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Ben was feeling--and acting--reatly relieved Charlotte She knew he’d spoken with David twice in the past feeeks While the first call had disturbed hiitated after the second one In the days that followed, his htened considerably

Ben hadn’t shared any of that conversation with her but Charlotte knew he’d contacted Roy McAfee shortly afterward At first Charlotte was disappointed that Ben hadn’t confided in her Since then, she’d worked it out in her htful man that he was, Ben didn’t want to involve her in this latestwith her hat in front of the mirror She so seldom wore a hat these days, but this was a celebration and nothing said that better than a nice hat In their last conversation, Olivia had told her she’d decided on a hat, too--for different reasons, obviously--but this was also why Charlotte earing hers To hter didn’t feel self-conscious Olivia had a lovely wig, but found it hot and uncoo without

"Are you ready to leave?" she asked Ben

"The grand opening’s not for almost an hour," he called back

Charlotte secured the fedora with a fancy pin that had belonged to her , I don’t want to be late"

"Charlotte," he said, joining her in their bedrooet to the tearooed her around the waist "Very well, my dear, if it’ll reassure you, we can leave now"

"Thank you, sweetheart"

After hter’s Victorian Tea Roo with the lavender tri There’d never been a place in Cedar Cove like it

In preparation for her granddaughter’s venture, Charlotte had collected her most cherished recipes Ben had helped her type them Then, with no small amount of fanfare, they’d delivered the binder to Justine Charlotte was delighted to see that a number of her recipes had been included in the tearoo in Paris, her lifelong favorite Just as she’d finished, she heard the doorbell What terrible ti room, she saw Roy McAfee, coat still on, briefcase in hand, talking to Ben

"Roy, how nice to see you," she said politely

She waited for Ben to announce that they were leaving for the tearoo there before it opened for a blessing ceres on this enterprise, and Charlotte didn’t want toRoy’s visit, her husband invited hiuessing her thoughts

"Would you like me to make coffee?" she asked the two ive Ben a report"

It was clear that Ben had hired Roy to check up on so undoubtedly concerned David

Ben gestured to the empty space on the sofa "Join us, please"

Charlotte sat down beside hiht She could feel how tense he was, hoeary of dealing with David and his proble squeeze

"As you’re probably aware," Roy said, seated across from them, "Ben asked me to look into David’s story"

Ben turned to Charlotte and said, "When David and I last spoke, he’d told Mary Jo he wanted a paternity test She was against it, but because I asked her to cohter There can be no doubt of that now"

"Is David going to step up and accept responsibility?"

"He said he is," Ben answered "He came to me and explained that he’d left his job with the insurance co to es in his life and asked for my help"

"Financial help?" Charlotte asked

"No, and that encouraged me I felt for the first time in years that perhapsto becoaze flew to Roy, unsure why Ben had involved hiarden path with David before," Ben continued "It’s difficult for e his sincerity because, as his father, I naturally lean toward trusting him But rather than blindly accept his word this time, I asked Roy to check out David’s story"

Roy bent down to open his briefcase "I have a full written report for you here," the investigator told the up to pass Ben a file folder

"Because we’re a little tight for tih to summarize it for us?"

"Of course"

Charlotte noticed the way Roy’s back stiffened--as though he dreaded what he was about to tell the the truth, although the termination wasn’t his choice The company fired him with cause Apparently there’s been a sexual harassainst hie"

Charlotte wasn’t surprised David had been let go from his job

"But he has this new position, correct?" The question came from Ben

"No, I’m afraid that’s another fabrication," Roy said "He’s been unee David was financially, Charlotte felt she had to ask, "How is he living, then?"

Roy looked to Ben as if to ask the older ht nod

"David’s moved in with a…friend"

"Male or fe

"Female"

Charlotte sensed his disappointreater disappoint none of the e a woman support him"

Roy nodded "That appears to be the case"

"What about all this talk of being a father to Noelle, supporting her financially and bringing her into his life?" Charlotte looked at Ben