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Olivia sat at her desk and glanced up, a look of curiosity on her face "Mother?"

"How dare you, Olivia Lockhart Griffin! How dare you!" Fresh tears welled in her eyes

Olivia set down her pen and gestured for her mother to take a seat- Charlotte hesitated, then collapsed into the visitor's chair She reached for her lace handkerchief, tucked in the sleeve of her blouse, and dabbed at the corners of her eyes "I' so underhanded and deceitful How could you do this to me--and to Ben? What's he ever done to you?"

Olivia sighed heavily "Mom, I can tell you're upset"

"Upset? You don't know the half of it!"

Olivia raised her hand "I don't blae one can't be too careful"

"You don't think I' a man's character? Ben is decent and kind andand honorable"

"I wanted to believe that too, but he has no family in the area"

"No family in the area?" Charlotte repeated "What's that supposed to ht him to Cedar Cove?" Olivia briefly closed her eyes, as if she were embarrassed and asharee, that we needed sos Ben told you"

"Like what?"

"That he's who he says he is, for one thing"

"He is!" Charlotte insisted

"I know that now, but until I asked Roy to check into Ben's background, we only had his word for it that he's a retired adood to be true"

Charlotte continued to dab at her eyes and sniffle as the anger was replaced by tears "I'm so embarrassed I love Ben"

"Oh, Mother"

"Don't you Oh, Mother s and I refuse to listen to a lecture froe of the desk to support herself, she rose to her feet "Save those condescending little speeches for the courtrooh minor in comparison--Charlotte started out of the room

"Mom, please"

Charlotte stopped in front of the closed door, her back to her daughter

"I'ht I should never have done this"

"It's a bit late for sorry, don't you think?"

"Yes" Again Olivia sighed "I kno you feel about Ben"

"I sincerely doubt that, but go on" She turned to face Olivia now, her expression blank "His sons ren't having ated"

Olivia let the comment slide

"Ben's a companion and a friend and--"

Charlotte didn't knohy she bothered She shook her head, astonished by her own daughter's insensitivity "I can't believe I' this from someone as so recently married Look at me, Olivia," she commanded, "and listen well I'm in love For the first tiain I wake up everywith a sense of joy because I know that at so the day I'll be with Ben"

Olivia closed her eyes again, as if gathering her thoughts "Mo It's the saht at Charlotte

"Hoould you feel if I'd had hiated?"

Olivia leaned forward and braced her hands on her desk "It wouldn't haveto hide from me"

"And you think Ben has?"

"That's just it--I didn't know"

"And now you do?"

Olivia nodded "Roy mailedhi he said he was"

There was a knock at the door Olivia checked her watch and frowned "Come in"

To Charlotte's complete shock, Ben opened the door and stepped into the chah neither seemed to knohat to say For her part, Charlotte was iveness on her children's behalf, but her throat closed up at the sight of him

Olivia recovered first "Please cohtthis?" Charlotte cried

Olivia threw herlook "Would you care to sit down?"

"Unfortunately," Charlotte said, standing up and entwining her ar"

"Now, Charlotte," Ben countered "I think it would be best if we talked this out"

"I agree," Olivia said quickly She focused her attention on Ben "If I've offended you, Ben, I apologize"

"If?" Charlotte shook her head She'd always been so proud of Olivia, her daughter the judge For the first tie to send Olivia to her room without dinner

"I love your mother, Olivia," Ben said boldly "I know you do, too We have more in common than you realize"