CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
ELLIE
Ellie’s cell phone rang and, startled, she reached for it sitting on the bedside table. She checked Caller ID and sat up.
“Hi, Liz. Is everything all right?”
“More than all right,” Liz said. “Shane just asked Charlie to marry him. After all that mess with Diana, I wondered if he’d decide to wait a while. But, no, he asked Henry and Savannah to stay an extra two days so they could all celebrate together. I wish you could’ve been there to see how happy everyone was. I’ll send you the pictures after we hang up. I just couldn’t wait to tell you.”
Ellie’s eyes filled. “That’s such wonderful news. I’m ecstatic that it’s happened, just like we hoped.”
“When you come home, you’re going to be pleased with all that’s going on at the Inn,” said Liz. “I miss you like crazy, you know.”
“I do,” Ellie said, grateful for their friendship. “But as we planned, I can’t come home quite yet. I have to wait until the end of summer to give Brooke and Livy a chance to make some major decisions of their own. Hopefully, by then, they and the other cove kids will have similar stories to tell.”
“Love stories you mean,” prodded Liz.
“Yes, that too,” said Ellie. “How is everyone else?”
“If you mean the other grandmothers, they’re fine. Anxious as you and I are to see what love connections we can help along the way. But as I’ve said before, we might have to be patient. Can’t tell who’ll fall next.”
Ellie couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her. If the young people knew the plotting going on behind their backs, they’d be surprised. But then, Sanderling Cove was a special place with beloved people, and they all deserved happiness.
Beside her, John stirred. “Who’s that you’re talking to? Is everything all right?”
“Liz, and it’s better than all right. Shane and Charlie are engaged, which means they’ll stay in the area.”
“Nice,” he murmured and rolled over.
Ellie shook her head. He just didn’t get it. If she and the other grandmothers didn’t help things along, it might never have happened. She wondered who would be next.
# # #
