Seaside Avenue (Cedar Cove #7)(18)

“James?” Christie asked, glancing at Teri for an answer.

“James Wilbur, Bobby’s personal driver.”

“Oh.” Christie struggled with little success to hide a smile. “I guess that would be all right.”

Teri and Bobby escorted her to the vehicle. James, looking distinguished as usual, stood by the passenger door, waiting to open it for her.

“La-di-da,” Christie said, clearly impressed. She inclined her head. “Thank you, James.” Giggling, she gestured regally. “Home, James.”

Without cracking a smile, James held the door and Christie slid inside. As soon as she was seated, she lowered the tinted window. “Wow, this is really something.” She sounded about ten years old, and Teri was touched by this glimpse of a more innocent Christie.

“Come and visit us again,” Bobby said.

“I will,” Christie promised. Then, with an exaggerated flourish, she pressed the button to raise the window.

When James pulled onto the drive, Teri leaned against her husband. “That was nice of you.”

“Yes.”

It was just like him to acknowledge his own generosity. But then—why shouldn’t he? “So,” she said. “What do you think of my family?”

“I like Johnny.”

“I know.”

“And Christie.”

Her defenses immediately went on alert. “You…like…Christie?”

“I do, but it’s you I love.”

“Excellent answer, Mr. Polgar.”

Bobby chuckled. “I’m tired. Let’s go to bed.”

Teri knew it wasn’t sleeping he had in mind. “It’s too early.”

“No, it isn’t,” he said. “In fact, it’s two or three hours later than I would’ve liked.”

Oh, yes, Teri Polgar loved her husband. At least as much as he loved her….

Seven

Grace Sherman Harding cradled the sleeping infant in her arms. The overwhelming love she felt for this tiny being was almost more than a single heart could hold. This was her new grandson: Drake Joseph Bowman. She smiled; that was quite a handle for such a small baby.

She’d experienced the same sense of wonder when she’d held Tyler and Katie as newborns.

“Is he still sleeping?” Maryellen asked, bringing two glasses of lemonade into the living room.

“Oh, Maryellen, he’s so precious.” This had been a difficult pregnancy for her daughter. Maryellen had spent the last five months bedridden. Both Grace and Cliff had done what they could to help, but it wasn’t enough. Thankfully, Jon’s parents had come from Oregon and were able to visit every day; otherwise, Grace didn’t know how Maryellen and Jon would’ve managed. Not with a three-year-old underfoot and Jon working all hours to support his family.

“Drake was worth every second of discomfort,” Maryellen said.

“How’s Katie doing?” Grace asked.

Maryellen sat down on the sofa opposite Grace’s chair. “She’s enthralled with being a big sister. Jon and I were afraid she’d show signs of jealousy. But so far, she hasn’t.”

“Good.” The baby’s eyes fluttered open and he stared up at Grace. Some might say she was imagining things, but she was sure he’d smiled at her. Grace smiled back. “Hello, handsome boy.”

“I see he’s awake and I’ll bet he’s hungry,” Maryellen said. “He probably needs a diaper change, too.” She reached for her son, and Grace watched as Maryellen changed him out of a soggy diaper into a fresh one.

“How’s Kelly doing?” Maryellen asked when she’d finished.

Grace’s younger daughter was due in the next two weeks.

“She envies you,” Grace said wryly. “She’s definitely ready for this baby to be born.”

“The last two weeks of this pregnancy were the longest of my life,” Maryellen said as she nestled her son to her breast.

It was a joy to see her daughter this content. Suddenly Grace felt an intense sadness that took her completely by surprise. Dan was missing so much. Her first husband had been dead for six years now. After his disappearance, Grace had met Cliff Harding; once Dan’s body was recovered—with his suicide note—she’d allowed herself to find happiness in loving Cliff. Earlier that year, she’d finally married him.

When Dan had first gone missing, Grace had been sure she’d never feel contentment again. She didn’t sleep, didn’t eat and was scarcely able to function. Only recently had she begun to understand the kinds of demons that had chased her husband and compelled him into such a drastic solution.

Kelly had always been close to her father, and his disappearance had been hardest on her. She’d been pregnant with Tyler at the time, utterly convinced her father would return for the birth of his first grandchild. Until the very end, Kelly had believed Dan would have a perfectly rational explanation for disappearing.

“Mom?” Maryellen said. “Is something wrong?”

Grace smiled despite her sadness. “I was thinking about your father and how proud he would’ve been of his grandchildren.”

Maryellen looked away and, when she turned back, her eyes brimmed with tears. “I think about Dad a lot. I miss him. I didn’t expect I would…. I was so furious with him for what he did. Now…now I’m not. I just feel so sad for him and what he’s missing.”