have lunch?â Her favorite place had always been The Lighthouse. Olivia missed it even more than she wouldâve thought.
âHow about the Wok and Roll,â Charlotte said. âGrace tells me Maryellen likes their chicken hot sauce noodles, and I have a hankering to try that.â
âSounds good to me.â Olivia was just grateful her mother didnât suggest The Taco Shack, which happened to be Jackâs favorite. Sheâd had about all the tacos and enchiladas she could stand for a while.
âSpeaking of Grace, have you seen her lately?â Charlotte asked as they walked through the courthouse and to the parking lot behind.
âSheâs so busy, we havenât talked all week. Sheâs had to temporarily give up her Wednesday night aerobics class.â
âMy goodness, you two have been going to that class for years,â Charlotte exclaimed. âWhatâs happening? Is Cliff keeping her all to himself?â
âNo.â Using her remote, Olivia unlocked the car doors and opened the passenger side for her mother. âNothing like that. Sheâs helping Jon and Maryellen as much as she can. Kellyâs pregnant, too, you know.â Olivia slid into the driverâs seat. âGrace rented out the house on Rosewood Lane and you wonât believe who her tenants are. The Randalls! Do you remember them?â At her motherâs blank expression, Olivia elaborated. âYou were in court the day I denied their divorce. A young navy couple. Apparently they have a baby now and were looking for a house to rent and Grace met them. She remembered the case. Then, while she was talking to Mrs. Randall, my name came up. Thatâs when Grace learned this was the very same couple. Itâs a small world, isnât it? Grace wanted me to know how well everything worked out.â
âThatâs good news. And howâs Maryellen?â Charlotte asked, concerned about Graceâs oldest daughter.
âSheâs doing well, especially now that Jonâs parents have arrived. They showed up last week and Grace told me itâs made a world of difference.â
âWhere has Jonâs family been all this time?â Charlotte asked. âWell, never mind, theyâre here now, and I know Maryellen and Jon must be thankful for the help. Some babies have a few problems coming into this world. Thatâs why God created grandparents.â
Olivia smiled at her mother as she pulled out of the parking lot and headed down Harbor Street toward the Chinese restaurant.
âAnd Jack? Howâs he? I do hope he isnât working himself into another heart attack,â Charlotte said next.
At the mention of her husband, Olivia had to smile. âHeâs as cantankerous as ever. Heâs also back at work full-time.â
Charlotteâs eyebrows shot up. âI thought you werenât going to let that happen.â
As if Olivia had any real control over Jack. âI couldnât stop him. He has an assistant editor now, and heâs home every night as close to five as he can manage. Heâs lost thirty pounds, but I swear it was like chiseling it off an ounce at a time.â
âI think he mightâve cheated now and then,â Charlotte whispered.
That was an understatement if ever there wasone. Jack did cheatâbut not as often anymore. The heart attack had frightened him off double cheese-burgers for life, thankfully. Still, there was the occasional bowl of ice cream and a few cookies, but overall, Jackâs self-control had been impressive.
âWhat about you and Ben?â Olivia asked as they drove into the parking lot at the Wok and Roll.
âI have news about David, Benâs son,â Charlotte said as she climbed out of the car. âYou remember him, donât you?â
Olivia wasnât likely to forget David Rhodes. Benâs youngest son had asked her to fix a reckless driving ticket heâd gotten
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