Rainier Drive (Cedar Cove #6)(92)

As she pulled into the grocery store lot, she found a convenient parking spot, turned off the engine and sat in her car for a few minutes while she thought about this. She’d hoped Ben would feel comfortable enough to share his troubles with her. Apparently he didn’t. But rather than take offense, she tried to think of ways to ease his worries. Perhaps she should ask him outright why he seemed so distressed. That was what she’d do, she decided.

Olivia was walking out of the grocery just as Charlotte was going in.

“Mom!” her daughter said excitedly. “Maryellen’s having the baby.”

“Now?”

“She might even have delivered already. Grace phoned yesterday evening to tell me. She and Cliff spent the night out at Jon and Maryellen’s. They’re watching Katie.”

“That’s wonderful news.” Charlotte was so pleased for Maryellen—and her mother. Grace was having a good year, and she deserved it. Two grandbabies due within a few weeks of each other, a new husband and—Charlotte frowned. Although Grace’s happiness was unmistakable, a cloud darkened the horizon. Will was returning to Cedar Cove. Her son’s sudden desire to move here concerned Charlotte. Her fear was that Will intended to meddle in Grace’s relationship with Cliff.

“Mom?” Olivia asked.

“Oh, sorry, I was just thinking.”

“I have to get back to the courthouse—I came to pick up something I need for dinner. It’s tofu, but don’t tell Jack. He eats it all the time, only I don’t let him know.”

“Good for you.” Grabbing a cart, Charlotte entered the store. “Be sure and call me when you hear about the baby.”

“I will,” Olivia promised. “Talk to you later.”

Charlotte exhaled heavily. Life did have its share of worries. Her first concern was Ben; she’d tackle Will later. Ben had been so preoccupied lately, so distracted, and try as she might, she couldn’t put her finger on what was wrong. That thought weighed on her as she hurriedly finished her tasks. She bought milk and bread, went to the cleaners, then headed home.

Yes, she’d ask him. Further deliberation had confirmed her decision. Asking him was the only sensible way to handle the situation. Charlotte was a sensible woman, or she had been, until she’d fallen in love with Ben Rhodes.

On the drive back to the house, Charlotte stopped at a roadside stand selling strawberries freshly picked on Vashon Island. She purchased two large flats to put up strawberry preserves. Perhaps she could tempt Ben by serving scones topped with sweetened strawberries and whipped cream for dessert this evening. He enjoyed scones, especially when they were hot from the oven. As she’d always known, a clever woman had ways of getting information from a man. Her granddaughter might tell her this was an old-fashioned approach, but whatever worked…

The moment she got home, Ben came out to carry in the strawberries and the few groceries she’d bought.

Charlotte followed with the dry cleaning. The prices they charged for pressing a shirt were highway robbery, but Ben insisted. He didn’t want her expending time or energy at the ironing board when the cleaner was happy to do it.

Ben brought everything into the kitchen, and she saw that he hadn’t eaten the lunch she’d left for him. Rather than comment, she mentioned Olivia’s news. “Maryellen’s having the baby.”

Her words fell on deaf ears.

“Did you hear me, Ben? Maryellen’s in labor.”

“Oh, sorry,” he said, recovering quickly. “That’s great.”

“It is,” Charlotte agreed. “Olivia said she’d let us know as soon as Grace calls her.”

“Good.”

Shaking her head, Charlotte set the kettle on the stove to heat water for tea. Whatever was wrong had grown markedly worse in the time she’d been away.

“These are a lot of strawberries,” Ben commented as he picked up a large red one.

“Let me wash a few of those for you to nibble on,” Charlotte suggested. “They were just picked this morning and couldn’t be sweeter.” The vendor had told her as much.

Ben set the strawberry down and shook his head. “Thanks, but no.”

Charlotte couldn’t stand it a minute longer; she had to know. “Is everything all right, Ben?” she asked.

He walked over to where Harry had curled himself up on a kitchen chair and began to pet her cat. “Of course.”

“I don’t mean to pry,” she continued, “but you just haven’t been yourself lately.”

Ben pulled her close and hugged her, sighing deeply. “Are you sure you want to know?”

“Of course.”

“It’s my son,” he confessed.

“David?”

He sighed again. “Yes.”

“Here,” she said, the practical side of her nature immediately taking over. “I’ll pour water in the teapot and while it steeps we can start to talk.”

“I don’t want to burden you with this,” Ben said, dismissing the offer.

“Nonsense! I’m your wife.”

“But—”

“Ben, please. Unless you confide in me, I won’t feel comfortable sharing my worries about my own children.”

“Your children are nothing like mine—especially David,” he murmured.