had been when Roy decided he wanted a divorce. Right away she’d packed her suitcase, left Roy a note, and headed back to Yakima alone. Hurt and angry, Roy had paced my yard close to where Mark was working. In his own easygoing way, Mark mentioned that it was probably a good idea, seeing what a terrible mother Maggie was. I hadn’t meant to listen in on the conversation. Just remembering the subtle way Mark had forced Roy to look at the facts was a work of conversational art. It was a side of him that I’d never seen. While I hadn’t been able to realize it until later, it was at that moment that I’d fallen in love with Mark.
When Roy recognized he was about to lose his wife and family, he’d chased after Maggie. He found her on a bus that was heading to the airport. He stopped the bus and told Maggie he loved her and that they’d work everything out.
What he’d said to her in that moment, the words that had convinced her not all was lost, were as simple as they were profound. He said it didn’t matter if he was the father of this child, because he knew who the mother was.
“From the way you’re acting, the couple must have quite a story,” Emily said.
“They do.”
“You aren’t going to tell me?”
“Nope, because you’ll think I’m hitting you over the head with another tale of healing. I know you’re skeptical and I can’t say that I blame you. You’re having trouble believing, and that’s fine, because sooner or later you’re going to have your own story.”
“I don’t mean to be negative,” Emily told me. “I believe all the stories you’ve told me about the guests you’ve had through the years. I’d like to believe it’s possible for me, too.”
Reaching across the table, I gripped hold of her hand. “It’s never too late, Emily.”
“With Mark deep in a terrorist-held territory, how can you be sure you’ll get your own happy ending?” she asked.
Her question hit its mark. “I’m not.” My faith was strong, but over the last few days it’d faltered, as I was assailed by multiple fears. In my weakness I’d asked God for a sign. I needed something tangible to see me through the next few weeks.
Once Emily and I finished our coffee, I helped her haul the suitcases and the few boxes that she’d packed from her room out to her car. Her brother and two of his friends had loaded up the trailer from the storage unit Emily had rented in Seattle. She’d gotten a text that said they were on their way to Cedar Cove.
It was time for her to go and meet them at the apartment she’d rented.
“It’s going to be lonely here without you,” I said, and I meant it. I was going to miss her companionship, especially now that Mark was away, too.
We hugged and I stood in the driveway as she took off.
Seeing what a beautiful fall day it was, I took Rover for a lengthy walk and later ate a quiet lunch. No sooner had I finished cleaning the kitchen after baking cookies when I heard a car outside the inn. Glancing out the window, I saw a vehicle hauling a trailer come down the driveway. It was an SUV. At first I didn’t recognize the couple in the front seat. Then a wide smile broke out across my face.
Roy and Maggie Porter.
No sooner had the vehicle stopped when the back passenger door flew open and a little boy jumped out. Another boy called from inside, “Are we here yet?”
Maggie climbed out while Roy came around to the back and got the baby from the car seat.
The boys were already chasing after Rover, who barked excitedly at the children. One of the boys had a Frisbee, which he threw. Rover took after it like a rocket.
“Boys,” Maggie called, “behave yourselves, we’re only staying a few minutes.”
Roy held his baby girl in his arms and met me.
“So this is Grace,” I said, grinning at the blond-headed, blue-eyed baby girl.
“Grace, this is Jo Marie,” Maggie said, and took her daughter from her husband’s arms.
“You can stay for a visit, can’t you?” I asked. I’d baked cookies, hoping to convince them to stay for more than a few minutes.
Maggie looked to her husband. “Up to you,” she said.
“Then sure, the boys could run off some of that energy before we head back to Yakima.”
“We were at my cousin’s wedding