Return to Virgin River

by Robyn Carr

  Kaylee smiled. “Sure,” she said.

  Mel patted her hand. “I’m never sure of the right thing to say. But knowing you a little bit now, I believe you’ll get through this difficult year and find joy again.”

  “That might take a miracle,” Kaylee said.

  “Miracles happen around here all the time. It will come, I’m sure of it. As your world gets bigger than your grief. Anything I can do to help, just say the word.”

  “Thank you, Mel.”

  “Don’t thank me yet,” she said. “Will you help us again tomorrow?”

  “Absolutely! It was a very good day.”

  * * *

  Landry did ask Jack if his help was needed in the filling and transporting of holiday food boxes, but Jack said, “We’re good. If you come around, you get cookies, but we’re covered.”

  So instead, Landry made an appointment to speak with Brie.

  “I’ve been thinking. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can move forward on this divorce with the least difficulty?”

  “Have you talked to Laura? Do you have any inside knowledge as to why she’d hire a lawyer and ramp up her settlement demands?”

  “I did talk to her. She said she wanted another chance with our marriage, but that’s out of the question. Especially now that she’s trying to hold me hostage.”

  “Well, the fastest and least cumbersome way is to offer her half the value of your property. I don’t think that’s the smartest way, but it is probably the quickest.”

  “That wouldn’t leave me in a very safe place,” he said. “I owe money on the house and land. I took out a mortgage so I could ‘loan’ her money.”

  “Do you have records of those transactions?”

  He reached for the papers in the inside pocket of his jacket and passed them to Brie. “Here’s what I have. I never asked Laura to sign a loan document, but here are copies of checks I made out to her and I did write ‘loan’ in the notes section. I’m emotionally tied to the property. I grew up there. It was all my father had when he died. He had a pension from the communications company he worked for, which is a fancy name for a phone and cable company. My dad was a hardworking cable man. I can pull together some money, if it would help. I can get a loan using my property as collateral.”

  “Help what, Landry? Get the divorce settled?”

  “Yes, before I hate her. I should have done it years ago, when I realized she’d chosen something else over our marriage. I should have done it when my net worth was a bunch of pots and a kiln. I should have done it before my father passed away. I thought she was as unmotivated as I was but I think I was naive. She asked me for money quite often. She said she wouldn’t contest or argue against a divorce, but here she is asking for money.”

  “I could find out from her attorney what it would take to end it on good terms,” Brie said. “If they want to go the distance, we can take your case to the mediator. Usually abandonment factors in the bottom line. She left you. She never lived with you after that. She might only be successful in getting half of your net worth at the time of separation and nothing more...”

  “It wouldn’t be much,” he said. “I’m a pack rat. A tidy pack rat, but I have all the old tax returns and bank statements. I’m self-employed; I kept very good records.”

  “Let me give it a go.”

  “I think that would be a good idea,” he said. “Thank you.”

  11

  KAYLEE HELPED WITH the holiday baskets on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and again it brought her great pleasure. Her mother used to always say, Feeling a little sorry for yourself? Do something nice for someone else. Particularly someone you don’t know. That will put you right. She hadn’t done it intentionally but it never failed to be completely true. And it wasn’t a case of seeing people who had it worse and thus making her feel better. It was about giving. Her mother was right. Giving fed the soul.

  When she got home, she fed her kitty and then went straight to Landry’s house. She found him in the shop, working on his sculpture. “Did you go to Eureka and get seafood?”

  He grinned at her. “Shouldn’t you kiss me before you ask if I’ve done my chores?”

  She hopped right into his arms and kissed him long enough and lovingly enough to convince him of her gratitude.

  “Can I see it?” she asked.

  “First we have something important to do. Go pet your dog and then I have somewhere to take you. I have something to show you.”

  “What?”

  “A surprise. You’re going to like it. Let’s not waste a lot of time with you trying to figure it out.”

  “I’m not that crazy about surprises.”

  “No arguing for once!” he said. “If you don’t like this one I promise I’ll never do it again!”

  “Fair enough,” she said, running out to the kennel to check on Lady. The new mother was looking so good. She’d filled out, her coat was clean and shiny and thick, her puppies were getting big and playful. Lady looked to be a yellow Lab with the most beautiful American head, a long sleek nose, and deep, soulful brown eyes. Kaylee learned all this by looking through a lot of Landry’s books about dogs. When Lady saw Kaylee she seemed to smile. She wagged her tail and shook off four puppies and went directly to Kaylee, putting her face right against Kaylee’s face.

  “I’m happy to see you, too, but I hear there’s a surprise of some kind. Such a pretty girl; such a good girl. You have to stay here. I’ll see you later. Stay.”

  Kaylee ran back to Landry. “Okay, let’s do this. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”

  “There could be food involved in this surprise,” he said.

  “I hope so.”

  She told him about her day of delivering food boxes with Mel as he drove right through Virgin River. “We’re not going to Jack’s?” she asked.

  “Not this time,” he said. “Haven’t you had enough of Jack’s after the last two days?”

  “Probably, but did I mention I’m starving?”

  “A time or ten,” he said, laughing at her.

  Just a few minutes later they pulled up to the Templetons’ house.

  “What the heck, are the Templetons back in town?”

  He parked his truck right in the driveway. “Why don’t we have a look?” he said. “This is your surprise. Go ring the bell. I’m right behind you.”

  “You’re so cute,” she said. “What a nice surprise. They must be here for Thanksgiving and you set this up.”

  She ran up the stone walk to the front door and rang the bell, but it wasn’t a Templeton who answered. It was Janette. “Well, hello, cookie,” she said. Right behind her was Korby. “Hey, girlfriend.” And crowding in were Michelle, then Terri and Maggie. And then there was a group hug and of course, tears.

  “Oh my God, my God, my God, what are you doing here? You’re here, you’re here,” Kaylee exclaimed. She couldn’t stop crying.

  “We’re going to have a replay of last Thanksgiving, our last one all together and one of the best ever!” Janette said.

  “But how did you get this house?” she asked.

  “I got a call from Bonnie Templeton and she said it was all arranged. There’s not quite enough room at your place, so we needed something larger. This place is great! I may never leave.”

  “But your families?” Kaylee asked, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

  “Everyone is taken care of,” Janette said. “It was a little last-minute, but sometimes the girl squad has to step in and make it happen. Now, don’t you be expecting a reunion every year, but this was a good idea.”

  “I’m blown away,” Kaylee said. “Wait! Where’s Landry?” She pulled out of her girlfriends’ arms and saw his back as he was leaving.

  “Hey, you!” Janette called. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  He turned and waved. “Y
ou girls have a good party. I’ll get Kaylee’s bag.”

  “I have a bag?” she said to Janette.

  “I asked him to throw a few overnight things together for you. Anything he missed I’m sure one of us has. But don’t you let him get away. He doesn’t have to sleep over but he stocked the place with food for us and he’s very cute so he stays to eat. And I won’t hear any argument.”

  “You won’t hear one from me,” Kaylee said.

  When Landry handed over her small duffel, she said, “You have to stay. At least through dinner.”

  “And come back for the feast tomorrow,” Michelle said. “You can be our mascot.”

  “I should probably be your chaperone,” he said.

  And there was a loud pop as the champagne was opened in the kitchen. Six women shouted, “Woo!”

  * * *

  Landry flipped burgers on the grill for the sisterhood, who put together the side dishes. It was cold and dark outside and he stood alone, but the women were not far away and he thrilled in hearing the talk and the laughter. They got a fire going in the big stone fireplace right away and lit candles all around the great room. “Be careful of those,” he heard Kaylee say. “This place already burned down once.” He chuckled and shook his head. She was pretty bossy. He loved it.

  Janette had contacted him. She’d had a call from Howard Sloan, Kaylee’s father. He wondered what it would take to bring all of Meredith’s friends together for Thanksgiving for Kaylee. Janette then called Landry and the Templetons and of course she called the tribe together. Only Korby had kids around for Thanksgiving and her husband happily agreed to take them to his parents’ house for the holiday. Janette’s kids were married and spent their holiday with in-laws, so it all fell together. She had explained the plans a half-dozen times as he scribbled notes because there was no way he’d remember everything.

  Then Janette texted him a shopping list. All she really needed him to do was buy that seafood in Eureka, but he’d done much more. Every one of them threw extra groceries into their cars. All of them lived on the West Coast; they met at Janette’s and drove up in three cars, packed to the brim with food, drink, extra blankets and their bags. They also brought poker chips, cards, board games and a five-thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle.

  “We may not get to it all, but there is a diversion for everyone,” Janette announced with a smile.

  They set the table in the dining room, put the sides of deviled eggs, a relish tray, baked potato slices and condiments on the table, and sat down to eat together through laughter, teasing, poking and praising. Landry sat next to Kaylee and all through dinner he learned how Kaylee and Meredith had been both mother and daughter as well as the best of friends, but they each had these other units of friends closer to them in profession or interest and certainly age. And then over time the groups had blended. Now they were a group that ranged in age from thirty-five to sixty-five. They were all healthy, energetic, scary smart and hilarious. And also very insightful.

  He realized he had never seen Laura in a group like this. When Laura was in a group, she was the center of attention. She held court. It was a struggle to get to know the others because she dominated them.

  But in this group of friends, who were all gathered to remember Meredith, there were many differences and yet complete equality. They bounced off each other so nicely. Korby was a little loud and the most hilarious, though they were all funny to some degree. Terri was a middle school teacher and the bossy one.

  Janette had been Meredith’s closest friend since high school. She’d been a teacher who transformed herself into a counselor, was part of a small counseling practice, and frequently worked for the county in the school district. She was divorced, her children were grown and she lived alone. There was something about her that made her the leader. The others seem to defer to her in a way that suggested she held the wisdom card. And it became clear right away that she was fiercely independent.

  “How is John?” someone asked her.

  “He’s good,” she said. “He’s working a lot but he’s spending Thanksgiving with his son and daughter and their kids. These patchwork families manage to piece together one way or another.”

  “You two aren’t living together yet?” Kaylee asked. “Haven’t you been a couple for years?”

  “Six years,” Janette said. “But we’ve both already had spouses and kids and we’re a little set in our ways. Honestly, I’m not looking for someone to share a house with, I just want someone to share a life with. Our arrangement is very satisfactory. We do spend a few nights a week together. And he’s a great travel companion.”

  “I want a man with a tool belt to move in with me as soon as possible,” Michelle said, making them all laugh.

  “That sounds good, but every time I consider the prospect of being lonely in my house, one of my adult children moves home for a while, usually with kids and dogs.” Janette said.

  “You mean when they leave, they don’t stay gone?” Terri asked. “So, you’re saying counting the days till the empty nest is a waste of time?”

  “Even I only lived with my mom when I was between apartments, or when she was sick. We liked our own space, yet we were very close,” Kaylee said.

  The dinner conversation went that way for an hour until someone finally said, “What about you, Landry? Do you have family? Ex or otherwise? Kids?”

  He cleared his throat as if he might be giving a speech. “I was an only child who was raised by my father and my parents are both deceased. No kids but a soon-to-be ex-wife.”

  “Really?” Terri said.

  “You’re going through a divorce?” Korby asked.

  “Yes. But we haven’t lived together for years. I was just too busy or preoccupied to do the paperwork. Same for her, I guess.” He lifted his drink and peered at Kaylee. He hadn’t mentioned any of his plans to her. “It’s all just a formality now.”

  “Tell us about your ex,” someone said.

  “You don’t have to unless you want to,” Kaylee said reassuringly.

  “I don’t mind. Laura is a very interesting person. She’s an actress who has been chasing the limelight for years.”

  “She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” Kaylee said.

  “You’ve actually met her?” Janette asked.

  “I went to one of the town fairs where Landry was showing his work, and who should stop by but his wife!” Kaylee said.

  “She was auditioning for a play in San Francisco,” he explained. “She came by because it was close. I hadn’t seen her in almost a year. We’ve managed to maintain a friendly relationship. We’ll see how that goes now that I’ve actually filed for divorce. I’m told that sometimes the most agreeable couples find a lot to fight about during a divorce.”

  “That would seem logical,” Korby said.

  That opened up the table conversation to divorces. Only two of the women were still married and two had never been married. Landry was much happier talking about someone else’s divorce.

  There was more conversation around the table but they left Landry alone, except for the occasional question about his work or his dog training. When they started to clean up, they refused to let him help, but he hung out in the kitchen anyway.

  This was not what he expected, this band of women who all knew each other so intimately, drawing him in and making him feel almost like family. He liked each one of them and also liked them as a group. It was a great idea, doing this Thanksgiving almost like a tribute to Meredith.

  When people started staking out their places in the great room after a big meal, he pulled Kaylee aside and said, “Time for me to go. Walk me out?”

  She grabbed their coats. Landry thanked everyone for the meal and conversation and said good-night, and he and Kaylee stepped outside. Once they stood on the porch, he opened his jacket so she could step inside, pressed against him. He closed
his jacket around her.

  “That was the best surprise I’ve ever had. Did you plan it?”

  He shook his head. “You should get the details from Janette. She called me, but it didn’t originate with her.”

  “Really? This should be interesting.”

  “Kiss me like you’re going to miss me tonight,” he said. “We hardly ever spend a night apart anymore.”

  She accommodated him, stretching up onto her toes, arms around his neck. He didn’t wonder if she’d miss him for long. It was so good to see her happy.

  When she was back on her heels, she looked up at him. “I didn’t know about the divorce.”

  “I didn’t want to bother you with it,” he said. “It’s not really about you, not because of you or even my feelings for you, which are pretty hot, by the way. It is true that when I found myself with a woman like you in my house and in my bed, it begged the question, why the hell am I legally married?” He ran a knuckle along her cheek. “But no matter what happens with us, I’m ready to cut ties with Laura.”

  “She still loves you, Landry.”

  “No, she doesn’t,” he said. “She loves me when it’s convenient. That’s a pretty poor excuse to stay married.”

  “But do you love her?”

  “Sure,” he said immediately. “At least, I hold the memory of a love I had for her. But it’s way different from what I feel for you.” He kissed her softly. “Have fun tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  * * *

  By the time Kaylee went back inside, the women had all changed into their pajamas or lounging night wear. A couple of logs had been added to the fire and a few of them had fresh drinks or mugs of tea. They were scattered about the room on couches and chairs.

  “Well,” she said. “Did you like him?”

  “He’s adorable,” Janette said.

  “He seems very sweet,” Maggie said. “If you aren’t keeping him, I could get to know him better.”

  “I haven’t made up my mind about that yet,” Kaylee said, plopping down on the couch. “He told me this reunion wasn’t his idea.”