1022 Evergreen Place - Debbie Macomber [115]
“Ben!” Charlotte cried out, raising her arm and giving an anxious wave.
Olivia looked toward the front of the restaurant and saw Ben Rhodes enter the dining area. Charlotte stood and hurried toward him. He smiled down at her and slid his arm about her waist. The two of them talked intensely before Olivia’s mother brought Ben back to the table.
Both Jack and Cliff stood to greet the other man. Will did, too, but his dour, thoughtful mood hadn’t improved.
Although Olivia sympathized with her brother’s disappointment, she felt a bit of rejection might be good for him. He did seem genuinely hurt that Shirley Bliss had fallen in love with someone else. But then, most people had learned by this age that life had its share of disappointments.
Ben leaned close to Charlotte, whispering a few words in her ear. Almost immediately, Charlotte relaxed.
Olivia didn’t want to seem too inquisitive, but she couldn’t help being curious. “Is everything all right, Ben?” she asked.
Ben’s hand rested on his wife’s back. “Never better,” he assured her, although his face was expressionless.
Olivia wondered what had taken place between David Rhodes and his father. Obviously Ben wasn’t about to divulge what had happened, nor was he willing to feed anyone’s speculation. But she guessed that whatever had been said would eventually come out.
An hour later it was time to go. Olivia had visited with various friends she hadn’t seen since she’d taken a leave of absence from court. As they filed out of the restaurant, Olivia felt that Faith and Troy’s wedding had been lovely in every way, exactly what she’d wanted for them. Earlier, she’d learned from Grace that they’d booked a honeymoon trip to Alaska. The couple planned to fly out the next morning.
As Jack escorted her to the parking lot, Charlotte called out to them. Olivia walked back to meet her mother.
“Olivia, I can’t seem to find my knitting. You didn’t see it when I arrived, did you?”
“No, Mom, sorry. Are you sure you brought it?”
“Olivia, sweetheart, you know me well enough to realize I never go anywhere without my knitting.”
Yes, which was why Olivia had wondered about it. “Could it be in Will’s car?”
Charlotte smiled in relief. “Of course! How silly of me. That’s where it must be.” Will was ready to pull out of the parking lot when Ben stopped him.
Will lowered his window as the two men had a quick exchange. Will reached over to the passenger seat and handed Ben the quilted bag. Ben turned, holding it up so Charlotte would know he had her precious knitting.
“Oh, thank goodness,” Charlotte breathed.
“Everything’s going to be fine, Mom,” Olivia said more confidently than she felt. “I’m sure of it.”
Jack came up then, and the two of them saw Ben and her mother off. “Poor Mom,” she said to her husband.
“She was worried about Ben, that’s all,” Jack said. “We all get confused when we’re concerned about someone we love. And when you’re dealing with someone like David, someone who seems to have no conscience at all, everything’s that much harder.”
Olivia had to agree. In her opinion, David Rhodes had already done untold damage. She could only hope this was the end.
Thirty-Three
Rachel was convinced that telling Jolene about the baby this soon was a mistake. Bruce, however, disagreed. He seemed to think that the longer they could give his daughter to adjust to the news, the better it would be.
However, Rachel couldn’t see Jolene accepting this gracefully. Certainly not with joy or excitement.
Bruce decided the best way to make the announcement was to take his “girls” for a night out. He planned every detail, starting with reservations at D.D.’s on the Cove.
As Rachel dressed for dinner she felt sick, but her queasiness had nothing to do with the pregnancy. She’d managed to hide her morning sickness from her stepdaughter all these weeks and doubted Jolene even suspected she might be pregnant.
“Are you ready?” Bruce called from the living room.
“Give me a minute,” she called back. Then, sitting on the edge of the bed, Rachel closed her