“How many hang-ups did we get in October?”
“Oh, honestly, Roy, you don’t expect me to remember that, do you?”
His eyes narrowed. “As a matter of fact, I do. I don’t know anyone who has a better mind for details. How many, Corrie?”
She swallowed hard. “None.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“In other words, you think whoever’s been mailing these postcards is switching to phone calls?”
“I don’t know.”
“Any more postcards recently?” Corrie hated to ask, but she needed to know. She hadn’t seen any, and Roy hadn’t mentioned getting even one in quite a while. Still, she was afraid he might be hiding them from her—for her own protection, of course.
He shook his head. “The last card arrived on October sixth.”
Corrie smiled, not that she found it humorous. She did feel a little relieved, yes. But her amusement, such as it was, came from Roy’s claim that she had a head for details, although he was the one who categorized every fact, no matter how minute. If it hadn’t been for Roy, the murder at the Thyme and Tide might never have been solved. Little things like the date of the last postcard stayed in his mind—and hers, too. Nothing, however, had been as troubling as this.
The phone rang again. Corrie looked at Roy before answering on the second ring. “Roy McAfee’s office.”
“Mom,” Linnette cried, “where are you?”
“Ah…”
“The ceremony for the clinic opening starts in fifteen minutes! I thought you were coming.”
Corrie nearly laughed out loud. Only seconds earlier, she’d been congratulating herself and Roy on their memories, and they’d let the most important day of the month slip past them.
“Dad and I will be there in a few minutes.”
“Hurry! You wouldn’t believe all the people who are here. Besides, I want to introduce you to Dr. Timmons. Oh, Mom, he’s just so cute.”
“We’re on our way now,” Corrie said.
“Don’t even think of driving. There isn’t a parking spot to be had for miles.”
Corrie loved the joy and excitement in her daughter’s voice. “We’ll be right over.”
Roy must’ve heard, because he’d already collected his jacket. He held Corrie’s long wool coat for her. When she’d pulled on her gloves and wrapped a hand-knit scarf around her neck, they walked out the door. Roy automatically stopped to check that it was locked.
The brisk cold wind off the cove was powerful enough to make Corrie’s eyes water. She shivered and Roy tucked her hand in the crook of his arm as they set off at a brisk pace toward the newly constructed clinic across from City Hall.
“I’m glad Linnette’s living in Cedar Cove now,” Roy murmured, surprising her. He didn’t generally reveal his emotions; he was the kind of man who showed his love through the things he did, not the things he said. Corrie was pleased he had a good relationship with Linnette. But that reminded her of his conflicts with their son, which immediately saddened her.
“I’m glad she’s here, too.” Corrie was more than glad, she was thrilled. Ecstatic. She just wished Mack and Roy would sort out their differences. She resisted the urge to remind her husband that Mack had helped his sister move from Seattle to Cedar Cove. Roy would see through that conversational ploy instantly.
By the time Corrie and Roy arrived at the medical complex, there was a crowd, just as Linnette had said, with more people gathering in front of the big red ribbon stretched across the sidewalk. Corrie spotted Mayor Benson with several other members of the council.
Charlotte and Ben Rhodes were there. That was fitting because it was through their determined efforts that Cedar Cove had a medical facility at all. Jack Griffin and a photographer from The Chronicle were interviewing a group of older people, while the sheriff and his deputies scanned the crowd.
Linnette smiled and waved when she saw Corrie and Roy. She motioned with her head at the good-looking man standing on her right. This must be Chad Timmons, the physician she’d mentioned countless times.
A small podium had been erected and Mayor Benson finally stepped up to the microphone. “Welcome, welcome,” he called out, and a hush fell over the crowd. “I’m delighted to see such a large turnout for this afternoon’s grand opening of Cedar Cove’s brand-spanking-new medical facility.”
Corrie was almost deafened by the resounding cheer that followed. “This has come about as a result of the cooperation between the private and public sectors. I’m proud to have played a role in getting this facility off the drawing board.”
Corrie glanced at her husband and saw that he was having a hard time squelching a smile. “The old windbag should be thanking Charlotte and Ben,” he said, bending down to whisper in her ear.
“Yeah,” Corrie whispered back. “He wasn’t the one who risked jail time.”
Mayor Benson gestured expansively. “Now, I’d like to introduce our staff members.” Several other men and women had joined Linnette and Dr. Timmons, and the mayor briefly introduced each one. When Linnette’s name was announced, she gave a small wave. Corrie clapped as loudly as her gloved hands would allow.
After the introduction of the staff, Mayor Benson continued to elaborate on the role his office had played in establishing the clinic.
“Just cut the ribbon,” someone shouted from the back of the crowd when rain started to fall.