Cranberry Point (Cedar Cove #4)(76)

"Of course she is." Olivia had no disagreement with that. "She wants Will and me to treat Ben fairly and with respect. The same goes for his sons, of course." She frowned. "I don't think she's met them, though, at least not yet." With a quick shrug, she added, "Naturally I intend to respect Mom's wishes. It's been a bit difficult, thinking of my mother with another man, but it's her life and I want her to be happy."

Justine agreed. "I never said anything when you decided to marry Jack," her daughter said softly. "But deep down, I wanted you and Dad to get back together. I knew it would never work, but the little-girl part of me wanted my parents to love each other again."

Olivia was shocked to see tears in her daughter's eyes. Justine blinked furiously, as though embarrassed. "I still think about Jordan," she whispered.

"So do I."

Justine nodded. "Do you remember what day it is?"

Olivia realized with a jolt that she'd been so preoccupied with what was happening in her own life she'd let the date slip. On this day, August tenth, eighteen years ago, her son had drowned. Her entire life and those of her two surviving children had been divided by that date. The time before Jordan's death and the time after.

Wiping the tears from her face, Justine forced a smile. "I didn't mean to get all maudlin. Let's get back to Grandma, before we both dissolve."

Olivia agreed and swallowed past the lump in her throat. "I stopped at Mom's house earlier in the week and we hugged for the first time since she found out, and she forgave me. I'm sure she'll tell you herself, but they've set the date for their wedding."

Justine grinned sheepishly. "I know all about that. Grandma came in earlier today and booked the restaurant for the reception. She talked to Uncle Will, and he said he's coming out for the wedding."

Olivia was glad to know that, because she wanted to give Grace ample warning. When Will arrived, Olivia planned to have a long talk with her brother about his Internet relationship with her best friend. He'd taken advantage of Grace and betrayed his wife, Georgia. Olivia was furious whenever she thought about it.

"Hi, you two," Grace said, coming toward them. "Am I interrupting anything?"

"No, no," Justine said, rising gracefully from the chair. "I was keeping Mom company until you got here." She looked at Olivia, winked and was on her way.

Funny how just a few minutes with her daughter could mean so much. Olivia felt close to Justine and to her son James, too, and considered herself fortunate to have such wonderful children.

"Sorry I'm late," Grace said as she sat down across from Olivia. "It took forever to finish up at the library."

"Don't worry about it. Justine and I had a chance to talk and we don't get to do that nearly often enough."

"I know how she feels," Grace muttered. "You and I have barely any time together these days."

"I'm sorry," Olivia told her friend, and she was sincere. She had been neglecting their friendship, but was determined not to let that continue. "How's your week been?"

Grace shrugged noncommitally. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. What about you?"

Olivia smiled. "The same. Jack and I are still adjusting to living together, which hasn't been as easy as I'd hoped, but you know most of that." She'd complained often enough during their aerobic workouts on Wednesday nights. "Mom and I are talking now and she's forgiven me. Oh, and before I forget, Will's coming out for the wedding."

Grace paled visibly but didn't comment.

"Now, what's new with you?" Olivia asked.

To her surprise, Grace grabbed a tissue from her purse. "I have something to tell you, but I'll probably cry."

Olivia was aghast. "What is it?"

"Last week I got a letter from Mike Sherman, Dan's cousin in Oregon." She paused a moment to collect herself before continuing. "He wrote after Dan's death and we've talked a couple of times since, but this came out of the blue."

"What did?"

Grace nervously folded the edges of the linen napkin. "Mike really feels bad about this, but he thought it was time I knew that Dan borrowed thirteen thousand dollars from him. Apparently he asked for the loan a year or so before he vanished. Mike didn't want to say anything after Dan disappeared."

"Oh, no—he wants the money back now?"

Grace nodded. "He hated to ask, but he provided the paperwork and sure enough, that's Dan's signature on the promissory note. Mike said it's been over four years and he needs the money. He seems to think I got some life insurance settlement after Dan's body was discovered."

Olivia knew she hadn't. Her opinion of Grace's dead husband had never been high but she considered the fact that he'd burdened Grace with this loan unforgivable. Especially since Dan had to know that Grace wouldn't be able to collect on his life insurance if he committed suicide. Furthermore, the trailer he'd purchased with that money—the trailer he'd killed himself in—was a total loss.

"What are you going to do?"

Grace wadded the tissue in her hand. "What else can I do? I'm refinancing the house and paying him back the money, plus interest. It isn't Mike's fault that Dan chose to end his life."