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"Now, go back inside where it’s wars to do out here We’ll call you e’re done so you can inspect our work"

Olivia dashed away tears and nodded

As soon as she was safely back in the house, Grace and co in, it took only an hour to get the flower beds weeded and planted

Peggy, an experienced gardener, turned the soil and added mulch before Corrie inserted the tender plants into the rich-looking earth

With Jack’s assistance, Grace and Faith set the flower boxes on the ledge around the front porch and arranged ivy and pansies in each

Charlotte and Ben were inside, getting everything ready for lunch

Just as they broke off before going in to eat, Sheriff Davis’s patrol car turned the corner and stopped directly across the street He got out, strolling toward thehthouse Road," he said in h he’d addressed the whole group, his eyes sought out Faith Grace glanced over at her companion, whose face was flushed hat Grace assumed was pleasure

The last she’d heard, they’d ended their relationship Judging by Faith’s heightened color and the intense look in Troy’s eyes, there’d been some kind of reconciliation However, neither seemed prepared to speak

Grace thought it was tiloves "What can we do for you?"

"I came by to see if there was any way I could help I, uh, heard about what you’re doing and I’d like to be part of it"

"We’ve got everything under control, but thanks for the offer"

"We were about to stop for lunch," Jack said "Care to join us?"

Troy hung back "Are you sure there’s enough?" he asked uncertainly

"Charlotte did the cooking," Jack told hih"

"In that case, thanks I’d like to"

"Good," Grace said with genuine happiness--a feeling visibly shared by Faith She wondered what had happened to change things between those two

They took turns washing up By the time they were all finished, Charlotte invited the room to eat Grace smiled at her yellow apron with its sunflower-shaped bib

"We’re serving buffet style," she announced, waving her arms expansively

"I can’t believe you’d do this," Olivia said, standing next to her mother "All of you"

"We wanted you to kno y said, plate in hand as she circled the table "Wow, look at this fabulous food" There were three different kinds of salads, deviled eggs and freshly baked bread with ham, turkey and cheese slices for sandwiches Charlotte had also included canned goods froarden--sweet pickles, dill pickles, pickled beets, plus jaoodness, I nearly forgot," Grace said She hurried to the door "I left soht back"

Grace returned twoa pie box "Goldie sent this over frohted smile "Coconut cream?"

"What else?"

They served the their plates on their laps

"I feel like the luckiest wo close to tears

"We love you and want to see you well again," Corrie told her

"And back in the courthouse where you belong," Sheriff Davis added

He’d taken the chair beside Faith’s

Grace was startled by a sudden knock at the door; before Jack could get up to open it, in walked Cliff, Bob Beldon and Roy McAfee

"I hoped we’d timed it so we’d be here for lunch," Cliff said