Free 311 Pelican Court by Debbie Macomber Page A

his time with Katie, but he had to understand how difficult this was for her.
    “Come on,” Grace said as she finished dressing. “Let me put on my makeup and fuss a bit with my hair, and then I’ll buy you breakfast before I go to work.”
    Maryellen declined with a shake of her head. “I can’t eat.”
    “Yes, you can,” her mother insisted. “And you will. Now, come on, it isn’t every day I offer to treat you to breakfast. The Pancake Palace has an early bird special. All-you-caneat pancakes for a buck.”
    Her mother was right, Maryellen realized. She needed a meal—and a distraction.
    By the time she left the Pancake Palace, Maryellen felt worlds better, although they’d done more socializing with others than talking between themselves. The restaurant obviously did a thriving breakfast business. They’d run into Charlotte Jefferson and the members of the New Knee Club who met there once a month. Everyone at the long table had gone through knee-replacement surgery. Charlotte introduced them to her friend Ben Rhodes, a distinguished-looking older man. They appeared to have a relationship that was more than friendly, at least in Maryellen’s opinion. She couldn’t help wondering if there was a romance in the offing. It was kind of cute.
    She got home after nine and headed directly for the phone, figuring Jon would be up with Katie by now. When there was no answer, she left a short message on his machine and dejectedly replaced the receiver.
    At ten she called again. Still no answer. She couldn’t stand not knowing and drove to Jon’s home near Olalla. Her heart pounded frantically as she parked and climbed out of her car.
    Even before she reached his front door, Jon had it open. Katie was in his arms, held firmly against his shoulder. Shewas astonished to see her daughter raising her head and peering around.
    “Maryellen,” Jon said, stepping aside. “Come on in.”
    His home was almost complete now. On her last visit, the finish work had only been partially done. But today she saw that there was a carpet in the living area—a lovely Berber rug in soft greens and grays—and the oak woodwork around the windows overlooking Puget Sound was beautifully varnished. She could see Vashon Island in the distance, and the view of Mount Rainier, majestic and serene beyond the island, was stunning enough to make her heart skip.
    Now that Maryellen was here it was obvious to her that Jon had managed just fine. “You…you didn’t answer the phone,” she stammered, “and…and I didn’t know what to think.”
    “You called?”
    “Twice.” She gave a quick shrug. “I was worried, but I can see that everything’s gone great.”
    “I must’ve been in the shower,” he explained, “or on the balcony.”
    He seemed so easy with Katie now. During his brief visits, he’d lifted her as if she were a bag of unwieldy potatoes, and now he was as natural with her as a…dad.
    Maryellen’s anxiety had been for nothing. She felt embarrassed about rushing out to rescue her daughter. Jon had everything under control.
    “Would you like to see Katie’s room?” he asked.
    Maryellen nodded. Hindsight being what it was, she should’ve checked on all this before she handed over their daughter.
    Jon led her up the open stairway. She loved the house and the fact that he’d done most of the construction work himself.There didn’t seem to be anything Jon Bowman couldn’t master.
    His bedroom was at the top of the stairs, and the French doors leading to the balcony were open. She could imagine him sitting there at first light, holding Katie and talking to her about the panorama outside.
    Maryellen glanced into the bedroom and caught sight of his unmade bed and the photograph of her, beautifully framed and positioned on the opposite wall. She’d first seen it on display in a gallery in Seattle, where the majority of his work was now sold. It had been taken on a foggy afternoon while she stood on the pier next to the