and Patrick, Jr. She clicked her tongue without realizing it. That was more than thirty years ago and there had been progress on these matters in the church since. But she had to admit that some of the rules had been hard to take at that time.
“Forget I said that,” she answered. “What did you get for take-out lunch?”
“Wonderful, fat deli sandwiches, coleslaw, sweet tea and brownies. How does that sound?”
She smiled at him. “Better than you know.”
George pulled the RV off the road at a scenic outlook beside the ocean. They sat at the table and ate their sandwiches, talking about all the places in the United States they hadn’t seen and would love to visit. Maureen lived in Arizona and had never been to the Grand Canyon; George wanted to extend his RV adventure into Canada and Alaska. It all began to sound like a fantasy, a dream trip.
“George,” she said. “What if one of us gets sick?” she asked.
“We’re not going to the wilds of Africa,” he said with a shrug. “We can stop at a hospital. We’ll see a doctor or—” But then he smiled at her. “But we should, if we feel like it.”
“Should what?”
“Go to Africa. And maybe a long cruise…”
She sat back in her chair. “Have you been dreaming this up for years?”
He shook his head. “Just the opposite. I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself. I’m not young—I have some years of travel in me, then I’ll probably have to settle down a little and be happy with the occasional trip. You have longer, I suppose. But the truth, Maureen? All these fun ideas didn’t even occur to me until I met you. Mary thought of stuff like this, but we were never able to act on them. You know what my late wife used to say? That it was her goal to have the grandchildren say, ‘Anyone seen Grandma?’” He laughed at himself. Then he sobered. “I’m so sorry. It’s probably such a faux pas, trying to tempt you with things my late wife said.”
But Maureen loved it. It had been such a long time since she’d been tempted by anything! By a man, by living, by having fun, by risk and chance and dare! She would love to sell her condo, get rid of all that precious furniture she’d polished, pampered and protected for so many years—furniture that never managed to look good in that fancy condo! She’d love to give her sons the keepsakes she’d stored for them! The old school pictures, report cards and clay handprints. And the little china and crystal bric-a-brac her mother and mother-in-law left? What was she going to do with them after she was dead? Cart them with her to heaven? The boys could have all the Christmas ornaments from their childhood, their baby pictures, their school projects; their wives could have their great-grandmother’s silver and dishes. It wasn’t as though she sat up on lonely nights caressing that stuff! She’d much rather see the Grand Canyon!
She thought about drifting from grandchild to grandchild across the country, taking them on overnights in an RV, going on shopping trips and buying them presents from Europe, Asia, Africa!
Six months, George had said. Six months to see if they were really as compatible as they seemed. She laughed suddenly. She hadn’t made Patrick, Sr., work at winning her for any longer than that!
“Funny? Did I offend you?” George asked.
She grabbed both his hands across the RV’s table. “Not at all. I think I would have loved Mary. We would have been friends. In spite of the fact that she was Presbyterian!”
“That’s what I think,” he said. “But, Maureen, don’t get the impression you’re exactly like her. You didn’t get my attention because you’re anything like my late wife! In fact, you’re very different in lots of ways. I’ll tell you all about that another day. It’s bad manners to discuss your wife with your girlfriend.” He frowned slightly. “You have an odd look on your face. Does all this talk about her bother you? Does my suggestion about an RV upset you?”
