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Her sense of loneliness was accentuated even more now that Olivia had remarried Grace was happy for her dearest friend and yet she was afraid that Olivia wouldn't have as much time for her anymore She was ashamed of her Internet lapse with Olivia's brother, and felt somewhat distanced from Olivia as a result

"Well, Buttercup," Gracecaenda for today?" She poured herself a cup of coffee while Buttercup lapped water fro for the ani Grace had done for herself after the breakups with both Will and Cliff was to become a volunteer at the Cedar Cove Animal Shelter

Two Saturdays a month she interviewed potential pet owners, walked and fed the animals and did whatever else she could to be useful Janet Webb, as in charge of fund-raising, had asked Grace to be on her coladly accepted

Buttercup finished her drink and sat down at Grace's feet while Grace sipped her coffee As she ot dressed--khaki cotton trousers, a white tailored shirt, her favorite black blazer-- and drove to the library

Grace's afternoon passed quickly Folloork, rather than race ho the waterfront The marina was lovely, especially this tiht Concerts on the Cove would start again Cliff had often joined her for the concerts They'd buy dinner and sit on the grass Grace shook her head in an effort to dispel her memories of Cliff He'd insisted it was over and she had no choice but to accept his decision

Before she left for the ht a sandwich, eating it at a small table by herself Then she drove out to the shelter

Janet Webb and the other colad you're on our committee," Janet said and introduced Grace to Mary Sanchez and Margaret White, both long-standing volunteers Janet and Margaret were about the sae as Grace, but Mary was in herthat'll bring the entire coether," Janet explained as Grace took a seat at the table in the conference room "For the last few years we've done the usual bake sales and car washes"

"We had a dog wash that one year," Margaret re events have been successful, they've been fairly s with a little more punch"

"What about a bachelor auction?" Mary suggested excitedly It was clear she'd been thinking about the idea for quite some time and was nearly out of her chair with enthusiasm "I've read about them and I think it's a wonderful idea, don't you?"

Janet hesitated "Maybe, but I'm married and so are a lot of other women in town"

"Yes, but I' to pay for the pleasure of having a handsoerly toward Grace "I'll bet other single women would, too"

Grace wasn't so sure, but she hated to squelch Mary's enthusiasm "Has anyone else noticed that there seem to be more anis" The ideas started to churn in herauction--or perhaps the shelter could do that along with the bachelors?"

"A dog and bachelor auction?"

"Why not?" Grace asked "We could pair up the dogs with the bachelors"

Janet see"

"The dog would be auctioned off first, and then the bachelor Or the other way around"

"The bachelors would need to be a variety of ages, right?" Mary asked

"Of course," Janet said, shtly

Grace could tell that she ar to participate," Margaret White said, leaning closer to the table "I think he's the le, too"

"Who?" Janet asked, frowning

"Cliff Harding," Margaret repeated "You obviously haven't noticed him around town, but trust me, I have He's a hunk"

Mary looked across the table at Grace "You were going out with him for a while, weren't you?"

It was all Grace could do to nod Cliff was a natural choice for the bachelor auction Her enthusiasm for the project did a nosedive, but she didn't dare show her feelings

"Can you think of anyone else who'd agree to be auctioned off for charity?" Janet asked

"Bruce Peyton," Grace suggested with a shrug "He's a ho brings his daughter into the library once a week"

"Ah, yes," Mary said "I remember when his as killed in an automobile accident When was that, anyway?"

"It aret replied "I knew her ic accident I think Stephanie's death hat killed her Sandy was gone within a year--cancer"

Grace felt terrible for the little girl who'd lost both her randmother within such a short period She didn't know Bruce well, but he seehter She didn't envy hiirl on his own

"Ben Rhodes has stirred a few hearts down at the SeniorCenter," Grace said, wondering how Charlotte would feel about this

Mary nodded in approval "Ben's an excellent choice and, seeing that he's retired navy, he justto do a good deed for charity"