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Jon didn't hesitate "Of course we can" At her delighted smile, he added, "Any other requests?"

She had one, but wasn't sure how to ask

"What?" The question ary, as if he sensed her uest list"

"How many?"

"It's not the number Mom and my sister and a few friends, but there are a couple of people I'd like to invite and I don't know if you'd approve"

Katie squealed and dropped the heavy-bottomed cup on her tray

Jon kissed Maryellen's te I can refuse you Who do you want to invite?"

She leaned into hi to see his face when she told him "Your father and stepmother" Jon had only recently revealed how his parents had chosen to protect his younger brother at his expense They had lied on the witness stand and, as a result, Jon had been convicted of dealing drugs He'd served seven years in prison Not once in all those years or the years since had he spoken to either his father or his stepmother

Jon tensed and slowly released Maryellen "No They are no longer part of my life They cast me aside and--"

"You're all they have left" His brother had died a tragic death and Maryellen was convinced that his fa Jon and in not forcing his brother to face the consequences of his cri her with the fervor of his eain, understand? I have no fa a shuddery breath, he let her go

She wanted to argue, and longed to help heal the relationship between Jon and his faranddaughter they knew nothing about Surely that was an opportunity for new beginnings Still, it wasn't Maryellen's place to step in, especially since Jon's feelings on the subject were this adamant

"What about a honeyet away for a night or two"

"You want a honeymoon?" Maryellen had been so involved with plans for her iven a honeyht I want a honeyy Beldon's Bed and Breakfast was said to be the best in town

Jon shook his head "I already looked into that, but they aren't taking guests until this murder is solved"

"Oh" That was a disappointht in Seattle? Just the two of us Your hed softly "In a heartbeat"

"Seattle, then?"

Maryellen nodded

"The honeymoon will be the very best part" Jon kissed her nose, and Katie giggled as if she'd never seen anything funnier "That auess I see your point"

"We're going to have a beautiful wedding," Maryellen said with certainty The prospect of itseem hile Within a couple of weeks she'd be Jon's wife The three of them would be a family

Four

Charlotte Jefferson dressed nervously for her court appearance She'd spent many an afternoon in the Kitsap County Courthouse, proudly watching her only daughter officiate as a fahter was one of the wisest judges in the entire state She got a thrill just watching Oliviaso official in her black robe

This afternoon, however, Charlotte wouldn't be in Olivia's courtrooether with several of her dearest friends, she'd be facing the consequences of civil disobedience Still, serving time in the slammer, if it caot the town council to finally bring a health clinic to Cedar Cove

Laura, Bess and the others, including Ben Rhodes, were scheduled to e Robson's courtroom at one o'clock

Charlotte donned her best Sunday dress, complete with the Easter hat she'd purchased back in 1966 It was a broad-brile white plue Robson decided to incarcerate her and the others, she intended to walk into that jail cell as finely dressed as she would've been for any church service

Olivia and Jack didn't seem to think a prison tere Robson He was supposed to be much ain according to ru an example of the occasional miscreant

The doorbell chimed and Harry, her cat, leaped down from the foot of her bed with an uncharacteristic display of energy and trotted into the living room Since Olivia and Jack were out of town on their honeyht be Eranddaughter, to accompany her Olivia, of course, ell aware of the entire situation, unhappily so But Charlotte refused to let the rest of her fah it was impossible to keep such news completely quiet

The peephole in the front door answered her question Ben Rhodes stood on the other side, looking as dapper and debonair as ever Despite her age, her heart did a tiny flip-flop at the sight of him After all these years as a , she'd assumed she was too old and set in her ways to fall in love, but Ben had shown her that even long-held assu

"Ben!" She unbolted the four dead bolt locks on her front door "What are you doing here?" she delad to see him "We're supposed to meet at the courthouse, reht I'd escort al into court Are you ready?"

Charlotte straightened the skirt of her floral dress, feeling, for just a second, like the heroine in a 1950s musical