Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Series

  “What happened?” Ellen asked, coming toward them.

  Joseph hardly seemed able to speak. Between deep breaths, he explained. “Katie was playing hide-and-seek, and she went into the woods.” Joe gasped for oxygen. His skin was ashen and his lips blue. “She got too close to the edge. I saw her slip and fall in, so I went after her.”

  Maryellen could picture the older man, racing down to the creek, stumbling over rocks and fallen trees in an effort to catch his granddaughter before she was swept away.

  “I slipped, too,” he choked out as he leaned forward, his hands on his knees, fighting for breath.

  Jon ran into the house and got a blanket to wrap around his father. Maryellen could see the barely restrained anger in his movements as he spread it over his father’s back.

  “Ellen,” he said sternly, “get Dad to emergency now.”

  His stepmother hurried into the house for her purse.

  “Do you need me to drive you?” he asked when she returned.

  Ellen seemed to be in a daze. She hesitated, and then declined, shaking her head. “No. Just take care of Katie.”

  “Have them check his heart.”

  “I’m fine,” Joseph insisted. “As long as Katie’s all right, then I am, too.”

  “Do what I say,” Jon barked, and Ellen nodded obediently.

  Refusing to listen to any protest, Jon took his father to the car and helped him inside. Ellen was already behind the wheel and had started the engine.

  Jon stepped away from the vehicle as Ellen pulled out, the wheels spitting dirt and gravel. He stood there watching until she turned onto the road.

  When he joined Maryellen on the deck, Jon looked about to collapse. “Katie?” he asked.

  “She’s shaken up but she’s fine.”

  “Thank God.” He closed his eyes and lowered his head.

  Maryellen did thank God. They’d almost lost their daughter. If Joseph hadn’t gone after her when he did, Katie could have drowned—probably would have drowned.

  After a few deep breaths, Jon reached for the child and hugged her tight. Then he carried her upstairs for a warm bath and fresh clothes.

  Maryellen changed her muddy top and when she sat down realized she was still trembling. She was shaking from the inside out, her knees literally knocking against each other.

  They’d come so close to losing Katie, she thought again. So close.

  When Jon reappeared, she was afraid he was going to chastise her or declare that his parents were no longer welcome in his home. From the moment Joseph and Ellen had arrived, he’d looked for any small infraction as an excuse to send them packing. He’d never said so, but Maryellen knew.

  This afternoon, Joseph had given him the perfect reason. And yet…Jon had called him “Dad.”

  Warm and dry now, Katie acted as if the events of the afternoon hadn’t distressed her in the least. Maryellen felt ready for a mental ward while their daughter chattered happily away.

  “Are you all right?” Maryellen asked Jon.

  He grimaced and took her hand. “I don’t ever want to live through another afternoon like this one.”

  “Me, neither.”

  “When I saw Joseph holding her, I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to rant at him and berate him for letting Katie out of his sight.”

  “You didn’t?”

  “No. I think he was on the verge of having a heart attack himself.”

  “Oh, no…” She wanted to ask Jon how that made him feel but she couldn’t. His father had saved Katie’s life, yet Jon couldn’t acknowledge that, not explicitly, not in so many words.

  An hour later, Ellen phoned to report that Joe had been seen by Dr. Timmons at the medical clinic and his heart was fine. His blood pressure was elevated but that was understandable. They were both back at the hotel and resting comfortably.

  Grace phoned, and after she’d learned of the frightening episode, she and Cliff came over with dinner. Maryellen barely touched the chicken-and-rice casserole. She assumed it was because of the terror she’d felt earlier, but her appetite was nonexistent.

  After straightening the kitchen, her mother was getting ready to leave, and Maryellen clambered up from the sofa to hug her mother and Cliff goodbye. She suddenly noticed how much her back ached. Then and only then did she recognize what was happening.

  She was in labor.

  “Can you stay for a while?” she asked her mother.

  Grace glanced at Cliff, then nodded. “Of course.”

  “Jon.” Smiling, she stretched out her arms to her husband. “I think it would be a good idea if you took me to the hospital now.”

  Thirty-Nine

  Charlotte spent the morning with her friends at the Senior Center. The knitting group get-together had included a lunch of sandwiches and coffee—and a thoroughly enjoyable gossip fest. Although it was a lovely afternoon—the official first day of summer—and the house was only a few blocks from the center, she drove. She usually enjoyed the short walk, but today she needed to run errands.

  Ben had decided to remain at the house, which meant he wouldn’t be playing bridge with his friends while she visited with hers. It meant he wouldn’t be running errands with her, either. From the moment they’d started seeing each other, Ben had willingly accompanied her on such routine tasks, and Charlotte had come to rely on his companionship.

  Something was bothering him. Had they been married longer, she might have known instinctively what it was. She was becoming familiar with his moods, but this latest one was new—and it worried her.

  As she pulled into the grocery store lot, she found a convenient parking spot, turned off the engine and sat in her car for a few minutes while she thought about this. She’d hoped Ben would feel comfortable enough to share his troubles with her. Apparently he didn’t. But rather than take offense, she tried to think of ways to ease his worries. Perhaps she should ask him outright why he seemed so distressed. That was what she’d do, she decided.

  Olivia was walking out of the grocery just as Charlotte was going in.

  “Mom!” her daughter said excitedly. “Maryellen’s having the baby.”

  “Now?”

  “She might even have delivered already. Grace phoned yesterday evening to tell me. She and Cliff spent the night out at Jon and Maryellen’s. They’re watching Katie.”

  “That’s wonderful news.” Charlotte was so pleased for Maryellen—and her mother. Grace was having a good year, and she deserved it. Two grandbabies due within a few weeks of each other, a new husband and—Charlotte frowned. Although Grace’s happiness was unmistakable, a cloud darkened the horizon. Will was returning to Cedar Cove. Her son’s sudden desire to move here concerned Charlotte. Her fear was that Will intended to meddle in Grace’s relationship with Cliff.

  “Mom?” Olivia asked.

  “Oh, sorry, I was just thinking.”

  “I have to get back to the courthouse—I came to pick up something I need for dinner. It’s tofu, but don’t tell Jack. He eats it all the time, only I don’t let him know.”

  “Good for you.” Grabbing a cart, Charlotte entered the store. “Be sure and call me when you hear about the baby.”

  “I will,” Olivia promised. “Talk to you later.”

  Charlotte exhaled heavily. Life did have its share of worries. Her first concern was Ben; she’d tackle Will later. Ben had been so preoccupied lately, so distracted, and try as she might, she couldn’t put her finger on what was wrong. That thought weighed on her as she hurriedly finished her tasks. She bought milk and bread, went to the cleaners, then headed home.

  Yes, she’d ask him. Further deliberation had confirmed her decision. Asking him was the only sensible way to handle the situation. Charlotte was a sensible woman, or she had been, until she’d fallen in love with Ben Rhodes.

  On the drive back to the house, Charlotte stopped at a roadside stand selling strawberries freshly picked on Vashon Island. She purchased two large flats to put up strawberry preserves. Perhaps
she could tempt Ben by serving scones topped with sweetened strawberries and whipped cream for dessert this evening. He enjoyed scones, especially when they were hot from the oven. As she’d always known, a clever woman had ways of getting information from a man. Her granddaughter might tell her this was an old-fashioned approach, but whatever worked…

  The moment she got home, Ben came out to carry in the strawberries and the few groceries she’d bought.

  Charlotte followed with the dry cleaning. The prices they charged for pressing a shirt were highway robbery, but Ben insisted. He didn’t want her expending time or energy at the ironing board when the cleaner was happy to do it.

  Ben brought everything into the kitchen, and she saw that he hadn’t eaten the lunch she’d left for him. Rather than comment, she mentioned Olivia’s news. “Maryellen’s having the baby.”

  Her words fell on deaf ears.

  “Did you hear me, Ben? Maryellen’s in labor.”

  “Oh, sorry,” he said, recovering quickly. “That’s great.”

  “It is,” Charlotte agreed. “Olivia said she’d let us know as soon as Grace calls her.”

  “Good.”

  Shaking her head, Charlotte set the kettle on the stove to heat water for tea. Whatever was wrong had grown markedly worse in the time she’d been away.

  “These are a lot of strawberries,” Ben commented as he picked up a large red one.

  “Let me wash a few of those for you to nibble on,” Charlotte suggested. “They were just picked this morning and couldn’t be sweeter.” The vendor had told her as much.

  Ben set the strawberry down and shook his head. “Thanks, but no.”

  Charlotte couldn’t stand it a minute longer; she had to know. “Is everything all right, Ben?” she asked.

  He walked over to where Harry had curled himself up on a kitchen chair and began to pet her cat. “Of course.”

  “I don’t mean to pry,” she continued, “but you just haven’t been yourself lately.”

  Ben pulled her close and hugged her, sighing deeply. “Are you sure you want to know?”

  “Of course.”

  “It’s my son,” he confessed.

  “David?”

  He sighed again. “Yes.”

  “Here,” she said, the practical side of her nature immediately taking over. “I’ll pour water in the teapot and while it steeps we can start to talk.”

  “I don’t want to burden you with this,” Ben said, dismissing the offer.

  “Nonsense! I’m your wife.”

  “But—”

  “Ben, please. Unless you confide in me, I won’t feel comfortable sharing my worries about my own children.”

  “Your children are nothing like mine—especially David,” he murmured.

  “That’s not true, but we can discuss Will later.”

  “Will?” Ben looked up, his face a picture of astonishment.

  “I’ll say more about him when we’re finished. Please, tell me what’s got you in such a state.”

  He seemed relieved to finally tell her, and Charlotte silently scolded herself for delaying this conversation. Instead of fretting, she should’ve asked him sooner.

  He waited until she’d poured hot water in the teapot and assembled cups. When she sat down with him at the table, she noticed that he’d placed Harry on his lap. Not so long ago, the cat had taken exception to sharing Charlotte’s affections, but Ben had won him over—as well as everyone else in her life. Harry purred contentedly as Ben stroked his sleek body.

  “You know Steven phoned a little while ago.”

  “Yes.” Charlotte had talked briefly with Ben’s older son. It’d been a bit awkward at first, but Steven sounded like a fine young man. Unlike his brother, he wasn’t a charmer and seemed to have difficulty carrying on a conversation. Fortunately Charlotte had no such problem and she’d done her best to let him know how pleased she was to be part of his family.

  “Do you remember Steven said that David had gotten himself into a financial mess—again?”

  “Yes. He declared bankruptcy a few years ago, didn’t he?”

  “Right,” Ben confirmed. He looked past Charlotte, not meeting her eyes. “What I didn’t tell you has to do with yet another mess my son’s gotten himself into. I’m not sure of all the details. According to Steven, David was recently arrested for fraud. It was because of an insurance claim he made.”

  Arrested? “Oh, dear,” she gasped.

  Ben continued to pet Harry, his fingers smoothing the cat’s soft fur. “Then all of a sudden, he had the money to hire a high-priced attorney to represent him.”

  “All of a sudden?” Charlotte repeated. “You mean he came into some unexpected funds?”

  Ben grew very still. “Apparently this was shortly after the break-in and arson at The Lighthouse.”

  Charlotte felt a chill. “Are you saying David might somehow have been involved in that?”

  “Yes,” he said hoarsely.

  “Ben, surely David would never do anything so…so vile.”

  “You think I want to believe my own son could do something like this?” he asked. “I have lived with this information for nearly a week now, and I can’t ignore the possibility any longer. I checked the dates and they coincide.”

  “Oh, Ben.”

  All the color had drained from Ben’s face. “I didn’t say anything earlier because…because I didn’t know if I could. It’s one thing to suspect my son of such an ugly, underhanded crime and another to give his name to Sheriff Davis as a suspect.”

  Charlotte’s heart ached for her husband. What an impossible decision he had to make. Regardless of anything else, the young man was Ben’s son. No father wanted to be responsible for turning his own child over to the authorities.

  “While you were at the Senior Center this morning, I paid Sheriff Davis a visit.”

  “Oh, Ben.” Charlotte stretched her arm across the table, wanting to clasp his hand, to offer what comfort she could. He didn’t seem to notice.

  “Sheriff Davis took down all the information and said he’d look into it,” Ben said stoically, gazing down at the cat. “If it does turn out that David had something to do with the fire, promise me, Charlotte, that you and your family—” He seemed incapable of continuing.

  “I love you, Ben. If David is involved, you can rest assured that no one in this family will blame you in any way for your son’s actions.”

  Her husband glanced up, and his eyes shone with appreciation. “Thank you,” he whispered, taking her hand at last. “If David did this, I’ll personally reimburse Justine and Seth for their losses.”

  “Ben! You can’t possibly do that.” Restitution for The Lighthouse wasn’t his obligation—and it would wipe him out financially. “They have insurance.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said. “I won’t allow my son to hurt you, directly or indirectly.”

  Charlotte thought she might weep for his pain, for his disappointment in David and his nobility in assuming an obligation he didn’t need to.

  But that was Ben, wasn’t it? And those were the reasons she loved him.

  Forty

  “Can’t you do something to help my wife?” Jon pleaded with the labor room nurse. The middle-aged woman with gray-streaked hair wore a name tag that identified her as Stacy Eagleton.

  “Honey, I’m fine,” Maryellen whispered, her brow damp with perspiration. Her death grip on Jon’s hand said differently.

  Jon was worried. Maryellen had been in labor for nearly twenty hours, and with each passing minute, his fears mounted. Everything about this pregnancy had been difficult. He didn’t know why he’d assumed the labor would go smoothly when nothing else had.

  The hospital staff had all assured him that his wife’s labor was progressing normally. “These things take time,” Stacy had repeatedly told him. If one more person uttered that trite remark, Jon thought he might not be able to control his temper. Twenty hours wasn’t normal. It couldn’t be. Katie had arrived wi
th far less effort on Maryellen’s part.

  “Give her something for the pain,” he instructed the nurse.

  His wife opened her eyes and lifted her head from the pillow. She’d grown so pale, so weak. “No,” she said in a surprisingly strong voice. “It’s not good for the baby.”

  At this point, Jon was far more concerned about his wife.

  Before he could try to convince her to accept medication, Maryellen groaned. Then, as if she couldn’t bear the agony another second, she tossed her head from side to side. Jon did everything he could think of to help her, but she no longer wanted him to touch her or massage her back. The most she’d let him do was count off the seconds, and that seemed so damn little.

  “Excellent, excellent,” Stacy encouraged Maryellen, after checking to see if dilation was complete. “Everything’s looking good. I’ll get Dr. DeGroot for the delivery.”

  Kissing Maryellen’s hand, Jon whispered, “It won’t be long now.”

  His wife offered him a feeble smile. “I don’t think our baby is all that willing to be born.”

  Jon remembered the elated feeling he’d experienced at Katie’s birth. The miracle of bringing a new life into the world had left him awed and humbled, although much of the labor remained a blur in his memory. How oblivious he’d been to the reality he faced now as he watched his wife struggle to give birth to his child.

  He loved Maryellen deeply, but never more than he did just then. He laid a cool cloth across her brow and kissed her temple and whispered his love.

  “Are Joseph and Ellen still in the waiting room?” she asked, looking up at him.

  Jon nodded. Grace had called them, and as soon as his father and stepmother learned that Maryellen had gone into labor, they’d rushed to the hospital. The truth was, he didn’t want them there. All that prevented Jon from asking them to leave was his love for Maryellen.

  “Have you talked to them?” she asked.

  Although he knew he was a disappointment to her, Jon shook his head. “I’ve had the nurse give them regular updates.”