that was possible; however, I was skeptical. Who could blame me?
“I’ve seen this happen time and time again,” Jo Marie insisted.
I’d heard that before and wasn’t sure I was up to another story of how some brokenhearted, defeated guest had shown up at the inn and miraculously had all their problems solved overnight. It was too good to be true. While the inn might have the potential to help others, I knew its powers for good weren’t available for me.
“Nick was by this afternoon,” I said, avoiding eye contact.
Jo Marie, who’d picked up her fork, set it back down. “I thought you told me that you’d decided not to see him again.”
“I did.”
“Did you tell him that?”
I could see she was concerned for me. “I tried, but then he convinced me otherwise. He had another one of his panic attacks and he feels I’m the only one who can help him.”
Jo Marie’s frown deepened and she propped her elbows on the table as she carefully studied me. “You can’t hold his hand for the rest of your life.”
“I know.” Hard as it was to admit, she was right. I might have pointed out that Mark needed her, too, but stopped for fear it would sound defensive, and I wasn’t.
“Nick needs professional help.”
“I agree, and that’s what I plan to suggest.” Counseling would take time and patience. I knew he’d refused it time and again.
“Do it soon,” Jo Marie advised and reached for her fork once more.
“I will.”
She took a bite of the homemade chicken pot pie and her brows arched at the first taste. “Hey, this is good.”
“I’m more than a pretty face, you know,” I joked, grateful to lighten the mood.
We chatted as she ate and I told her I’d booked two guests that afternoon with stays later in the month. I could see Jo Marie was pleased with how well I’d filled in for her.
“Anything other than bills in the mail?” she asked.
Knowing if she went into her office she’d end up getting involved in the business at hand, I stood and retrieved the mail. I brought it in to her, taking only what wasn’t related to the inn, setting it on the table next to her plate. We’d had several discussions about my taking over for her at the inn. Jo Marie insisted on paying me, and I was equally adamant that having a place to live during this transitional time was payment enough. We’d agreed to disagree and had yet to settle the issue.
Jo Marie reached for the hand-addressed envelope and I saw her face relax when she saw the return Seattle address. “It’s from Mary.”
“A friend?” I asked.
“A former guest.” She leaned back and looked squarely at me as if debating if she should continue.
“What?” I asked, smiling. I was beginning to know that look. She wanted to tell me another story about another guest and was weighing whether she should or not.
“Mary had such a wonderful story, I’d like to tell you about her, if you don’t mind. She’s one of my favorites.”
One look told me she wanted me to hear this. “Tell me,” I insisted, and feeling better than I had all weekend, I relaxed in the chair and waited for Jo Marie to continue.
“When I first met Mary she was undergoing cancer treatment,” Jo Marie started. “She was alone and quite weak. Soon after she arrived she arranged a meeting with a man named George. Right away I recognized the love in his eyes. He was crazy about Mary and deeply concerned when he realized how sick she was. Apparently, at one time the two had been lovers but something had happened that drove them apart.”
“She came to make amends?”
“No.”
“No?”
“Mary was a career business woman. Early in her promising career she became pregnant with George’s child. She’d just received a large promotion, they’d split, and she moved to New York. Although George was against it, she’d decided on an abortion, but in the end hadn’t gone through with it, although she’d never told him she’d delivered the baby.”
“Oh my. So she came to Cedar Cove to tell George what she’d done?”
“No.”
Once more I’d guessed wrong.
“Mary came because she wanted to see her child one time before she died. Amanda’s adoptive parents lived in the area.”
“So she made amends with George and saw her daughter all after her stay at the inn.”
“Yes.”
Again, I wanted to believe there was hope for happiness for me, but I remained a skeptic.
Wait a minute. Jo Marie said