Rainier Drive (Cedar Cove #6)(10)

A few minutes later, Teri switched on the television to check the weekend weather. “Hey,” she said, stepping back from the screen as the local news broadcast concluded. “There’s a big chess championship coming to Seattle.”

“Do you like chess?” Maryellen asked.

Teri shrugged. “I don’t know much about it. It’s a lot like checkers, isn’t it?”

Rachel and Maryellen exchanged looks.

“Well, not really,” Rachel answered. “It’s a little more complicated.”

Soon after the two women finished, packed up their supplies and left, Jon and Katie got home. He seemed exhausted and Katie did, too. When Jon saw Maryellen, he did a double take.

“Do you like it?” she asked tentatively, putting her hand to her head. Then she went on to explain how this change in her appearance had come about—mentioning her satisfaction at donating her hair for a cancer wig.

Jon nodded. “That’s great,” he said. “And I love your new look. I’ve always liked your hair long but this is…nice. Nice,” he repeated. “It suits you and I can see that it’s much more practical.”

Maryellen was pleased at his response, which seemed exactly right to her. Katie crawled into her lap then and laid her head against Maryellen’s shoulder. Within minutes, the little girl was fast asleep. Maryellen settled Katie on the sofa beside her.

She didn’t ask Jon how his day had gone. His weary expression told her everything she needed to know. He’d spent the day doing errands—getting groceries, film, visiting the library.

“Sit with me awhile,” she urged, sitting upright.

“I’ve got stuff I have to do.”

She patted the empty space next to her. “Jon,” she whispered. “Please.”

He hesitated, and she knew he felt torn between the need to work while Katie napped and his desire to be with his wife. Her smile must have won him over because he sank down at her side and slipped one arm around her shoulders.

“I love you so much,” she said.

Jon kissed her forehead. “I love you, too.”

“In a few months, this will all be over.”

“It feels like it’s gone on forever,” he murmured.

“Getting through these last few weeks of the pregnancy…That’ll be the most difficult. Things will get worse before they get better.”

He released a deep, pent-up sigh. “We’ll be fine.”

“I think so, too.” She turned her head in order to meet his gaze. “Your stepmother phoned this afternoon,” she said, not bothering with a preamble.

Jon stiffened but said nothing. Then he asked. “Did she call or did you?”

“She phoned,” Maryellen assured him, refusing to take offense at the question. “They read about the fire at The Lighthouse because they get the Chronicle. She called to see if everything was all right with us.”

He didn’t respond for a long moment. “So they know I’m not working?” he finally asked. “At a job, I mean?”

“They know,” she said. “I told her about the problems with the pregnancy, too.”

He wasn’t happy about that, she could tell, but he didn’t say anything.

“I didn’t ask her to do it, I want you to understand that.”

“Do what?”

“Come here and help. Ellen insisted. She said these are her grandchildren and we need help.”

Still Jon refused to comment.

“Say something,” she said, fearing his reaction. On top of everything else, she couldn’t bear his anger. It would break her.

“They can’t stay here.”

She nodded.

“I don’t want them around the house when I’m here.” The arm that cradled her lay heavily on her shoulders.

“I’ll make sure they understand that.”

He sighed. “I don’t like this, but I’ll do it for you and Katie and for the baby.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“It doesn’t change anything, Maryellen.”

“I know.” She pressed her head against him. A minute later, she felt him relax again.

“Love does that to a man, doesn’t it?”

“Hmm?” she murmured.

“Makes you do things you don’t want to for the people you love. Things you never thought you’d do.”

Maryellen knew what he was saying. Jon had vowed that he would not allow his family back in his life after what they’d done to him. Yet here he was, setting aside his deepest convictions because Ellen and Joseph were willing to help in this impossible situation. He’d agreed to let them into the fringes of his life for Maryellen’s sake and Katie’s. There might be no forgiveness in his heart, but he’d set aside his anger to serve his wife’s needs.

“Love makes us put other people first,” she said. “Isn’t that what you mean?” Isn’t that what love is?

Four

Justine could barely stand to look at the burned-out husk that had once been The Lighthouse. Most of the structure had collapsed and the charred remains were a blight against the vivid blue backdrop of the cove. Yellow crime-scene tape stretched across the parking lot. Even now, two weeks after the fire, the acrid smell of burned wood and smoke hung oppressively in the air.