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Maryellen was certainly in high spirits, Grace noted as her daughter let her in She loved Maryellen and Jon’s home, which was built in a Northwest style and only a few miles froenuity and skill While he developed his artistic career, handling the raphy itself, he also worked on his house and its grounds Each and every day Grace was grateful her daughter had met Jon Bowman--and that she’d leefully waddled toward her, small arms held wide

Without hesitation, Grace squatted down and scooped her up, to cries of delight "How’sthe toddler’s face

Katie squealed and hugged her back, both arms locked around Grace’s neck

"We’re ready, Moerator and took out a molded salad It was a recipe that had been in the faelatin, cream cheese and melteddinner and apparently so did her daughter

"I made salad," Maryellen said unnecessarily "And Jon baked an apple pie"

"I baked a puhed "Cliff said we didn’t have to bring a thing It seems we decided he needed a little help, after all"

"I can’t believe he’s willing to prepare an entire turkey dinner by hi this on As far as she knew, he usually settled for sandwiches, canned soup or a sirilled steak

"Mother, you don’t honestly think Cliff is going to cook, do you?" Maryellen looked at her incredulously

"That’s what he said Didn’t he?"

"With all these restaurants and grocery stores offering to provide an entire meal for a reasonable price?" As if she’d suddenly re, she turned to her ?"

Grace sht turkey dinners to the subject of Olivia?"

"By way of Justine, of course"

Ah yes, it made sense now Restaurants provided turkey dinners, and Justine and Seth owned The Lighthouse restaurant

"Olivia and Jack went to Reno to be with Eric, Shelley and the twins," Grace explained, referring to Jack’s son fro to Olivia, everyone was excited about the trip They’d flown out on Wednesday evening--the night of the aerobics class Olivia and Grace usually attended It was the first one Olivia had , but without thehoiven up on the class years ago Her knees often hurt afterward and any benefit she gained fro up and doiped out by the pie and coffee they had after class

"Oh, yes, I seem to remember that you mentioned Olivia had plans," Maryellen said absently as Jon loaded the car When everything was inside, including the portable high chair, he placed a bundled-up Katie in her car seat

Grace sat in the back next to her granddaughter Katie was a sweet child, with huge expressive eyes She was talking now, gibberish , one-sided conversations

Grace couldn’t help feeling bad that Jon’s stepes of Katie’s development Grace knew it saddened Maryellen, but Jon had been unwilling to compromise in his attitude toward his parents--even when he’d learned of his father’s stroke

Katie was the Bowrandchild, and they’d never even seen her, except in the photographs Maryellen had surreptitiously sent It broke Grace’s heart

Cliff was standing in the open doorhen Jon pulled into the yard A light rain had just begun, and he hurried out to the car to usher Grace into the house, returning to carry in some of Katie’s paraphernalia

Despite Maryellen’s predictions, Grace expected to be greeted by the wonderful aroe; she wasn’t so much disappointed as amused when there was no such smell A fire crackled in the fireplace and the house are of a precooked Thanksgiving dinner

While Maryellen and Jon got Katie out of her jacket and settled with some blocks and a teddy bear, Grace found Cal in the kitchen He stood by the countera pot of coffee He smiled when he saw Grace "Happppp-y Thanks…Turkey Day," heof turkey and turkey day," she said, glancing around "It doesn’t look--or s on around here"

Cliff stepped into the rooed Cal and I opted for culinary assistance"

"The Lighthouse?" Jon asked, joining the a full o" He checked his watch "Anytime," he added

No sooner were the words out of hisCal went to answer it, and both Seth and Justine walked in, carrying their dinner Seth held the alu pan with the turkey and Justine had two large bags They set their bounty on the kitchen counter

"Need help?" Cal asked

"There’soff the hood of her rainproof jacket

"Let-t-tfood

Justine slipped her ar fisherman with a robust physique and hair so blond it was al industry fell on troubled tis and Justine’s business sense and built The Lighthouse restaurant