Cranberry Point (Cedar Cove #4)(52)
Roy shrugged. "That I don't know."
If Roy thought he was providing comfort, his tactic hadn't worked. Not in Bob's opinion, anyway. He was nervous and unable to hide it.
"I'm going to bed," Hannah said into the silence. "Unless you need me for anything?"
"No, no, go to bed," Peggy insisted. "Do you want me to wake you up?"
Hannah nodded. "Please. I didn't mean to sleep in this morning."
"I know. But you don't want it to happen again."
"No, I don't," Hannah agreed. "I need this job."
Their houseguest had been two hours late for work, and the PancakePalace had phoned looking for her. Peggy had managed to get the girl up and moving, but it had been no easy task. By the time Hannah got into town, the restaurant was practically out of clean dishes. To her credit, Hannah had stayed two hours past her shift in an effort to make up for her tardiness.
"If you're all right, I should probably leave," Roy said, getting to his feet.
"We're fine," Bob lied. "You go on home. Thanks for everything." He deeply appreciated Roy's friendship and concern, which went far beyond their professional relationship.
Bob walked him to the kitchen door, then watched as Roy drove off.
"Are you tired?" he asked Peggy. She stood in the middle of the kitchen, completely still, as if she was afraid to move a single step in any direction.
"You can't be serious about going upstairs and sleeping," she said. When he didn't answer, she added, "You honestly think you'll sleep?"
"No, but that's not the point."
Peggy smiled. "I don't think I can, either. Want to watch some TV?"
They both knew they were in for a long, restless night.
Twenty-Six
Grace Sherman had been looking forward to the Dog and Bachelor Auction with equal measures of anticipation and dread. The fund-raising event had initially been her idea and Mary's, and Grace wanted it to be successful. At the same time, she was aware that she'd be sitting by while the man she loved was on the auction block. She couldn't join in the bidding herself, both because she couldn't afford it and because she knew how he felt about her now. Other women would bid on Cliff and he'd walk away with someone else on his arm.
On the evening of July tenth, the parking lot of The Lighthouse Restaurant was fast filling to capacity. Women lined up outside the door, and it wasn't for dinner and drinks, Grace suspected, although the food, as always, would be exceptional. No, all those women were eager to get the best seats in the house for a close-up view of the dogs and—especially—the bachelors. Even before the auction had begun, everyone could tell it was going to be an unqualified success.
"This is just fabulous," Mary Sanchez said. She stood with Margaret White at the entrance of the restaurant. As soon as the doors opened, they'd collect the tickets that had already been sold. The women waiting to place their bids jostled outside, peeking through the windows, chatting and laughing. The mood was jovial and high-spirited.
"The natives are getting restless," Margaret shouted to Janet Webb over the noise and laughter from outside. Janet was getting everything organized for the cashiers, who were situated at the rear of the restaurant near the bar area.
"Is there anything I can do?" Grace asked. She'd come to offer an extra pair of hands before the auction started. Her official duties, however, had been completed weeks earlier.
"Yes, Grace, there is," Janet said, her tone serious. "I want you to enjoy this event. You've worked hard and the shelter deeply appreciates all your effort."
"It was my pleasure." Grace figured that enjoying this evening wasn't remotely possible, but she was determined to try. All she could hope was that the woman who won Cliff would appreciate what a wonderful man he was.
Janet, the director of the animal shelter, walked over to the restaurant foyer, and gave the signal for the doors to open. As the crowd began to enter, Grace observed with surprise the number of young single women in Cedar Cove. She'd thought most of the people here would be familiar to her but quite a few of the women weren't. Like a crashing tide against the shoreline, people—young women, older ones and even men who were clearly there as spectators— flooded into the restaurant, tipping over chairs and scooting around tables as they jockeyed for seats.
Thankfully Grace had been able to reserve a table for friends. Olivia and Jack showed up a few minutes after the doors opened, and Charlotte and Ben followed. Grace had encouraged her daughters to attend for the entertainment value of the event, but both Maryellen and Kelly had decided to spend the night at home with their husbands and families. Grace didn't blame them.
"Can you believe this crowd," Grace commented to Olivia, looking around. It was difficult to hear over the high-decibel chatter all around them. The atmosphere of fun and excitement was as strong as the pervasive scent of perfume.
Grace could only imagine what it was like in the waiting area where the bachelors and dogs were congregated. Silently she read over the list of the bachelors, fifteen in all. Pairing them up with dogs had been a complicated task, taken on by Janet Webb. Grace wondered what breed—or mixed breed—she'd choose to accompany Cliff. A shepherd of some kind was her guess. Large, gentle and handsome...
The temporary stage, with an extended walking platform, reached halfway into the restaurant, with tables and chairs arranged on both sides. The idea was that the bachelor would walk out with the dog on a leash.