Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Series, Volume 3 (118 page)

“Yeah.” Bailey was wiping off the kitchen counter. “It didn't
make any sense.”

“When they told us I thought they were joking. Some joke,
huh?”

“Could there be anyone else involved?” Bailey asked, growing
introspective. “Mom mentioned that vet again. Ted something.”

“Ted Reynolds. She hasn't dated in ages, but she seems to like
him. He could be trouble.”

Bailey frowned. “The problem with Mom is that she's living
inside an…an emotional cocoon.” She nodded, pleased with that description.
“She's consumed by this tree farm so she doesn't have to think about Dad or the
divorce or anything else.”

“Who made you the expert?” Sophie muttered.

Bailey ignored the sarcasm. “I took this really great
psychology class, and I recognized what Mom's been doing for the past few years.
We've got to shake her up, make her realize the divorce was a terrible
mistake.”

“It's not just the tree farm, it's those darn puppies,” Sophie
lamented. “With puppies constantly showing up on Mom's porch, she can focus all
her attention on them. She spends a lot of time training her dogs for those
canine therapy programs—”

“And being the unofficial rescue facility,” Bailey threw
in.

Sophie nodded. “And now there's this Ted guy. Getting Mom and
Dad together isn't going to be as easy as you think.”

“What did you tell Dad?” Bailey asked.

Sophie slouched into a chair and stared at her sister. “Just
that it's important to Mom that we all spend Christmas together.”

“Did he ask why?”

“Not really. He said he didn't have any fixed plans for
Christmas, and if Mom wanted him to come he would.”

“What are we going to tell them when they discover we arranged
this?”

“What we should've said when they told us they were getting
divorced. This is stupid. They should've tried harder.”

“They just grew apart, that's all, but if they'd made an effort
they could've gotten close again, right?”

“Right.”

“Marriage takes work,” Bailey said, feeling wise. The research
for her recent psych essay on “Family in the New Millennium” had made that very
clear to her.

“I just don't want them to be upset with us,” Sophie said,
worried.

“They can't. It's Christmas. We brought them together…okay,
under false pretenses, but they can't be mad because we're only doing what's
best for them.”

“Amen. Sing it, sister.”

“We'll sing it in two-part harmony.”

“Dad gets here when?”

“Tomorrow afternoon.”

“Perfect.” Sophie held up two crossed fingers. “I believe. I
believe.”

“So do I,” Bailey echoed. This was going to be the most
wonderful Christmas of their lives and it didn't have a single thing to do with
the wrapped packages under the tree. It was because of the gift they intended to
give their parents.

And each other.

* * *

The snow had stopped falling, and the grounds were so
pristine and lovely, they could've been on a book cover. Or a Christmas card.
The evergreens were daubed with snow, giving them a flocked look that was more
beautiful than anything Beth could reproduce with the sticky artificial stuff
her crew applied to the more elaborately decorated trees in the shop.

“We're back,” Bruce Peyton said as he approached Beth. “And
this time, we're definitely going home with a tree.”

His pregnant wife, Rachel, looked so much better than she had
two weeks ago. Beth had learned later that Rachel was hospitalized with food
poisoning that same evening. Bruce's teenage daughter, Jolene, was with them
today, as she'd been before.

“Are all the best trees taken?” the girl asked, her eyes wide
with concern.

She had a point. The trees closer to the house had been thinned
out, but there were still a number of excellent spruces and firs in the far lot.
“Not to worry,” she assured Jolene. “I always save the best for last.” She
handed the girl a cup of warm cocoa. “If you'd like, I'll have my foreman take
you to the back twenty in the ATV and you can see for yourself.”

“Really?”

“Really,” Beth confirmed. She led them over to Jeff, made
introductions and gave him Jolene's request.

The ATVs were built for two, so Jeff took one and Jolene
climbed on behind him. Bruce took the second vehicle. Rachel looked at the hard
seat, then eyed the dirt road speculatively.

“I think I'll stay here and visit with Beth while you two
choose the tree.”

“You can't,” Jolene said loudly. “You
have
to help pick out the tree. That's the most fun part.”

“I'm just not sure I'm up to this.”

“Let me take you for a test run,” Bruce suggested.

Rachel remained hesitant, then nodded. “Okay, but don't be
upset if I decide to stay back.”

“I won't,” Bruce said.

“I really want you to come with us,” Jolene insisted.

“I know, honey. I will next year. I'll come with you and your
little sister. Don't forget, it'll be her very first Christmas.”

Jolene hugged her quickly. “Okay.”

Ten minutes later, Rachel was sitting in the office, drinking a
bottle of apple juice as Beth finished her paperwork.

“I doubt they'll be long,” Beth told her. “The trees there are
gorgeous, especially with this afternoon's snow.”

“I hope Bruce and Jolene don't go overboard and choose the
biggest tree on the farm.”

Beth chuckled. “Jeff knows that people look at a tree and have
no idea how large it is until they try to get it in the house. He'll keep them
realistic.”

“Oh, good. Jolene loves Christmas.” Rachel leaned back in her
chair. “I consider this our first real Christmas as a family. We were married
last year but I was so busy cleaning and moving that it didn't feel very
Christmassy.”

“There seem to be a lot of firsts for your family,” Beth said
gently.

“I agree. It hasn't been a smooth transition for us, but
everything's come together in the past couple of weeks.”

“I'm glad,” Beth said. She wasn't entirely sure what Rachel
meant. Busy though she'd been, when the Peytons originally came for their tree,
Beth couldn't help noticing the tension between Rachel and Jolene. The change in
attitude, particularly on Jolene's part, was encouraging.

Twenty minutes later, the two ATVs roared into the yard. As
soon as the engine was shut off, Jolene leaped off the back of her father's
vehicle and raced toward Rachel.

“We found the most beautiful tree,” she said excitedly. “It's
just
perfect.
”

“Where is it?” Rachel asked, laughing at Jolene's unabashed
enthusiasm.

“You should've seen her,” Bruce said, joining them. “Jolene was
like a rabbit, hopping from one tree to the next.”

“Dad, you're embarrassing me,” the girl protested, but not too
vigorously. In fact, it looked as if a smile was permanently affixed to her
face.

“Exactly where is this wonderful, perfect Christmas tree?”
Rachel asked again.

“Jeff's going back in the pickup for it now,” Bruce explained.
He reached into his pocket for his wallet. “While he's doing that, I'll pay for
the tree and get out the rope so we can tie it to the top of the car.”

“When we take it home, we're all going to decorate it
together,” Jolene said happily.

“My girls and I do that,” Beth told her. “I always decorate
several trees, but I leave one undecorated so the four…three of us can do it
together once they're home from college.”

Jolene looked at her father and Rachel. “Will you wait for me
when I'm in college, too?”

“You bet,” Rachel said, raising one thumb.

That seemed to satisfy the teenager. “It won't be that long,
you know.”

“No need to rush it,” Bruce commented.

The phone rang, and since Jeff was busy, Beth grabbed it.
“Cedar Cove Tree Farm,” she said. “Beth speaking.”

“Oh, Beth, I'm so glad I caught you.”

It was her friend, Grace Harding, the head librarian who'd
adopted a golden-retriever mix from the previous batch of puppies. She sounded
harried.

“What can I do for you, Grace?” Beth asked.

“We need a small tree.”

“How small?”

“One that'll fit in a hotel room. It's for a family who just
arrived in town. Friends of ours.”

“Sure. I can have Jeff cut one for you and deliver it
myself.”

“Oh, would you? I know this is last-minute, but these are two
special friends who once rented our house on Rosewood Lane. That was years
ago—but Ian's in the navy and it looks like they're moving back. They have two
children. They're only here for a few days, but I can't bear the thought of them
spending Christmas in Cedar Cove without a tree.”

“I'm on it,” Beth said. “Don't worry, I'll see to everything,
including lights and decorations. Shall I bring it to your place?”

“Yes, please. I don't know how to thank you.”

“You already have,” Beth said. Replacing the phone she looked
at Bruce. “Now, I don't suppose I could interest you in adopting a puppy?”

“A puppy?” Jolene perked right up. “Could we, Dad? Rachel?
Could
we?”

Bruce shrugged uncomfortably. “I don't think so, sweetheart.
With the baby coming and everything…”

“What kind of puppy?” Rachel asked, reaching for Bruce's
hand.

“They're a Labrador mix. They're all black and extremely cute.
You could have the pick of the litter.”

Jolene clasped her hands and turned pleading eyes to her
father.

Bruce held Rachel's gaze and after a moment nodded. “But
remember, Jolene, you're responsible for training and taking care of the
puppy.”

“I will, Dad, I promise. I've always wanted a dog! I want a
girl and I'm going to name her Poppy.”

“Poppy's a good name,” Rachel said.

“I can help with the training,” Beth offered, leading all three
of them to the laundry room. It didn't take Jolene long to choose the puppy she
wanted.

One down, nine to go.

Two

E
arlier in the month, Grace had been
pleasantly surprised to get a phone call from Cecilia and Ian Randall, who were
stationed in San Diego. They phoned again once they got into town.

“Would it be possible for Ian and me to stop by and visit?”
Cecilia asked.

“Cecilia, of course! How are you? I hoped I'd get a chance to
see you and Ian and the kids.” Grace had a hundred questions. The young couple
had always been close to her heart, and she was thrilled at the prospect of
having them back in the area.

“Remember I told you the navy transferred Ian back to
Bremerton?” Cecilia said. “He's going to be working in the shipyard instead of
on the aircraft carrier. Cedar Cove feels like home to us, so we're really happy
about coming back.”

“That's wonderful!” The Randalls reminded Grace of when she and
her first husband, Dan, had purchased their house almost forty years ago. They'd
been young, too, with a child and another on the way. Maryellen was a toddler
and Grace had been pregnant with Kelly, and 204 Rosewood Lane had been their
first real home. In fact, Grace had lived in that house most of her adult life.
She'd raised her children there, buried her husband and learned to deal with
life as a widow all on Rosewood Lane. The place held a great deal of sentimental
value for her and she hadn't been able to let it go, even after marrying Cliff
Harding. So she'd decided to rent it out.

The Randalls had been ideal tenants, but the navy had
transferred them all too soon. Over the years, Grace had seen a number of
renters come and go. Faith Beckwith had resided there for a while; she'd had a
difficult time with break-ins perpetrated by the tenants preceding her. That was
long past now and the culprits were behind bars, thanks to Sheriff Davis. The
most recent renters had left, and the house was sitting empty.

“I think I mentioned that Ian has leave over Christmas. We flew
out here yesterday. We came to see my dad and look for housing.” She paused.
“Dad lives in a small apartment, so we're staying at the Comfort Inn.”

Grace had assumed as much, based on their previous
conversation. And other than the Beldons' B and B, the Comfort Inn was the only
hotel in downtown Cedar Cove.

“Do you have a car?” she asked.

“A rental.”

“Come over today if you can and we'll chat.”

“What time?”

“Two,” she suggested. “Olivia is planning to stop by around
then, and I know she'd love to see you.”

“Judge Lockhart…I mean, Judge Griffin?”

“Yes.”

“I'd love to see her, too. Ian and I owe her so much.”

Indeed they did owe a debt of gratitude to Olivia, as did many
others in the community. Despite her decades as an attorney and then a family
court judge, Olivia had never become jaded or cynical. She looked at each case
individually. Over the years she'd made some controversial judgments. In Ian and
Cecilia's case, she'd denied their divorce. That decision had caused quite a
stir in the courtroom and around town. She'd used a technicality, urging the
couple to try harder and not to give up on each other so soon.

As it happened, Jack Griffin, the new
Chronicle
editor, had been visiting the court that day and had
written an article about her decision, which had greatly embarrassed poor
Olivia. Nevertheless, his inflammatory piece had been the start of their
relationship. And look where that had led! Grace couldn't hold back a smile.