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know, that thing you do when you carry the food to people?”
    “Okay, Charlie. Cool your jets. I’m getting to it.” Lucy winked at Sara. “Catch you later,” she said, heading toward the order window.
    Charlie stood glaring at Sara a moment. Sara glared back.
    She knew Charlie saw her as the source of his troubles—the high-minded college girl who had put the idea of going back to school into Lucy’s head. Not to mention his perennial feud with Emily, who he believed did not deserve to be mayor of Cape Light nearly as much as he did.
    He hated the idea of Lucy going back to school and had done all he could to discourage her. Lucy had even left him for a short time a few years back. She had taken the boys and moved in with her mother. The separation hadn’t lasted long, just long enough to show Charlie that even Lucy had her limits.
    “Did she even take your order?” Charlie growled.
    “I’m waiting for Luke,” Sara said.
    Charlie’s mouth curled in a disdainful smile. He didn’t like Luke much either. “Right, I should have guessed…. When are you two getting married?”
    “We haven’t set a date yet.”
    “Well, don’t rush into anything. Marriage is a tough row to hoe, I’ll promise you that.”
    Married to you, it would be , Sara wanted to say. She was more like her grandmother sometimes than she liked to think.
    The bell over the door jangled and Luke walked in. His gaze swept the diner, quickly settling on Sara.
    “Well, here he is now. Don’t get too comfortable. We’re closing at ten tonight.”
    “Don’t worry, Charlie. We’ll eat fast and get out.” Luke gave Sara a quick kiss, then sat down in the seat across from her. “And thanks for the hospitality.”
    “You shouldn’t provoke him, Luke,” Sara said, trying to look serious.
    “I know but it’s hard to resist.” Luke took her hands and held them in his own. “How’s Lillian doing?”
    “She was pretty good when we left. She felt well enough to argue with her doctor. But she’s in her late seventies with two broken bones and a concussion.”
    “Your grandmother’s head is as hard as a rock. I wouldn’t worry about that part of it.”
    “Fine Italian marble, maybe,” Sara conceded. “She wouldn’t like hearing her cranium described as any old kind of rock, you know.”
    “How long will she be in the hospital?”
    “Why? Are you planning on sending her flowers?” Sara teased.
    “I’d send her a roomful if I thought it would make her like me any better.”
    “Oh, she likes you. She just enjoys taking a contrary position.”
    “Sara, the woman despises me. I know she tells you to dump me every chance she gets. She had a fit when she found out we were engaged. At least admit it.”
    Sara stared down at the table. It was true. For some reason, Lillian had never liked Luke. She told Sara time and again that he wasn’t good enough for her and she could do much better.
    Luke was the finest man Sara had ever known. He had endured so many challenges in his life that had only made him stronger.
    “I know Lillian has her blind spots about you. But in time, she’ll get to know you better, and she’ll—”
    “She’ll find something new to complain about,” Luke finished for her. “Maybe when we get married, she’ll finally get it.”
    Finally was the key word, Sara knew.
    She cleared her throat, hoping to sidestep the when-are-we getting-married conversation tonight. “There’s something I need to tell you about Lillian,” she began. “When she comes home from the hospital, she’s going to need help around the clock. But she doesn’t want a stranger staying overnight. She gets very upset by the idea. Emily and Jessica said they would stay, but you know how hard it would be for them….”
    “Uh-oh. I don’t like where this is heading at all.” Luke rested his chin on one hand, already looking glum. “Go on.”
    “I said I would stay over at night and keep her company. Is that so awful? She’s my only