Page 145 of Mistletoe and Mischief

Beth came down the stairs and into the living room, with Kent directly behind her. “Oh, girls, the table looks lovely.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

The coffee-and teapots were filled and the cake sliced. This wasn’t a wedding reception, Beth had explained to her daughters. It was an opportunity to introduce Kent to her friends and neighbors in Cedar Cove.

Bailey thought her father had never looked handsomer or her mother more beautiful. They were constantly together now. It had started while they were all in Whistler during Christmas break. Bailey couldn’t remember a time they’d had more fun as a family. After their short vacation, Kent had returned to California. Before he could move north to Washington State, he needed to make some decisions and changes.

Within six weeks he’d sold his engineering company to his partner, packed up his house and found responsible tenants. In between all those negotiations and all that packing, Kent flew up to Cedar Cove practically every weekend to be with their mother. It was the most romantic thing.

They’d remarried in a private ceremony on January twenty-eighth. Only the girls and Kent’s brother Michael, who’d come in from California to act as best man, had been in attendance. Afterward, their parents had sent out announcements to family and friends. From the comments Bailey heard, everyone seemed to think this remarriage was wonderful. To Bailey and Sophie it was just plain...right.

“We have our first guests,” Sophie called out, standing by the living room window. “It’s Grace, the lady who has Beau.”

“Grace Harding,” Beth said. “And her husband, Cliff.” She headed for the door.

“There are four of them,” Sophie added.

“The other two are Olivia and Jack Griffin.”

Their mother ushered their guests in out of the rain. Grace and Olivia stepped inside the house and were warmly greeted by Beth and Kent.

“I think we might have met earlier,” Kent said, shaking hands with the two men. “Didn’t I see you at the Christmas Eve service?”

Both men nodded.

“Would you like some coffee and cake?” Bailey asked politely.

“Sure! Thanks.” The two men eagerly accepted her offer while the women raised their hands to decline. “We’re driving to Seattle for a Valentine’s treat,” Grace said. “I’m saving my calories for that.”

“Me, too,” Olivia chimed in. “By the way,” she told Beth, “my mother sent you a small gift. The ladies in her knitting group made you several cotton dishrags. Not very romantic, perhaps, but Mom says everyone can use extras.”

Beth took the package gratefully. “Charlotte is always so thoughtful.”

“Oh, Ben and Mom both send their very best wishes. She wanted me to tell you that bringing the dogs to Sanford Suites has been a real blessing to everyone. They all just love working with those dogs.”

“It’s a help to me, too.”

Bailey smiled. Apparently, her mother was using the senior citizens to help her with dog training. Beth claimed this provided two benefits in one: not only did the older people get a form of therapy spending time with the dogs, they also got a sense of purpose from it. The Reading with Rover program at the library was another of her successes.

Beth slipped an arm around Kent’s waist. “I have to admit that getting those dogs to Sanford Suites can be a bit of an ordeal.”

“You won’t need to do it alone anymore,” Kent told her and, leaning over, gave her a quick kiss.

Seeing her parents like this, so openly in love, Bailey almost forgot her job.

“Since Olivia isn’t having cake, you can give me a bigger slice,” Jack whispered. Bailey threw him a conspirator’s smile and willingly complied.

“I heard that, Jack Griffin,” the judge said from the other side of the room.

“How’s Beau?” Sophie asked.

“I believe he’s the smartest dog I’ve ever owned,” Grace said, beaming with pride. She entertained them all for several minutes with stories of the puppy’s antics.

The sound of another car pulling into the driveway attracted everyone’s attention. “Oh, good,” Sophie said, peering out the window. “It’s the couple who owns the bed-and-breakfast where Dad stayed during Christmas,” she announced. “Oh, and look! They brought their dog.”

“They named her Millie,” Beth said. “I’ve been doing dog obedience classes with her and four of her siblings over the past two months.”

Bob and Peggy Beldon sat down for cake and coffee just as the Griffins and Hardings left. Millie lay contentedly at Peggy’s feet.

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