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"No, no, go to bed," Peggy insisted "Do you want me to wake you up?"
Hannah nodded "Please I didn't "
"I know But you don't want it to happen again"
"No, I don't," Hannah agreed "I need this job"
Their houseguest had been two hours late for work, and the PancakePalace had phoned looking for her Peggy had , but it had been no easy task By the tiot into town, the restaurant was practically out of clean dishes To her credit, Hannah had stayed two hours past her shift in an effort to ht, I should probably leave," Roy said, getting to his feet
"We're fine," Bob lied "You go on ho" He deeply appreciated Roy's friendship and concern, which went far beyond their professional relationship
Bob walked him to the kitchen door, then watched as Roy drove off
"Are you tired?" he asked Peggy She stood in the middle of the kitchen, cole step in any direction
"You can't be serious about going upstairs and sleeping," she said When he didn't answer, she added, "You honestly think you'll sleep?"
"No, but that's not the point"
Peggy smiled "I don't think I can, either Want to watch so, restless night
Twenty-Six
Grace Sher and Bachelor Auction with equalevent had initially been her idea and Mary's, and Grace wanted it to be successful At the sa by while the man she loved was on the auction block She couldn't join in the bidding herself, both because she couldn't afford it and because she kne he felt about her now Other women would bid on Cliff and he'd walk aith so of July tenth, the parking lot of The Lighthouse Restaurant was fast filling to capacity Women lined up outside the door, and it wasn't for dinner and drinks, Grace suspected, although the food, as always, would be exceptional No, all those woet the best seats in the house for a close-up view of the dogs and--especially--the bachelors Even before the auction had begun, everyone could tell it was going to be an unqualified success
"This is just fabulous," Mary Sanchez said She stood with Margaret White at the entrance of the restaurant As soon as the doors opened, they'd collect the tickets that had already been sold The wo through the s, chatting and laughing The h-spirited
"The natives are getting restless," Margaret shouted to Janet Webb over the noise and laughter froanized for the cashiers, ere situated at the rear of the restaurant near the bar area
"Is there anything I can do?" Grace asked She'd come to offer an extra pair of hands before the auction started Her official duties, however, had been completed weeks earlier
"Yes, Grace, there is," Janet said, her tone serious "I want you to enjoy this event You've worked hard and the shelter deeply appreciates all your effort"
"It waswasn't remotely possible, but she was determined to try All she could hope was that the woman on Cliff would appreciate what a wonderful man he was
Janet, the director of the aniave the signal for the doors to open As the crowd began to enter, Grace observed with surprise the nuht most of the people here would be familiar to her but quite a few of the woainst the shoreline, people--young women, older ones and even men ere clearly there as spectators-- flooded into the restaurant, tipping over chairs and scooting around tables as they jockeyed for seats
Thankfully Grace had been able to reserve a table for friends Olivia and Jack showed up a few minutes after the doors opened, and Charlotte and Ben followed Grace had encouraged her daughters to attend for the entertainment value of the event, but both Maryellen and Kelly had decided to spend the night at home with their husbands and families Grace didn't blame them
"Can you believe this crowd," Grace co around It was difficult to hear over the high-decibel chatter all around the as the pervasive scent of perfuine what it was like in the waiting area where the bachelors and dogs were congregated Silently she read over the list of the bachelors, fifteen in all Pairing thes had been a complicated task, taken on by Janet Webb Grace wondered what breed--or mixed breed--she'd choose to accoentle and handsoe, with an extended walking platform, reached halfway into the restaurant, with tables and chairs arranged on both sides The idea was that the bachelor would walk out with the dog on a leash
Whoever won could take the dog or the bachelor or both If the winner only wanted one, then the auction would start over with the re As Grace read over the rules described in the program, she hoped this novel idea would raise the funds the shelter needed, and more
"If I'd been one of the bachelors, I bet I would've brought in top dollar," Jack boasted with a cocky grin "Unfortunately Olivia got ram and arched one brow "Unfortunately? Is that a co left his eyes and was replaced with a slow, easy smile "Not at all I meant unfortunately for these other ladies" At her sh, I think I got the better half of this deal"
"I'ainst hiesture was so romantic that Grace had to look away Rarely had she felt lonelier or more alone, but she was finished with self-recri had it, and so would she
"I see Stanley's one of the bachelors," Charlotte said disapprovingly She pointed out her ex-son-in-law's name to Ben Rhodes "Stanley doesn't even live in Cedar Cove"
"I know," Grace murmured, "but Stan wanted to do his part for charity"
"Did you tell hiins at home?"
"Mother!" Olivia mildly chastised her