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"How et in October?"

"Oh, honestly, Roy, you don’t expect me to remember that, do you?"

His eyes narrowed "As a matter of fact, I do I don’t know anyone who has a better mind for details How many, Corrie?"

She sed hard "None"

"That’s what I thought"

"In other words, you think whoever’s beento phone calls?"

"I don’t know"

"Any more postcards recently?" Corrie hated to ask, but she needed to know She hadn’t seen any, and Roy hadn’teven one in quite a while Still, she was afraid hethem from her--for her own protection, of course

He shook his head "The last card arrived on October sixth"

Corrie smiled, not that she found it humorous She did feel a little relieved, yes But her amusement, such as it was, cah he was the one who categorized every fact, no matter how minute If it hadn’t been for Roy, the ht never have been solved Little things like the date of the last postcard stayed in hisas this

The phone rang again Corrie looked at Roy before answering on the second ring "Roy McAfee’s office"

"Mom," Linnette cried, "where are you?"

"Ah…"

"The cereht you were cohed out loud Only seconds earlier, she’d been congratulating herself and Roy on their memories, and they’d let the most important day of the month slip past them

"Dad and I will be there in a few minutes"

"Hurry! You wouldn’t believe all the people who are here Besides, I want to introduce you to Dr Timmons Oh, Mom, he’s just so cute"

"We’re on our way now," Corrie said

"Don’t even think of driving There isn’t a parking spot to be had for hter’s voice "We’ll be right over"

Roy must’ve heard, because he’d already collected his jacket He held Corrie’s long wool coat for her When she’d pulled on her gloves and wrapped a hand-knit scarf around her neck, they walked out the door Roy automatically stopped to check that it was locked

The brisk cold wind off the cove was powerful enough to make Corrie’s eyes water She shivered and Roy tucked her hand in the crook of his arm as they set off at a brisk pace toward the newly constructed clinic across fro in Cedar Cove now," Roy enerally reveal his eh the things he did, not the things he said Corrie was pleased he had a good relationship with Linnette But that reminded her of his conflicts with their son, which ilad she’s here, too" Corrie was lad, she was thrilled Ecstatic She just wished Mack and Roy would sort out their differences She resisted the urge to remind her husband that Mack had helped his sister h that conversational ploy instantly

By the time Corrie and Roy arrived at the medical complex, there was a crowd, just as Linnette had said, withred ribbon stretched across the sidewalk Corrie spotted Mayor Benson with several other members of the council

Charlotte and Ben Rhodes were there That was fitting because it was through their determined efforts that Cedar Cove had a rapher froroup of older people, while the sheriff and his deputies scanned the crowd

Linnette smiled and waved when she saw Corrie and Roy Sheon her right This must be Chad Timmons, the physician she’d mentioned countless times

A small podium had been erected and Mayor Benson finally stepped up to the microphone "Welcome, welcohted to see such a large turnout for this afternoon’s grand opening of Cedar Cove’s brand-spanking-new medical facility"

Corrie was al cheer that followed "This has come about as a result of the cooperation between the private and public sectors I’ this facility off the drawing board"

Corrie glanced at her husband and saw that he was having a hard ti Charlotte and Ben," he said, bending down to whisper in her ear

"Yeah," Corrie whispered back "He wasn’t the one who risked jail tiestured expansively "Now, I’d like to introduce our staff members" Several other men and women had joined Linnette and Dr Timmons, and the mayor briefly introduced each one When Linnette’s naave a sloved hands would allow

After the introduction of the staff, Mayor Benson continued to elaborate on the role his office had played in establishing the clinic

"Just cut the ribbon," someone shouted from the back of the crohen rain started to fall

Mayor Benson reached for the big scissors "Nore, as mayor of Cedar Cove, to cut the ribbon, but I’d like to defer in this instance" He turned to Charlotte and Ben "Mr and Mrs Rhodes, would you kindly do the honors?"