Cranberry Point (Cedar Cove #4)(65)

"No family in the area?" Charlotte repeated. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, what brought him to Cedar Cove?" Olivia briefly closed her eyes, as if she were embarrassed and ashamed, as well she should be. "Will felt, and I agree, that we needed some verification of the things Ben told you."

"Like what?"

"That he's who he says he is, for one thing."

"He is!" Charlotte insisted.

"I know that now, but until I asked Roy to check into Ben's background, we only had his word for it that he's a retired admiral. He just seemed... too good to be true."

Charlotte continued to dab at her eyes and sniffle as the anger was replaced by tears. "I'm so embarrassed. I love Ben."

"Oh, Mother..."

"Don't you Oh, Mother me! I'm old enough to know my own feelings and I refuse to listen to a lecture from you." Using the edge of the desk to support herself, she rose to her feet. "Save those condescending little speeches for the courtroom." Having delivered her own insult—though minor in comparison—Charlotte started out of the room.

"Mom, please."

Charlotte stopped in front of the closed door, her back to her daughter.

"I'm sorry," Olivia whispered. "You're right. I should never have done this."

"It's a bit late for sorry, don't you think?"

"Yes." Again Olivia sighed. "I know how you feel about Ben."

"I sincerely doubt that, but go on." She turned to face Olivia now, her expression blank. "His sons ren't having me investigated."

Olivia let the comment slide.

"Ben's a companion and a friend and—"

Charlotte didn't know why she bothered. She shook her head, astonished by her own daughter's insensitivity. "I can't believe I'm hearing this from someone who was so recently married. Look at me, Olivia," she commanded, "and listen well. I'm in love. For the first time since your father died, I feel truly alive again. I wake up every morning with a sense of joy because I know that at some point during the day I'll be with Ben."

Olivia closed her eyes again, as if gathering her thoughts. "Mom, I understand what you're saying. It's the same with Jack and me." She opened her eyes, gazing straight at Charlotte.

"How would you feel if I'd had him investigated?"

Olivia leaned forward and braced her hands on her desk. "It wouldn't have mattered. I love Jack, and he's got nothing to hide from me."

"And you think Ben has?"

"That's just it—I didn't know."

"And now you do?"

Olivia nodded. "Roy mailed me the report last week. I sent off a copy to Will, telling him we can both rest assured that Ben Rhodes is everything he said he was."

There was a knock at the door. Olivia checked her watch and frowned. "Come in."

To Charlotte's complete shock, Ben opened the door and stepped into the chamber. Both women stared at him, although neither seemed to know what to say. For her part, Charlotte was mortified. She wanted to apologize, to ask his forgiveness on her children's behalf, but her throat closed up at the sight of him.

Olivia recovered first. "Please come in, Ben," she said. "I believe there's been a slight misunderstanding."

"That's what you're calling this?" Charlotte cried.

Olivia threw her mother a silencing look. "Would you care to sit down?"

"Unfortunately," Charlotte said, standing up and entwining her arm with Ben's, "we have to be going."

"Now, Charlotte," Ben countered. "I think it would be best if we talked this out."

"I agree," Olivia said quickly. She focused her attention on Ben. "If I've offended you, Ben, I apologize."

"If?" Charlotte shook her head. She'd always been so proud of Olivia, her daughter the judge. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she had the urge to send Olivia to her room without dinner.

"I love your mother, Olivia," Ben said boldly. "I know you do, too. We have more in common than you realize."

Olivia offered him a tentative smile. "I can see that you're good company for each other."

"Olivia, you're not listening. Ben and I are in love!'

Her daughter stared at her.

"What I think your mother is trying to tell you," Ben said, "is that I've asked Charlotte to be my wife and she's agreed."

Olivia's gaze veered from Charlotte to Ben. "You're asking my permission to marry my mother?"

"No," Charlotte said, looking up at Ben. "We're getting married with or without your approval."

"I see," Olivia managed. She sank back into her fancy leather chair and apparently had nothing more to say.

Thirty-Two

The alarm buzzed and Cecilia opened one eye, peering at the clock radio on her nightstand. The digital readout told her it was six o'clock and time to get up. She groaned inwardly. It couldn't be six already. She felt as if she'd just gotten to sleep.

It'd been like this when she was pregnant with Allison, too. She'd felt as if she could've slept for days at a time. What made it worse now was that Ian didn't go on duty until the afternoon, so she was the only one who had to get up this early.