Cranberry Point (Cedar Cove #4)(8)
This afternoon, however, Charlotte wouldn't be in Olivia's courtroom but in Judge Robson's. She wouldn't be alone, either. Together with several of her dearest friends, she'd be facing the consequences of civil disobedience. Still, serving time in the slammer, if it came to that, would be a small price to pay if her actions got the town council to finally bring a health clinic to Cedar Cove.
Laura, Bess and the others, including Ben Rhodes, were scheduled to meet her in the foyer outside Judge Robson's courtroom at one o'clock.
Charlotte donned her best Sunday dress, complete with the Easter hat she'd purchased back in 1966. It was a broad-brimmed yellow one with a single white plume tucked in the satin band. If Judge Robson decided to incarcerate her and the others, she intended to walk into that jail cell as finely dressed as she would've been for any church service.
Olivia and Jack didn't seem to think a prison term was likely, but Charlotte had heard rumors about Judge Robson. He was supposed to be much more by-the-book than Olivia, more of a hard-liner, and—again according to rumor— fond of making an example of the occasional miscreant.
The doorbell chimed and Harry, her cat, leaped down from the foot of her bed with an uncharacteristic display of energy and trotted into the living room. Since Olivia and Jack were out of town on their honeymoon, Charlotte wondered who it might be. Embarrassment had prevented her from asking Justine, her granddaughter, to accompany her. Olivia, of course, was well aware of the entire situation, unhappily so. But Charlotte refused to let the rest of her family and friends know, although it was impossible to keep such news completely quiet.
The peephole in the front door answered her question. Ben Rhodes stood on the other side, looking as dapper and debonair as ever. Despite her age, her heart did a tiny flip-flop at the sight of him. After all these years as a widow, she'd assumed she was too old and set in her ways to fall in love, but Ben had shown her that even long-held assumptions could be wrong.
"Ben!" She unbolted the four dead bolt locks on her front door. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, although she was more than glad to see him. "We're supposed to meet at the courthouse, remember?"
"I know, but I thought I'd escort my favorite gal into court. Are you ready?"
Charlotte straightened the skirt of her floral dress, feeling, for just a second, like the heroine in a 1950s musical.
Ben made the whole mess seem like an adventure rather than a scandal—or worse. "How do I look?"
A smile lazily crossed Ben's full mouth. At times it was difficult to forget that he wasn't really Cesar Romero, the wonderful Cuban actor. In her opinion, Ben could have been the other man's double. "You look lovely," he told her.
But adventure or not, Charlotte couldn't quite control her nervousness. "Oh, dear...I just don't know what's going to happen to us."
Ben gently patted her hand. "I don't believe the council wants that kind of negative publicity. I can just imagine what the Seattle newspapers would say about a town punishing a handful of senior citizens because we were demonstrating for health care."
"Unlawful assembly," Charlotte muttered under her breath. "I, for one, am willing to serve my time if that's what it takes to wake this town up." Just being with Ben strengthened her resolve. He made her feel brave, helped her stand up for her principles and act on the power of her convictions.
"I completely agree with you. However..." He hesitated and then forcefully expelled his breath. "I don't think we need to worry about serving jail time. We'll probably just be fined."
Charlotte just couldn't be sure. She was worried, especially considering Judge Robson's reputation. Would she be viewed as the ringleader? She felt particularly anxious about her friends, who'd stood loyally by her when she defied Sheriff Davis.
"I've hired an attorney," Ben informed her. Earlier Ben had agreed to represent them in court, but apparently he'd changed his mind.
Charlotte hadn't wanted to involve lawyers. For one thing, they charged an arm and a leg, and for another, whatever lawyer Ben had chosen was bound to say something to Olivia when she returned. Charlotte wanted Olivia to know as little as possible, difficult though that would be. She'd hoped to hold down the gossip.
"Sharon Castor said she'd meet us at the courthouse."
"Not Sharon Castor," Charlotte cried. The attorney was frequently in Olivia's courtroom. In fact, Sharon had recently represented Rosemary Cox in her divorce case. Charlotte had been present when her daughter had handed down one of her most controversial joint-custody decisions—a decision that, Charlotte believed, had led to the couple's reconciliation.
"Oh, dear," she said and sighed. "We might as well go." She went into the bedroom for her overnight case, which contained her medications and night cream, and reached for her jacket. Just in case... The day was cool, and from everything she'd read, jail cells were notoriously drafty. She glanced around her bedroom one last time. Once she'd received her sentence, if the worst happened, she'd contact Justine and ask her to take care of Harry.
"Charlotte," Ben said, shaking his head as she entered the living room. "You aren't going to need a suitcase."
"Don't be so sure," she countered grimly. "Suppose Judge Robson decides to make an example of me. I want to be ready." She'd long been a believer in preparing for the worst—and hoping for the best.