Rainier Drive (Cedar Cove #6)(41)

The things this man said. Things that made her heart expand with joy. “Oh, Ben, I do love you.”

Smiling, he set the menu aside. “I know, and I consider myself the most fortunate of men because you do.”

They both ordered the chicken-and-wild-rice soup, with large chunks of warm-from-the-oven sourdough bread. The restaurant owner had once told Charlotte that the sourdough starter had come from Alaska and was more than a hundred years old. Whether or not the story was true, the bread did have a flavor that couldn’t be matched.

“I stopped by the house before I came down to the deli,” Ben told her as they got ready to leave. “Justine phoned and asked if we could see her at the bank before one.”

Charlotte had heard only a few days ago that her granddaughter had gone back to work for First National part-time. Justine had served as manager until shortly after her wedding to Seth. She sincerely hoped the young couple wasn’t having financial problems, although she didn’t think so. Olivia had told her that Justine and Seth were getting interim insurance payments. She had the feeling that her granddaughter had returned to the bank more to structure her time than for financial reasons. Justine had never been a girl who liked being idle.

After their bill was paid, Ben helped Charlotte on with her coat and together they left the deli. Although she’d enjoyed their lunch, Charlotte missed The Lighthouse. It had become a popular place in the community and she was so proud of everything Justine and Seth had done. Any meal there was a notable dining experience. She couldn’t begin to understand why anyone would burn it down. She had to believe it’d been a random act of violence. Surely no one would wish her granddaughter and Seth any harm.

Perhaps because this was a Monday, the bank didn’t seem too busy. Justine sat behind a desk set against the far wall and stood when she saw them.

“Hello, Grandma,” she said, smiling. “Ben.” She came forward to meet them and kissed Charlotte’s cheek, then led them toward her desk. “Sit down, please.”

Charlotte couldn’t remember her granddaughter calling her into the bank even once. There must be some problem with Justine’s finances, after all. Her gaze seemed to avoid Charlotte’s, as if she was embarrassed about something.

“What’s wrong, dear?” Charlotte asked, holding her purse on her lap and leaning forward in the chair.

“Ben,” Justine said, looking directly at him. “You deposited a check for a thousand dollars a while back.”

“That was from David, his son,” Charlotte explained before Ben had a chance. Although he hadn’t said anything, she knew Ben had been pleased with David’s gesture in repaying him part of the money he owed. Father and son were estranged, and Charlotte had done her best to bring them together. Ben didn’t discourage her efforts, yet she had the distinct feeling that he thought it was a waste of time. Certainly David was a problem child.

“The check was returned—insufficient funds,” Justine said, keeping her voice low. “I’m so sorry. As soon as I saw the name, I took the check and handled it myself.”

Ben remained stoic. “The truth is, I’m not surprised. Could I have it, please?”

Justine handed it to him and without so much as glancing at it, Ben tore it in two.

“Ben!” Charlotte was shocked at her husband’s action. “I’m sure there’s a logical explanation for why this happened.”

“It’s worthless,” her husband said without emotion. “I should’ve known that from the first. David’s had constant financial problems from the time he was a youth. He’s never been able to repay me a dime he’s borrowed. That’s why I refuse to lend him money anymore.”

“Oh, dear,” Charlotte murmured, genuinely saddened by this turn of events.

“His lack of financial sense is the reason he went to Charlotte for a loan, which infuriated me more than just about anything David’s ever done in his life,” Ben continued.

“You can’t let money stand in the way of love,” Charlotte admonished. She made sure her tone was without censure.

“Don’t misunderstand me,” Ben said, his words weighted with sadness. “I love my sons, both of them. David, however, has never grown up or learned to accept responsibility. It’s always someone else’s fault, always a temporary condition. Everything will be better later, and instead of facing the truth, he looks for an easy out or a quick fix. His immaturity has cost him deeply, and his excuses have only led him further into debt.”

Charlotte placed her hand on her husband’s. “You aren’t to blame.”

“I made a call to David Rhodes,” Justine said, interrupting their conversation.

Charlotte turned her attention back to her granddaughter.

Justine seemed decidedly uncomfortable. “David asked if I’d hold the check until the first of the month, which I did.”

“And when you resubmitted it, the same thing happened. It was returned because of insufficient funds,” Ben finished for her.

Justine confirmed his suspicions with a nod. “I couldn’t hold on to it any longer.”

“Of course not,” Ben assured her with such a facade of calm that even Charlotte was nearly fooled. She, however, knew her husband far too well—and knew that Ben was both embarrassed and unsettled. “Please, if anything like this ever comes up in the future, do not do my son any favors.”