Lighthouse Road (Cedar Cove #1)(100)

“Mom,” her daughter cut in, “I’m married.”

The needlepoint project fell off Olivia’s lap as she bolted upright. “Married?” So Warren had finally worn her down. “Congratulations,” she said, doing her best to sound enthusiastic. She’d always said that if her daughter chose to marry Warren Saget, she’d smile and welcome him to the family.

“Here, talk to Seth.”

“Seth?”

“Oh, did I forget to mention that I married Seth Gunderson?”

For a moment, Olivia was too shocked to respond.

“Mrs. Lockhart, it’s Seth. I know you’re probably upset—”

“On the contrary, I couldn’t be more pleased. Where are you?”

“Reno.”

“Why Reno, for heaven’s sake?”

“I’ll let Justine explain.”

Her daughter got back on the phone. “Are you upset with us, Mom?”

“I’m surprised…but delighted.”

“Seth doesn’t believe in long engagements.”

“Nor in a long courtship, it appears.”

“No…what happened is this—We decided to get married and it just made sense that we get the license at the courthouse and have you or even Pastor Flemming marry us, but that would’ve taken three days.”

“That’s Washington State law,” Olivia reminded her.

“I know. It’s just that we didn’t have three days.”

This was getting more interesting by the minute. “And why not?”

“Seth has to be back in Alaska by Sunday night and he won’t be available for almost five weeks, and it was either now or wait.”

“And you didn’t want to do that?”

“I couldn’t, Mom! I just couldn’t. He didn’t want to wait, either. I know this is probably the most impulsive thing I’ve ever done, but I know marrying Seth is the right thing. I’m sure of it. Oh, Mom, I love him so much and please don’t be upset with us. We can have a second ceremony with you and Grandma and Dad later on, can’t we?”

“Of course. Oh, Justine, I’m so happy for you and Seth.”

“You like him, don’t you?”

“You know I think the world of Seth.”

“Me, too. I have to go now. We’re phoning Seth’s father next. And then Dad. After that, we’ve only got about twenty hours before we have to drive back. I’m happy, Mom, happier than I’ve been in my entire life.” She paused. “Oh, would you call Grandma for me?”

Olivia swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. “I’m happy for you, too,” she said again. “And of course I’ll call your grandmother.”

They ended the conversation, and Olivia walked inside in a daze. She went into the bedroom and sat on the edge of her bed. She needed a few minutes to absorb what she’d just learned. Her daughter was married. To Seth Gunderson. Oh, this was wonderful, wonderful news!

Her first instinct was to phone Stan, but she decided against it. Justine would tell her father, and he’d call once he’d heard. So, both of their children had chosen to marry without either parent there. She wondered if that meant anything.

She phoned Charlotte, who wasn’t home; she left a message, saying simply, “Call me when you get in.”

Then she returned to her needlepoint project. Feet propped up on the porch railing, she continued her stitching, grinning every now and then. Who would’ve believed Justine would do something so spontaneous?

When a battered blue Taurus parked in front of the house, she strained to see if it was who she thought. It was.

Jack climbed out of his vehicle and stood on the sidewalk, watching her nervously. Did he expect her to walk inside and bolt the door? Or to offer him an invitation? She did neither.

He walked to the bottom of the steps. “Hello, Olivia.”

“Beautiful afternoon, isn’t it?” She was cordial, but not excessively so.

“Very.”

“What can I do for you?” She didn’t think this was a social call.

“Do you mind if I sit down?”

“Go ahead.”

Since there was only the one chair, which she occupied, he climbed the stairs and sat on the top step. “Are you still angry with me about that dinner date?”

Men! He seemed incapable of understanding a concept like mutual trust and respect. “No.” A one-word reply should satisfy him, without leading into a dead-end conversation.

“But you’re still unwilling to go out with me?”

“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. She hated to admit how much she missed his company. Maybe she’d been expecting too much, but she couldn’t tolerate the fact that he’d created secrets between them.

“That’s what I thought.” He looked out over the Cove, its sparkling, distant water tinged by the pink of a slowly setting sun.

“I moved to Cedar Cove to start a new life,” Jack told her. “But the past has a way of catching up with people, doesn’t it?”

Olivia nodded; she saw the evidence of that every day.

“Bob’s advice is that I simply tell you—that I should have months ago. But I was afraid if you knew, you wouldn’t want anything more to do with me.”