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be other babies,” Cecilia said. “We could fill those bedrooms in no time.”

      Ian’s eyebrows shot up and Cecilia giggled.

      She was so happy she could barely contain herself and she could see Ian was just as pleased.

      She thought he might have kissed her right then, except that the agent returned. “The owners are in town and they’ll be here in about ten minutes.”

      As Cecilia and Ian finished exploring the rest of the house, including the two upstairs bedrooms, she noticed that another car had parked out front. An older gentleman, wearing a large cowboy hat and boots, and a middle-aged woman started up the walkway toward the house.

      Judy Flint opened the front door for them and introduced Grace and Cliff Harding. Cecilia smiled shyly at the other couple. When Aaron began to fuss, she lifted him from the carrier and held him against her shoulder.

      “I know it’s unusual for the owners to ask for a meeting with potential renters,” Grace said.

      “We don’t mind,” Cecilia assured her. She recognized Grace from the library. Before she had her own computer, Cecilia had made several trips to use the ones in the library whenever Ian was at sea, so she remembered Grace, who’d been helpful and friendly. “We like your home very much and we’ll take the very best care of it.”

      The older gentleman put his arm around his wife. “Grace and her family lived here for over thirty years and she wants to be sure it’s in good hands.”

      “It will be,” Cecilia promised her. She understood why Grace would want to interview anyone who might be renting her house. It must be hard to let strangers move into a place that you’d lived in for much of your life. And yet Cecilia understood why she was willing to walk away from her home of thirty years. Cliff Harding cherished her. She saw it in the way he touched his wife, the way he looked at her.

      “You’re in the navy?” Cliff Harding asked Ian.

      Ian nodded. “Yes, sir.”

      “So you could be transferred,” Grace said, glancing at her husband. She seemed a little unsure.

      “We could.” Cecilia’s heart would break if they had to leave Cedar Cove but she’d go wherever Ian was assigned.

      “Ms. Harding is asking for a one-year lease,” Judy explained.

      Ian paused. “That could be a problem,” he said. “There’ve been a few rumors about the George Washington being transferred to San Diego. That might not mean anything, but then again, it could.” He’d mentioned this to Ceclia earlier, and she could only hope the rumors came to nothing.

      “Would you consider a lease-to-own option?” she asked. She should’ve talked this over with Ian first and wished she had, but if that was an option, she wanted to know.

      Again Grace looked at her husband. “I…don’t know. I’d like some time to think that over.”

      “Sure…Ian and I aren’t even sure we could afford to own a house this big.”

      “We’ll discuss all of that later.” Ian gestured around him. “As my wife said, we’d take care of your home the same way you have,” he told Grace. “But if you need a one-year lease, we won’t be able to sign it.”

      Cecilia held her breath while she waited for Grace’s response.

      “Should we look elsewhere?” Ian pressed.

      After the briefest of hesitations, Cliff Harding shrugged and seemed to leave the matter up to Grace.

      Cecilia wasn’t sure what else to say, so she asked, “Is there space to plant a garden?”

      “Oh, yes, I’ve always had a garden—roses and bulb flowers and perennials. Pretty well everything should be coming up, but there’s certainly room for more. And the yard gets plenty of afternoon sun.”

      “I’ve always wanted a garden,” Cecilia confessed. She patted Aaron’s back gently and soon the baby was sleeping contentedly on her shoulder.

      Together the four of them walked around the house, while Judy waited inside. Ian and Mr. Harding were deep in conversation, and Cecilia had some questions for Grace, as well.

      “I do hope you’ll agree to rent to us even without a lease,” Cecilia said when they’d finished.

      Grace smiled at her husband and nodded. “My hope was that this home would go to a family just like you. This neighborhood’s a good place for a family and you’ll fit right in.”

      For a moment, Cecilia thought she might cry. “Thank you both so much.”

      “Hey,” Mr. Harding said, raising his hands. “This is strictly Grace’s decision.”

      Judy Flint rejoined them then. “I’ll get the paperwork going right away,” she announced. “Are you prepared to write me a check this afternoon?”

      “Sure am.” Ian removed his checkbook from his hip pocket.

      “When could we move in?” Cecilia asked, and had trouble keeping the excitement out of her voice.

      The Realtor turned to Grace, who smiled. “As far as I’m concerned, once the paperwork’s signed, you have my blessing.”

      “Thank you,” Cecilia said over and over. “Oh, thank you.” She couldn’t stop smiling.

       Six

      Linnette McAfee had been looking forward to this afternoon with Cal all week. Because of her work as a physician assistant at the Cedar Cove Medical Center, her days off rotated. Fortunately, Cal’s job with Cliff Harding allowed him to adjust his work schedule to hers. If not for such an understanding employer, Cal and Linnette might never have found a chance to be together.

      Linnette’s mother, Corrie, had purchased a date for her with Cal at the Dog and Bachelor Auction, a charity event for the local animal shelter. For more money than Linnette could believe, her mother had set her up with Cal Washburn and at the same time purchased an Australian shepherd for her brother, Mack. Both gifts had worked out exceptionally well. Lucky had become her brother’s constant companion, and Linnette—well, she’d fallen in love with Cal. That wasn’t how she’d felt about him in the beginning, however.

      All she’d known about Cal Washburn was that he was a horse trainer and that he talked with a mild stutter. Besides, she’d had her sights set on Dr. Chad Timmons. Chad, however, wasn’t interested, despite Linnette’s continued attempts to attract him.

      Her mother had pestered her to go out with Cal, and Linnette had finally capitulated. To her surprise, she’d enjoyed herself. When he’d asked her out again and kissed her, Linnette was even more surprised. She hadn’t expected to enjoy his company, much less his kisses.

      And so their courtship had begun. Courtship was an old-fashioned word and that suited Linnette, because she considered herself an old-fashioned woman. Cal seemed to appreciate that about her. Their relationship moved slowly—which, she had to admit, she was starting to find a tiny bit frustrating—but she recognized that this was the kind of people they were. Cal’s stutter made him rather shy, even with her.

      Cal was waiting for her when Linnette pulled onto Cliff Harding’s horse ranch in Olalla, about twenty minutes south of Cedar Cove. His welcoming smile made her smile, too. Linnette was thrilled by their feelings for each other, but she was also a little intimidated because of the physical attraction between them. In her early twenties she’d been so intent on her medical studies, she’d never really had a serious relationship. Cal was the first.

      “Hi,” she said, as she climbed out of her car. He was tall and lean, with deep blue eyes. Their color was so intense she was convinced she’d never seen any bluer.

      “H-hi. Hello.” He didn’t need to

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