Seaside Avenue (Cedar Cove #7)(65)

“I’m glad.” Olivia wanted to trust that what he said was true.

“Have you heard of anything that might be appropriate?” he asked.

Olivia thought for a moment and then inspiration struck. “Oh, my goodness! This is perfect.”

“What?” Will’s eyes widened with excitement.

“The HarborStreetArtGallery. I just found out it’s going to close. You’ve always had an interest in the arts.” He nodded eagerly at that, and she remembered how, years ago, he used to take very good photographs. He’d always bought paintings, too, supporting up-and-coming artists. “The gallery was doing well until Maryellen Bowman had to quit,” Olivia went on to explain. “The woman who replaced her just didn’t have the eye or the business savvy Maryellen does.”

“Would I be able to hire Maryellen back?”

“No, but you wouldn’t need to. You could manage it yourself. The community needs this art gallery and I really think you’re the right person.” The more she thought about it, the more Olivia warmed to the idea. “Talk to Maryellen. I’m sure she’d be willing to help you as much as she can. Keep in mind that she’s a new mother, so her time is limited. She’s also Grace’s daughter, but that shouldn’t matter—should it?”

Will looked pleased, disregarding the comment about Grace. “I’ll call her first thing in the morning. I can get her number from you?”

Olivia nodded. “She can give you the contact information for the owners, too.”

“Great.”

They smiled at each other in mutual understanding, and Olivia’s heart felt lightened.

As if on cue, Jack reappeared. “The grill’s ready.”

She and Will walked into the house.

Jack took the three T-bone steaks out of the refrigerator. While they watched, he rubbed both sides with olive oil, a grilling trick he’d learned from an interview with a local chef. Collecting the silverware and plates, Will and Olivia followed him outside.

The phone rang and for a moment, Olivia was tempted not to answer. At the last second, she hurried into the house and grabbed it.

“Olivia, it’s your mother,” Charlotte announced.

As if Olivia wouldn’t recognize her own mother’s voice.

“Hello, Mom.”

“I’m not interrupting your dinner, am I?”

“No, no, not at all. What can I do for you?” From the way Charlotte spoke, Olivia could tell she was worried. “Is anything wrong?”

“No,” Charlotte murmured. “I don’t think so, but…well, I felt I should say something. I don’t want to cause any problems or borrow trouble, but I think forewarned is forearmed, don’t you?”

“Mom, what are you talking about? Has anything happened?”

“Well, not yet, but I wonder if you should speak to Grace and Cliff.”

Olivia didn’t need any more information to figure it out. “This is about Will, isn’t it?” Little did her mother know that her brother was on their patio at that very moment, talking to Jack.

“Will stopped by the other day and while he was here he saw a piece of mail on the kitchen counter. Although the envelope was addressed to Ben and me, Will didn’t hesitate to take the card out and read it. I suspect he noticed the name on the return address.” Her mother was getting upset now and her words were rushed.

“Who was the card from?” Olivia asked calmly.

“It wasn’t a card exactly. It was an invitation to Grace and Cliff’s wedding reception.”

All at once, everything her brother had said came under suspicion. Olivia was no longer sure she could believe his assertions that he’d put the past behind him.

“I told him how happy Grace and Cliff are,” Charlotte continued. “He just kept looking at the invitation and I’m afraid…well, if you must know, I’m afraid he was memorizing the details.”

“Mother, do you seriously believe Will would come to the reception uninvited?”

“Honestly, Olivia, I have no idea what to believe. I can’t imagine that any son of mine would be so forward or so rude, but then I don’t really know Will anymore.”

“Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll take care of it.”

“I don’t want Will to do anything that would embarrass Grace and Cliff. He’s made a pest of himself more than once.”

“Don’t worry, Mom,” she said again. “I’ll take care of everything.”

“Thank you, dear. I feel much better now.”

While she had her mother on the phone, Olivia shared Justine’s news, which ended their conversation on a positive note. Before she hung up, Olivia confirmed that she’d handle the situation with Will.

She realized, as she replaced the receiver, that even a year ago, her mother would never have come to her over something like this. Charlotte was beginning to show her age. Olivia shouldn’t have been surprised, and yet…

Until recently, her mother had seemed invincible, full of life and energy. She’d led a group of senior citizens against city hall, single-handedly held together the knitting group and organized any number of charitable enterprises. For the last three years she’d been the president of the garden club. Suddenly Olivia saw her mother in a new light. Older, growing fragile, overwhelmed by concerns that wouldn’t have intimidated her a short time ago.