Sandpiper Way (Cedar Cove #8)(52)

Grace was pleased by Will’s enthusiasm…and relieved that he’d found a focus for his time and energy. She finished her coffee, then said, “I really should get back.”

“Right.” Will held his cup with both hands. “Tell everyone I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Sure.” Grace stood and turned to leave. “See you later.”

When she entered the waiting area, the football game appeared to be over. Both Ben and Cliff spoke animatedly about the last-second win.

As Grace took the seat next to her husband, Cliff reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers.

“I met Will in the cafeteria,” Grace told Charlotte casually.

“Oh, I’m glad,” Charlotte murmured, pausing in the middle of counting stitches. “He said he was coming by.”

“We talked for a few minutes.” She mentioned this so it wouldn’t come as a surprise, should Will bring it up in front of Cliff.

Her husband nodded, not questioning the comment, and she squeezed his fingers.

Justine came out of the hospital room and joined them, with Jack following a moment later.

“Shift change,” he explained. Everyone was asked to leave when the next staff group came on duty and the nurses were updated on each patient’s condition.

“How does Olivia look?” Charlotte asked anxiously.

“Not bad,” Justine answered. “Mom’s a trooper.”

“She’s awake now,” Jack informed them. “You were right,” he told Cliff and Grace, “she didn’t know I’d been gone.”

“Mom’s going to be fine,” Justine said with the certainty and optimism of the young.

Grace had every intention of believing those words. And if love, faith and prayers could make a difference, Olivia would indeed be fine.

“Hey, everyone.”

Grace glanced up as Will stood in the entry to the waiting area.

“Hello, Will.” Cliff got up and offered his hand.

They shook hands, then Will bent to kiss his mother’s cheek and sat down next to Ben.

“Did you hear the Seahawks won?” Ben asked.

“I heard it from one of the physicians in the elevator.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “So what’s the latest on my sister?”

“She’s improving,” Jack told him. “Although she gave us all a fright.”

Will nodded. “I’m glad she’s doing better.”

“We all are,” Charlotte said with feeling. “But I’m still not sure Ben and I should be taking that cruise.”

“Grandma.” Justine shook her finger at Charlotte. “You’re going. If Mom hears you’re even thinking about not getting on that ship she’ll have a fit.”

“I did purchase travel insurance,” Ben told everyone, “so we can cancel if we have to. I want Charlotte to have a good time, and she can’t do that if she’s worried about Olivia.”

“Then there’s only one thing to do,” Jack said, looking at each person gathered there. “We’ll all have to make sure Olivia recovers quickly.”

Charlotte beamed. “I’m going home and making my chicken noodle soup. It worked when Olivia was a little girl and it’s bound to work now.”

“I love that soup,” Will said, smiling at his mother. “I used to pretend I was sick just so Mom would make a batch.”

“You sneak!” Charlotte burst out, and everyone laughed.

“But like you always said, Mom, it cures whatever ails you.”

Jack chuckled. “I wonder if those cancer specialists know about the medicinal qualities of Charlotte’s soup.”

“I’ll tell them,” Justine said.

Charlotte shoved her knitting in her bag. “Let’s go, Ben. We’ll be back with a thermos of chicken noodle soup.” She stood up slowly, reaching for her husband.

Not for the first time, Grace noticed that Charlotte was showing her age. Ben, too, she thought as he rose awkwardly to his feet. They held each other, arms linked, and shuffled out.

Jack’s gaze met hers, and it was plain that they shared the same concern. If Charlotte was going to make a batch of her chicken noodle soup, it might be a good idea if she and Ben had some, too.

A few minutes later, a nurse stepped into the waiting area.

“Olivia is now receiving guests,” the woman said cheerfully. “She’s doing well. I spoke with her physician, and Dr. Franklin thinks she should be able to go home in another day. Two at the most.”

“That’s great news!” Grace said, clasping her hands together.

“Yes, it is,” Jack agreed. “And she hasn’t even had her chicken soup yet.”

Grace smiled. If Jack’s sense of humor was back, things really were looking up.

Nineteen

Christie was embarrassed to admit how nervous she felt about this dinner party her sister had arranged. When they’d met the previous week, Christie had agreed to contact James on her own. It’d sounded like a good idea at the time….

And yet Christie couldn’t make herself do it. The fear of rejection was just too strong. In exasperation Teri had intervened and asked both James and Christie to dinner. Christie knew James would be attending, but apparently he’d been left in the dark. She wasn’t entirely comfortable with that—it didn’t seem fair—but Teri insisted she knew what she was doing.