My Kind of Christmas

respect me. I just think that as long as she’s here, it’s probably best that we don’t spend the nights together.”
    “But Maureen and George aren’t even married! They’re living together in that RV, sleeping in the same bed. They wouldn’t judge us. Come on....”
    “I’m sorry, I just can’t.”
    “I’m getting that damn RV hooked up at Luke’s before breakfast,” he muttered. “And I’m getting her out of town right away.”
    “Don’t you dare be mean to your mother. She’s wonderful.”
    “Yeah, yeah…”
    He begged and grumbled the rest of the way into town. Then he kissed her silly up against her car in the glow of the monstrous Christmas tree and it still didn’t work. Finally he let up. “Call me when you’re home and your fire is lit.”
    “I will. And if it’s any consolation, I’ll miss you tonight.”
    “I’m not letting her ruin this. I need to be with you.”
    When Patrick got back to his cabin, there were low lights shining from the RV, thank God. He went directly to his phone and called Aiden.
    “Hello?”
    “It’s me. Mom and George came to Virgin River. You have to get her out of here. Right away.”
    “Why? What’s the big deal?”
    “I’m seeing someone. A serious but unfortunately not long-term thing. I’m going back to the ship, she’s headed for the peace corps. So we have a finite number of days together. Nights together. And she won’t stay with me or let me stay with her while my mother is here!”
    “Oh, I heard about this. Jack’s niece…”
    “The men in this family are worse than a bunch of old women. Listen, call Mom and tell her you need her. Cough or something. Tell her you’re waiting for test results to see if you’re dying. I’m begging you.”
    “Sorry, Paddy—I’ve got a full plate. I’m pulling a lot of OB call so I can take Christmas off.”
    “Do something! I’m sure you owe me!”
    “What exactly is the problem? Don’t want your girlfriend to get to know your mother? Because women tend to like Maureen.”
    “It’s worse than that. I told you—she won’t spend the night with me while Maureen is here! She’s afraid Maureen might somehow know what we’re doing! It’s absurd—I’m sending Maureen and George to Luke’s first thing in the morning but meanwhile, according to Angie, the lid is not coming off the cookie jar. Aiden, I have less than two weeks with this girl and I really like her. She’s taken a lot of the ache out of me, she’s so special. Get our mother out of here!”
    But all Paddy got for an answer was laughter.
    * * *
    Donna sat at a table in the corner near the fireplace. She nursed a cup of coffee while she waited for Angie for their lunch date. When she walked in looking so fresh and happy, Donna just marveled that she’d had anything to do with the creation of this amazing human being. She said a silent prayer— Please, God, let me be wise and kind for once in my life, please.
    “Something has made you very happy,” Donna observed.
    “Sometimes things just come together. We’re all set—surgery is Friday morning and it’s all paid for.”
    Donna shook her head in wonder. “How did you do it, Ange?”
    “Dr. Temple helped me find a willing surgeon and many things were discounted. Then I just rounded up the donations. The big boost was an anonymous donor who gave us a thousand dollars—boy, would I love to meet that guy.”
    “Could it have been Patrick?”
    She shook her head. “No, but Patrick gave at least as much. He’s the one who said to book it, and he’d pick up the tab for whatever was left on the bill. Every day that I went to the coast towns and hit up the public servants and business owners for donations, Patrick went to the grocery store—he cooked dinner or we met here and I gave him a rundown of my day. And you know the miraculous part? I don’t even dread it anymore—putting myself out there to strangers. I’m growing out of that, at last.” She laughed and said, “How did a daughter of Donna Sheridan LaCroix come out so timid?”
    “Anything can be overcome, I guess. So, what’s next?”
    “Well, this place is not without work to do. We’re going to start getting together the Christmas boxes for people who need a hand. Jack usually does it here in the bar, but the project has grown. Patrick’s brother lives in a great big Victorian with tons of room. His girlfriend’s sister is a chef and a bunch of women have been baking and freezing things. People