Seaside Avenue (Cedar Cove #7)(44)

He was everything an older brother should be.

Seventeen

The morning hadn’t begun well for Grace Harding. She’d awakened late after a fitful night and then had to rush about the house, making coffee, collecting her books and papers, preparing for work. Cliff hadn’t been the least bit helpful and had wanted her to stay in bed. His timing couldn’t have been worse; she had to be at the library by nine, since she was opening for the day. She scurried about the bedroom, dressing as fast as she could, and all the while Cliff made a point of telling her that she didn’t need to work. In fact, he’d like her to consider retiring.

Of course she needed to work! Grace was the head librarian, and she loved her job. She’d reminded Cliff of that on her way out the door and was almost at the library before she remembered that she’d left the house without kissing him goodbye.

Now the morning was half gone and that sense of urgency had yet to leave her. She felt disoriented and disorganized; when she arrived in Bremerton for a meeting with the selector, the librarian who ordered new books, she discovered she’d forgotten that set of notes at home. The meeting ended up being a waste of time, and it was her fault.

When Grace returned to the Cedar Cove branch, she had to admit she was giving Cliff’s suggestion that she retire due consideration. One way or another, she’d been working her entire adult life. After the girls were born, she’d taken night classes at Olympic Community College. Later she’d transferred to the University of Washington for her library science degree. Upon graduation she’d been fortunate enough to be hired by the local library.

Those early years had been good for her and Dan. He’d helped with the children and given her his support as she went back to school. Despite their financial constraints and the problems that haunted Dan, Grace knew he loved her as much as he could love anyone. It was once Maryellen and Kelly started school and grew older that his dark moods became intolerable. They hung over their marriage and family life and had grown progressively worse until the end, just before he’d disappeared.

It was difficult to think about her marriage to Dan and not feel a sense of grief and loss. Grace didn’t understand why he was lingering in her mind on such a busy day.

“Grace.” Loretta, another librarian, stepped into her office. “There’s a gentleman out front who’d like to see you.”

“Did he give you his name?”

“No, he said he’s an old family friend. He came to apply for a library card.”

In that instant Grace knew it could only be Will Jefferson.

“He seems friendly,” Loretta added.

It was inevitable, Grace supposed, that she’d see Will again; it was going to happen sooner or later. Squaring her shoulders, she followed Loretta out of the office.

Sure enough, Will Jefferson leaned indolently against the counter, as though he had all the time in the world. When he saw Grace, he smiled and straightened.

Olivia’s older brother had been a strikingly handsome young man, and the years hadn’t changed that. He still had a rakish, self-assured air. As a teenager, Grace had the biggest crush on Will. Back then, he barely knew she was alive, which was probably why she’d been so flattered when he’d shown interest in her after Dan’s death.

“Grace.” Will bestowed on her the warmest of smiles. “You look wonderful, as usual.”

He was smooth, always had been. “Hello, Will. So you’re here to apply for a library card?” She wasn’t going to exchange pleasantries with him, nor was she willing to make him feel welcome. If he wanted a library card, he could get one without her assistance.

“I wasn’t sure if you knew I was in town,” Will continued, obviously undaunted by her curtness.

“I heard about it.”

“I assume Olivia told you.”

Grace didn’t respond. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, there is,” Will said with all the charm at his disposal. “How about having lunch with me? We’ve got a few things to discuss and it would be good if we cleared the air.”

This was exactly what Grace could never allow. “I don’t think so. In case you’ve forgotten, I’m married.”

Will frowned. “I’m not asking you to lunch as a date or to upset your husband. It just seems that if the two of us are going to be living in the same town, it might be best to talk about what happened. I know you have regrets and for that matter, so do I.”

He sounded sincere and for a moment Grace wavered.

“Cliff isn’t the jealous type, is he?”

“Of course not,” she said, refusing to let him imply that Cliff was possessive and unreasonable. “But I have nothing to say to you. Your sister’s my best friend and other than that, we have nothing in common.”

“All right,” Will murmured. “I can accept that.” He seemed disappointed. “By the way, I’ve rented an apartment on the Cove, near WaterfrontPark.”

Somehow she wasn’t surprised to learn that he’d be living five minutes from the library.

“I’ve always been a voracious reader,” he said.

In other words, he was informing her that he planned to be a frequent visitor to the library. Great. Just great.

“Let me know if there’s anything you need,” she muttered, “and I’ll have someone on staff see to it.” She wanted it understood that she wouldn’t be at his beck and call whenever he decided to check out a book.