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“Ben Rhodes has stirred a few hearts down at the Senior Center,” Grace said, wondering how Charlotte would feel about this.
Mary nodded in approval. “Ben’s an excellent choice and, seeing that he’s retired Navy, he just might be able to get us a few young seamen who’d be willing to do a good deed for charity.”
“That’s a great idea.” Janet seemed absolutely delighted now. She quickly wrote down the names on the pad. “Barry Stokes is always good about donating his time and talent to charity auctions.”
Barry was the local auctioneer whose big red barn and auction headquarters could be seen from the highway.
“This is going to be just great,” Mary burbled.
“It’s certainly better than another bake sale.”
“Why don’t we talk to Seth and Justine Gunderson about letting us use The Lighthouse for the event?” Grace said.
“Perfect,” Mary agreed. “We want to make this classy. The restaurant’s just the right size, too.”
Janet picked up a pen and pad and started writing down suggestions and assignments. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do to get The Lighthouse. I’ll get in touch with Barry, too.” Janet made a second notation for herself. “Mary and Margaret, why don’t you two make up a list of potential bachelors?”
The women nodded simultaneously.
Janet pointed her pen in Grace’s direction. “How about if you work on publicizing the event-posters, newspaper ads, radio and the like?”
Grace nodded. “Of course.”
“I’ll ask for volunteers to work the auction at the next board meeting.” Janet looked pleased with herself. “I think we’re onto something really wonderful this year.”
The four women continued to discuss the event and it was after eight before they ended the meeting. Margaret White walked out to the parking lot with Grace. “I don’t know about anyone else but I’d write a blank check to spend an evening with Cliff Harding.”
Grace forced a smile.
“I nearly pass out every time he comes to the vet’s office.” She giggled like a schoolgirl. “See you next week,” she said. She climbed into her car and drove off.
Grace slid into her own vehicle and braced her hands against the steering wheel. The thought of Cliff with another woman made her feel a regret so strong that for a moment she was nearly sick to her stomach. She couldn’t bear it and at the same time realized she had to.
Worst of all, she was to blame for her own unhappiness.
Chapter Six
Peggy put the finishing touches on the dinner table as Bob straightened up the family room. He was pleased Peggy had chosen to serve their guests in the kitchen rather than the formal dining room. Jack and Olivia, who were back from their honeymoon, were coming for dinner, and he considered Jack as much family as friend. Olivia now, too. In some ways, however, Jack was even closer than family.
Although Bob had twenty-one years of sobriety behind him, he knew he was a single drink away from insanity. He still took it one day at a time and routinely attended AA meetings. It was through Alcoholics Anonymous that he’d met Jack Griffin. Bob and Peggy had been living in the Spokane area when Jack approached Bob and asked him to be his AA sponsor. That was the beginning of their strong friendship.
After Bob and Peggy returned to Cedar Cove and purchased this house, they’d invited Jack to visit. He’d fallen in love with the small-town community. When the editor’s job opened up at The Cedar Cove Chronicle, Jack-a longtime newsman-had applied and been offered the position. Soon after he moved to town, he met Judge Olivia Lockhart. It’d taken some mighty fast talking on Jack’s part, but he’d finally convinced her to marry him. Bob was proud to have stood up as Jack’s best man.
“Honey, would you fill the water glasses?” Peggy asked as she scurried about the kitchen.
“Sure thing.” His wife was a marvel, Bob thought as he dumped ice cubes into the pitcher. Peggy was a master gardener, homemaker and cook extraordinaire. The scent of her chicken cordon bleu wafted through the kitchen and made his mouth water. He knew she’d prepared his favorite broccoli salad and a special mashed-potato casserole as part of their meal. Peggy had made a habit of cooking all his favorite dishes since Sheriff Davis’s last visit-as if she was determined to make his last days on earth happy ones. Not that she’d admit it, he realized, but Bob knew she was worried and he humored her.
Much of the success of Thyme and Tide was due to Peggy’s skill at making people feel welcome and comfortable. Bob didn’t discount his own talents. He was a reasonably adequate handyman, but it was Peggy who held everything together, including his life.
She was busy at the sink-doing what, he could only guess. He finished his assigned duty, set the pitcher aside and came up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist.
“Bob,” she protested as he spread kisses down the side of her neck. “We have guests due any minute.”
“Hmm.”
“They’re the ones on the honeymoon, not us.”
“Does that mean you’re not interested in a little hankypanky?”
“Bob Beldon!”
“Is that a yes, you are, or a no, you’re not?”
“It’s a yes, but could you kindly wait until after our guests leave?” She feigned impatience, but Bob knew her far too well. Their marriage had gone through several stages, some good and some difficult, but through it all their love life had remained active. Peggy’s talents extended into the bedroom and for that, Bob was most appreciative.
The doorbell chimed and Bob released his wife. Peggy made a show of tucking in her blouse. This was the first week they’d been without overnight guests, and the absence of people in the house had taken some getting used to. Bob enjoyed it for a change, but he knew that before long they’d both grow bored.
“Do you want me to get that?” Peggy asked.
“No, I will.”
Peggy sighed, and Bob sensed that she was nervous. She didn’t know Olivia well, and he could tell that Peggy sincerely hoped they’d all be friends. She hadn’t worked quite this hard to impress someone in a very long while. Dinner in the kitchen would be more intimate, more casual, and definitely suited Jack’s personality. Olivia’s, too, he hoped…
Jack and Olivia Griffin stood at the front door, looking relaxed and very much in love. Jack had his arm around Olivia’s waist as if he couldn’t bear to be apart from her.
“Welcome back,” Bob said, stepping aside to let them in. “You both look fabulous.”
“We are fabulous,” Jack said, smiling down at Olivia.
Bob had to admit they made an interesting couple. Jack was by far the more easygoing of the two. Olivia held an important position in the community, so perhaps it was only natural that she’d be more formal. Yet they were good together, good for each other in the same way he and Peggy were.
“Welcome,” Peggy said as she walked into the living room. “I hope you had a wonderful honeymoon.” Jack came forward to kiss her cheek.
“We did,” Olivia told her, smiling. “Unfortunately, we have to be back at work first thing in the morning.”
“I’ve got to get out the Friday edition of the paper,” Jack said, “and Olivia’s due in court.”
“I was lucky to get as much time off as I did,” she added.
Peggy hung Olivia’s jacket in the hall closet. Jack shrugged off his raincoat and threw it over the back of a chair.
“Are we early?” he asked, glancing at his watch.
“Not at all, your timing’s perfect.” Peggy scooped up his coat and quickly brought it to the closet. “I’ve got just a few things to do and then dinner will be on the table.”
“How can I help?” Olivia asked as she followed Peggy into the kitchen.
“Most everything’s finished, but you can keep me company.”
Bob was grateful for a few minutes alone with his friend. Rather than lead Jack into the family room, he stayed in the formal living room. The last time he’d sat here had been with Roy McAfee and Sheriff Davis. That was the day he’d met Hannah Russell, the daughter of the man who’d died in his home. The daughter of a long-forgotten friend. Bob didn’t want to think about any of it, but he couldn’t ignore the dead man, either.
“You’re looking well,” Bob said. He sat in the wingback chair by the fireplace.
Jack claimed its twin, which was angled on the other side of the fireplace. “I don’t know why Olivia waited so long to marry me. The woman’s crazy about me, you know.” He chuckled at his own remark.
“I suppose you think Peggy and I invited you to dinner because of your charming personality.”
“Any other reason I should hear about?”
Bob went very still. He hadn’t meant to introduce the subject quite so soon, but Jack had given him the perfect opportunity. “Listen, Jack, you’re the best friend I’ve got. You know that, right?”
The smile faded from Jack’s eyes at the seriousness in Bob’s tone. “Yeah, I guess.”
“I need a favor.”
Jack nodded. “Anything.”
“Thanks, Jack.” Bob spoke quietly and hoped his gratitude was evident.
“Does this have anything to do with Maxwell Russell?”
“Yes.”
“Anything new?”
“Not really, but Troy Davis stopped by for a visit last week, and he thinks I might be in…some kind of danger.”
Jack uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “What kind of danger?”
“He wasn’t entirely sure-no one is-but with two of the four-man squad dead, it’s a puzzle. Someone murdered Max. That much has been uncovered. Dan’s dead, too, and although he committed suicide, I wonder about the timing. There has to be some connection between these two deaths.”
“What about the fourth man?”
“I can’t say, but when Peggy was out of earshot Troy let me know that he’s warned Samuels to be careful. There are too many unanswered questions.”
Jack frowned. “What did he suggest you do?”
“He thought it might be a good idea if Peggy and I went on an extended vacation.”
Jack’s frown grew deeper. “Then what the hell are you doing here?”
Bob sat back in his chair and attempted to look as if he wasn’t intimidated by his situation. He was, though, and he hoped his acting skills were up to par. He figured he’d played enough roles in the community theater to make a passable showing. “I refuse to run away and hide. If anyone out there wants me dead, then all I can say is let him come and get me.”
“I don’t suppose Davis mentioned you have a stupid attitude?” Jack’s scowl darkened his face.
“He might’ve suggested something along those lines.”
Jack didn’t say anything for a moment. “What does Peggy think about all this?”
Bob didn’t want to discuss that. “She has her opinion and I have mine. I did agree not to take guests until this is settled. It hurts financially, but we’ll survive.”
“One day at a time?”
“Let go and let God,” Bob said, quoting a well-known AA saying.
“What can I do?” Jack asked.
“For now, nothing, but if something should happen to me…”
“Nothing’s going to happen.”
Bob wasn’t prepared to argue, but for his own peace of mind, he needed reassurance. He held up his hand. “I don’t know what the future holds, Jack. If what Davis thinks is true, I could turn up dead, the same as Max.”
“But-”
“There are a lot of things in this world that can’t be forgotten or forgiven.” Bob lived with plenty of regrets but none greater than his unwitting participation in a massacre during the Vietnam War.
“What do you need me to do?” Jack asked.
“I want you to look after Peggy for me.” He worried about his children, too. Both Hollie and Marc lived in the Spokane area. Peggy kept in close touch with both of them, and he talked to his son and daughter once a week.
“You know I’ll do whatever I can,” Jack promised.
If he were to die, Bob couldn’t see either of his children moving to Cedar Cove. They loved their mother but they had lives of their own.
He reached inside his pocket and pulled out two envelopes. “I’ve written each of my kids a letter. If the worst happens, I want you to give them these.”
Jack accepted the envelopes and nodded. “Consider it done.”
Bob glanced up just in time to see Peggy and Olivia walk into the living room. “Why are you two sitting here looking so glum? Dinner’s ready.”
“Dinner.” Bob bolted to his feet. “Why didn’t you say so?”
“I’m ready anytime,” Jack said.
Bob felt better than he had in days. No matter what happened, he could rest easy now.
Chapter Seven
Maryellen felt overwhelmed by everything she needed to do before the wedding. The last two weeks had passed in a whirlwind of activity and joyous craziness.
“Just look at these nails,” Rachel, her nail tech, said as she picked up a cotton ball to remove the old polish. “What have you been up to?”
“Moving,” Maryellen muttered, knowing that would explain everything. Her rental house was completely empty now and her belongings were all at Jon’s place, but almost everything remained in boxes. With the wedding preparations demanding all her extra time, she had yet to unpack.
“So when’s the big day?”
“Monday,” Maryellen said.
