“No, you.”

  She laughed. “Please, you go first.”

  “Well,” he murmured after a few awkward seconds, “I was just thinking back to all the animals you rescued while we were married. Remember Ugly Arnie?”

  Like she’d ever forget the injured raccoon she’d found at their back door. “How could I forget him?”

  “Vicious, ungrateful—”

  “Kent, he was in pain! As I recall, you aren’t exactly Prince Charming when you aren’t feeling well.”

  “Prince Charming? So is that how you remember me when... I was feeling good?”

  She doubted that he expected an answer, but she gave him one, anyway. “You had your moments.”

  “So did you.”

  “Thank you.” They could play nice, she realized. It hadn’t always been this silent battle of wills.

  “I kind of thought you’d remarry,” he said, frowning as he spoke.

  “Really?” She, on the other hand, hadn’t even considered the possibility that Kent might marry someone else—well, other than in some vague, abstract way. Certainly not someone like Danielle. Beth was astonished that Kent would find this hard, brusque woman appealing. Yes, superficially Danielle was attractive—okay, gorgeous—but she seemed to lack all the qualities Beth had expected him to value.

  “If you did remarry, I assumed you’d choose a vet.”

  “Oh, my goodness...” Without thinking, Beth eased her foot off the brake and the car swerved on the icy road and went sideways. “Hold on,” she cried.

  Kent braced his arms against the dashboard until the car came to a complete stop on the side of the road. “You okay?” he demanded.

  “I’m fine...what about you?”

  “My heart is somewhere in my throat,” he said, “but other than that I’ll survive. What just happened? I didn’t see anything in the road.”

  “It’s Ted.”

  “Ted? Who’s Ted?”

  “The local vet... He said he’d stop by this afternoon and I need to be there.”

  “Give him a call,” Kent muttered, as if it was of little concern.

  “I will.” She reached across for her handbag and grabbed her cell, pushing the button that would connect her with him.

  “You have him on speed dial?” Kent asked with raised eyebrows.

  Beth ignored the question and waited impatiently for Ted to answer. After four long rings, the phone went to voice mail. She exhaled loudly, then carefully put the car in Reverse and turned around.

  “Where are you going now?” Kent asked.

  She would’ve thought the answer was obvious. “To Ted’s place. He’s probably with an animal, so he couldn’t get the phone.”

  “You could’ve left a message.”

  He was right, she could have, but that seemed rather unfriendly. Besides, she wanted to explain. “His place isn’t far from here,” she said, instead of responding to his comment.

  The silence returned.

  Again it was Kent who broke it. “Do you see a lot of this Tim fellow?”

  “Ted,” she corrected. “About once or twice a week, I guess.” She downplayed the veterinarian’s role in her life, which had taken on more significance in the past three or four months. There’d been a shift in their relationship, beginning in late September, when he’d come over after caring for a sick goat nearby. He’d stayed for a glass of wine, followed by a leisurely dinner.

  A week later they’d met in town, and Ted had insisted he owed her dinner. That was how it had started, almost innocently. Recently, however, it’d become more. Ted had kissed her, and that had been a turning point. Lately, Ted had taken to dropping in during the evenings, and Beth looked forward to his visits.

  “Any particular reason Ted was coming to the house?” Kent asked nonchalantly.

  “Nothing formal, if that’s what you mean. To wish us a merry Christmas. And I want him to meet the girls. He has a line on someone who wants a puppy, too.”

  “So it’s serious? Between you and him?”

  “We have a lot in common,” she said, well aware that she hadn’t really answered the question.

  Ted’s driveway came into view, and she signaled, then drove down the long gravel road that led to his home and his veterinary clinic.

  Ted was in the yard clearing snow. When he saw her car, he smiled and waved, then leaned his shovel against a tree.

  Beth parked and turned off the engine, slipping out of the car.

  Walking over to meet her, Ted grinned from ear to ear. “Good to see you, Beth,” he said. He didn’t kiss her, no doubt because he’d noticed there was a man with her.

  Beth tried to see the veterinarian as Kent might. Ted was a few years older, a big man with large, strong hands and an easy smile. He had a receding hairline, visible despite his wool hat. His gentle nature comforted animals—and people.

  “Kent Morehouse,” Kent said, stepping forward, his hand extended.

  Ted pulled off his glove to shake hands but his gaze immediately shot to Beth.

  “Kent is my ex-husband. He’s here to spend Christmas with the girls,” Beth said, feeling uncomfortable saying anything more.

  “Oh, yes. You mentioned that Kent was planning to visit,” Ted commented.

  “I was just driving to the Hardings’ to drop off a puppy when I recalled that you were coming over today,” she said quickly.

  “Well, seeing that you’ve got visitors, perhaps I shouldn’t—”

  “No, please, I want you to,” Beth said, eager to reassure him. “In fact, I was hoping you’d stay for dinner.”

  “Dinner?” Kent repeated, frowning.

  “Yes, dinner,” she said pointedly. “I’m making lasagna. A family recipe.”

  “My grandmother was Italian,” Kent added in a meaningful voice, essentially explaining that this was his family’s recipe.

  “Kent’s, uh, friend is with the girls, preparing a Caesar salad and garlic bread.”

  “That sounds wonderful.”

  “It will be,” Beth said. “Please say you’ll join us.”

  Ignoring Kent, Ted stared at her for a long moment. “You’re sure?”

  “I’m positive.”

  Ted nodded decisively. “Then I accept. Thank you. What time would you like me there?”

  Beth was about to suggest as soon as possible, but before she could, Kent spoke.

  “I believe Beth mentioned something about dinner being ready around five.”

  “Yes, five. We’re eating early so we won’t be late for church,” she murmured.

  “Can I bring anything? Wine? Dessert?”

  “I’ve got everything covered, but thanks.” She wanted to visit longer, but Kent had already walked back to the car and stood with the door open, waiting for her.

  “I’ll see you soon,” Ted promised. “And I’ve got a couple bottles of a nice red. To go with the lasagna.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered, and hoped Ted understood how much she appreciated his willingness to show, once again, what a good friend he was. As good a friend as Danielle....

  12

  Justine Gunderson busied herself in the kitchen, enjoying an afternoon free from the responsibility of managing the Victorian Tea Room. She’d given the staff an extra day off so they could celebrate Christmas Eve with their own families.

  The holiday season at the tearoom had been hectic, with a number of special high teas. Her favorite had been Tea with Santa. The children had been so excited, and Santa, a theater friend of Bob Beldon’s, had played the role with verve and charm.

  In a few years Livvy would be able to go, but for now the toddler, at nearly eighteen months, was too young for Santa in his frightening red suit.

  The back door opened, and her husband entered the house. Seth was a blond Swede who towered well over six feet. Just seeing him made Justine’s heart react with a surge of love. She’d never expected to marry, let alone have a family of her own. In fact, she’d gone out of her way to avoid serious relationships...until she’d worked on her ten-year high school reunion. That was when she’d run into Seth Gunderson, who was also on the reunion committee.

  She’d known Seth nearly her entire life. He’d been her twin brother’s best friend. As irrational as it sounded, after the accident that claimed Jordan’s life, Justine had wanted to blame Seth. If he’d been with her brother at the lake that day, Jordan might not have died. Seth would have noticed that her brother hadn’t surfaced after diving off the floating dock. He would’ve gone after him. If only Seth had been there....

  But he hadn’t. It’d been Justine who’d held her brother’s lifeless body on the dock until the paramedics showed up.

  That fateful summer afternoon had forever changed her world.

  Seth smiled at her as he stripped off his coat.

  She smiled back and felt, as she so often had in the past, that Jordan would have approved of her marrying Seth Gunderson. Through the years, at various times, Justine had sensed her twin’s presence. During those indescribable moments of connection, she hadn’t felt the horrific loss of her brother; instead, she’d felt his blessing. Jordan seemed to be standing right beside her, smiling and happy, teasing her the way he’d once done, full of life and boyish humor.

  The first time it’d happened was shortly after she’d given birth to Leif. Still in the hospital, exhausted and woozy from the drugs, she’d closed her eyes. Suddenly, Jordan was there before her, and he wore the biggest, goofiest grin she’d ever seen. He was telling her how happy he was for her and Seth; she was sure of it. She could almost hear him saying how excited he was that they’d decided to name their son after him: Leif Jordan Gunderson.

  “Daddy, Daddy.” Leif shot across the room, dropping his handheld computer game on the way, with Penny barking at his heels. “Santa’s coming tonight!”

  “He sure is.” Lifting the boy high above his head, Seth nuzzled Leif’s tummy while the little boy squealed in delight.

  Hearing her brother, Livvy toddled out, clutching her teddy bear under her left arm, pressing its face against her side. Livvy and that silly bear were inseparable. She’d be getting her first doll from Santa this Christmas. Justine sincerely hoped Livvy would enjoy the doll as much as she did her teddy bear.

  “How’s my girl?” Seth asked, setting Leif down and reaching for his daughter. He planted a noisy kiss on her cheek. She, too, squealed with delight.

  “Hey, don’t I get one of those kisses?” Justine teased.

  “You bet.” He came to her in the kitchen and slipped his arms around her from behind, planting his hands over her still-flat stomach. “How long have you been working in here?”

  “A while.” The family cookbook her grandmother, Charlotte Jefferson Rhodes, had compiled, lay open in front of her. Various ingredients, organized according to the recipes, were spread along the counter.

  “Seems to me you were in the kitchen when I left for work this morning. Are you sure you’re up to this?”

  “Stop worrying, okay?” Hosting the family for Christmas Eve dinner required a lot of extra preparation, but Justine never turned away from a challenge.

  “Did you bake those homemade rolls I like so much?” Seth asked, eyeing the covered breadbasket.

  “I did that first thing this morning.”

  Seth grinned. “I hope you doubled the batch.”

  “I did.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  Justine reached up and kissed him. “I promise you can have as many as you want.”

  “How are you feeling?” Seth asked.

  “I feel wonderful. I always do when I’m pregnant.”

  Seth closed his eyes. “I don’t know how we let this happen,” he said as he feathered kisses down the side of her neck.

  Justine giggled and put her arms around her husband’s neck. “You’d think by now we’d know how babies are made.”

  “If it was up to you, we’d live in a shoe and have a dozen children.”

  “Three suits me just fine,” she assured him, although she’d be the first to admit she loved being a mother. She could hardly believe that at one time she’d been willing to give all of this up without even knowing what she’d be missing.

  The pregnancy would be this year’s Christmas surprise for her family. Keeping it secret had been far more difficult than she’d expected. At least a dozen times she’d been tempted to tell her mother and her grandmother. Both would be thrilled.

  “Can I help with anything?” Seth asked.

  “You could check Livvy’s diaper,” she said.

  Seth swept his daughter into his arms and carried her to her room. When he returned a few minutes later, Livvy’s head lolled against his shoulder.

  “Did you have a chance to get the mail?” he asked.

  “Not yet.”

  “I’ll do it.” Seth set Livvy down on the carpet. She leaned her head against the sofa cushion. She’d woken late that morning and hadn’t been interested in a nap. Now her eyes drooped as her thumb found its way into her mouth.

  Justine had sucked her thumb, too; so had Jordan. After washing her hands, Justine picked up her sweet baby girl and brought her back to her crib. She gently placed her inside and covered her with the blanket Charlotte had knit for her.

  Seth came into their daughter’s bedroom as she sat beside the crib, watching Livvy’s deep, even breaths.

  He stood beside her. “It’s difficult to fathom how much love we can have for children, isn’t it?” he whispered.

  “Impossible to believe until we become parents ourselves,” she whispered back.

  They left the bedroom and Seth closed the door.

  “Anything interesting in the mail?” Justine asked as he sat down, flipping through the envelopes. She poured her husband a cup of tea and joined him at the kitchen table.

  “The usual Christmas cards—and one rather interesting letter.”

  “Oh? Who from?”

  Seth leafed through the holiday cards until he came across a plain, business-size white envelope. He glanced at it again, then handed it to her.

  Justine saw that the envelope held her name—and only hers. The return address made her catch her breath. After taking a moment to compose herself, she raised her eyes to meet Seth’s. “It’s stamped prison mail. The postmark is Shelton, Washington—that’s where the state prison is. One of them, anyway.”

  “I noticed that, too.”

  “There’s only one person who could be writing me from there.” The paper seemed to grow hot in her hands.

  “Warren Saget,” Seth muttered.

  Justine dropped the letter on the table and avoided looking at it.

  “Aren’t you going to open it?” her husband asked.

  “I... I don’t know.” She’d once had a deep affection for Warren, a successful local builder, although he was old enough to be her father. They’d dated for a while. He’d liked having a tall, beautiful woman on his arm, and she’d liked the fact that he was rich and powerful and made no physical demands on her.

  He couldn’t. That was their little secret. With Warren she was safe from emotional—and physical—entanglements. Safe, until she’d agreed to work on the class reunion project and Seth had shown up. Justine hadn’t wanted to become involved with Seth, yet he was all she thought about. Warren had offered her a huge diamond engagement ring. He was willing to do anything not to lose her. But even that diamond hadn’t enticed her. All she wanted, all she needed, was Seth.

  “I wonder if Warren has any idea of everything he did for us,” Seth commented.

  Her husband’s words jarred Justine from her reverie. “You mean what he did to us, don’t you?” Warren had tried to destroy them.

  “But in the end that’s what saved our marriage.”

  “You’re right,” she said slowly. “Ironic, isn’t it?”

  “We were killing ourselves with the restaurant, working all hours of the day and night....”

  “You don’t need to remind me,” Justine said, shaking her head at the memory. It’d been a difficult period in their marriage. They’d been working impossibly long hours with no time as a couple or a family.

  The restaurant had been Seth’s dream. For nearly ten years he’d saved his money from fishing the crab-rich Alaskan waters. He’d lived on a sailboat in the marina while in town, and spent every waking moment studying restaurant management. He’d dreamed of one day opening an elegant seafood restaurant in Cedar Cove. Together they’d made his dream come true, and the Lighthouse had been the success he’d always planned.

  But Seth had worked far too hard. Justine shared his dream, and they’d redoubled their efforts until it all became too much. By then Leif had been born, which meant Justine was torn between being with her son and working at the restaurant.

  Their marriage had started to show the stress of too many demands and too few hours. For the first time Seth and Justine had been at odds.

  Then, one night, the restaurant had burned down. All their dreams, all their hard work, their blood, sweat and tears, had gone up in smoke.

  Even now, memories of that night were surreal. After being contacted by the authorities, they’d rushed to the scene and walked around in a stupor, shocked and bereft. It wasn’t long before the fire inspector declared it’d been arson.

  Someone had purposely set their restaurant on fire. The police had what they called “a person of interest,” a high school kid who’d worked there briefly before Seth let him go. Anson Butler had a history of being in trouble and had started fires when he was younger. Someone had seen him inside the restaurant that night. Then Anson disappeared.... Meanwhile, Justine and Seth were left to pick up the charred remains of their life. The stress on their marriage brought them close to the breaking point.

  It didn’t help that Warren took every opportunity to talk about how good things had been between them. Justine didn’t believe it, not for a minute; still, it was comforting to have someone pay her that kind of attention.