Ultimate Cedar Cove Collection (Books 1-12 & 2 Novellas). Debbie Macomber

he was referring to Olivia’s coming marriage, and she knew he was conceding defeat.

      “Still, Justine and Seth are here and so is Leif,” he added as though thinking aloud. “I never thought I’d enjoy being a grandfather as much as I do. I missed so much when my own children were growing up, I want to enjoy every second I can with my grandkids.”

      “I know what you mean,” she told him. “I have two.”

      His gaze went past her to the fireplace mantel, where Grace kept the latest photos of her grandchildren. “I can certainly see you in the girl.”

      “Thank you.” Grace stared at Katie’s picture and was unable to squelch a smile of pleasure. Stan couldn’t have given her a greater compliment.

      “I never did tell you how sorry I was to hear about Dan.”

      Grace blinked quickly and nodded. She wished Dan had lived long enough to know his grandchildren. Tyler and Katie might have made a difference, given him a reason to live. Then again, perhaps not. Dan’s life had been troubled, and very little seemed to touch him. He was closer to Kelly than anyone, yet that hadn’t stopped him from running away during her pregnancy. In the end, despite everything, death had seemed preferable to the suffering—the guilt and depression—he’d endured in life.

      Stan got to his feet. “Actually, I came to ask if you’d do something for me.”

      “I will if I can.”

      “I’d like to order a bottle of good champagne for Olivia and Jack on their wedding night.” He slipped his hands into his pockets. “It would be a bit awkward coming from me, though.”

      “Do you want me to take care of it?”

      “Would you?”

      Apparently Stan didn’t know Jack was a recovering alcoholic. “I’ll see to everything.”

      “I’d appreciate it.” Stan started for the door, then turned back. “Grace,” he said, looking at her as if he were seeing her for the first time. “Would you like to go to dinner with me?”

      She was as surprised by his invitation as she’d been by his phone call. “When?”

      He gestured vaguely. “What about tonight? I know it’s last minute and all.” Then, shaking his head, he seemed to change his mind. “Forget I asked. It’s probably not a good idea, anyway.” He reached for the doorknob.

      “Stan,” she said, stopping him. She didn’t know what had prompted her to do this. But Stan was lonely. She was lonely. And she’d developed a new sympathy for him during this brief visit. She’d seen a little deeper, past the arrogance she’d always associated with Stan.

      “Why not?” she said with a smile. “Let’s go to dinner.”

      Charlotte Jefferson and her small band of supporters marched single-file down Harbor Street, holding their pickets high. Whenever she could, Charlotte waved her message at oncoming traffic to ensure that the drivers had ample opportunity to read her sign. Several people honked their horns.

      Ben Rhodes marched with her. Together they’d attended countless meetings, talked with elected officials and health-care corporations, studied what other municipalities had done. Without results. After all these months, they were no closer to getting a health clinic in Cedar Cove than they were to taking a giant leap and landing on the moon. There’d been several minor attempts to appease them—but it wasn’t enough. The time had come to take a stand. To demonstrate!

      “Don’t look now,” Ben said, bending toward her and whispering in her ear, “but it looks like we’re about to have company.”

      Sure enough, the sheriff’s patrol car pulled up alongside Charlotte. Troy Davis parked at the curb and climbed out of his Crown Victoria, pausing long enough to hoist up his belt before he walked over to her.

      “’Afternoon, Charlotte.”

      “Hello, Sheriff Davis,” she greeted primly. The sign seemed to grow unaccountably heavier and she lowered it. “What can I do for you?” she asked, as if it was a perfectly normal thing to see her marching down the main street of town, hefting a protest sign.

      “Do you have a permit for this little rally of yours?” He looked past her at the string of fifteen men and women, all regular attendees at the local seniors’ center.

      “A permit?” she repeated. The truth was, Charlotte hadn’t thought she’d need one. At first the demonstration had consisted of only her and Ben. They’d decided to form their own protest and stand silently by the stoplight at Harbor and Heron. However, as soon as word got out, a dozen or so others had asked to join them. Charlotte couldn’t refuse her friends.

      “Officer, perhaps I could answer your questions,” Ben said, stepping closer to Charlotte.

      “I don’t believe we’ve met,” Sheriff Davis said, eyeing Ben suspiciously.

      “Ben Rhodes,” Charlotte murmured, gesturing from one man to the other, “meet the local fuzz.”

      Ben chuckled; Sheriff Davis didn’t.

      “Whose idea was this, anyway?” the sheriff asked.

      “Mine,” Ben insisted.

      “Now, Ben,” Charlotte said, patting him gently on the forearm. “Both of us came up with the idea.”

      Her friends and allies gathered around. “And we asked to join her,” Laura said, edging her way closer so that she stood directly in front of Troy Davis’s face.

      “Yes,” Helen echoed, moving next to Laura, although she was so short she had to tilt her chin up in order to get a good look. Any menacing expression was wasted on the sheriff, who didn’t bother to glance down. In fact, it seemed Sheriff Davis was having difficulty keeping a straight face. Charlotte, however, was not amused.

      “It’s the only way we have of getting heard in this city,” Bess said. She waved her protest sign, nearly clobbering him in the head when she momentarily lost control of the heavy wooden stick.

      “Does Olivia know what you’re up to?” Sheriff Davis asked Charlotte, ignoring the others.

      “My daughter has nothing to do with this,” Charlotte said, although her voice faltered momentarily. Olivia was her one hesitation about this protest. Charlotte knew her daughter objected to her involvement—but what Olivia didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

      “We don’t feel it’s any of the judge’s business,” Ben added.

      Charlotte thanked him with a small smile. He understood her dilemma and had offered his advice. These days, she often listened to what Ben had to say. He was reasonable and wise in his counsel; he’d proved that over and over. He’d also proved something else, which the others didn’t know—that he was an excellent kisser. She blushed at the thought.

      “I don’t believe I was speaking to you, sir,” the sheriff said.

      “Sheriff Davis, that was completely unnecessary,” Charlotte objected.

      “Does Olivia know?” he asked again, and the friendliness was gone from his voice.

      “She knew about it. She just didn’t know when I planned to march,” Charlotte answered bluntly.

      “So you don’t have an assembly permit?”

      “There’s a logical reason we don’t, Sheriff,” Ben said. “We—”

      “I’m sure there is. However, if you don’t have a permit, I’m going to have to ask you to disperse and leave the area.”

      “We aren’t causing any trouble,” Ben said.

      “We come in peace,” Laura insisted, sounding as if she’d just alighted from an alien spaceship.

      “But we mean business!” Bess’s sign flashed