1022 Evergreen Place by Debbie Macomber

Just his luck. He wondered what Charlotte might know regarding the letters, but he was worried she’d reveal more than he was ready to divulge.
    â€œMaybe she’s in a hurry….”
    â€œDon’t be silly.” Mary Jo bustled after Charlotte, and Mack had no choice but to follow, pushing Noelle in the cart.
    â€œCharlotte!” Mary Jo called loudly, and the older woman turned around.
    Charlotte was with her husband, Ben Rhodes, Noelle’s grandfather. Her eyes brightened as soon as she saw Mary Jo, Mack and Noelle. “Oh, my, this is a pleasant surprise,” she said, moving toward them with her hands extended. After hugging Mary Jo and Mack, she smileddown at Noelle. “I can’t believe how much she’s changed since we last saw her.”
    â€œIt wasn’t that long ago,” Ben said mildly. He was leaning forward, chucking Noelle under the chin.
    Ben was still distinguished-looking, and Mack had no difficulty picturing him as an admiral. He knew Ben Rhodes was an honorable man who took his responsibilities seriously. His son David had deeply hurt him by his actions.
    â€œIf you like, I could bring Noelle by once a week for a short visit,” Mary Jo offered. “You’re the only grandparents she has.”
    Charlotte and Ben exchanged a glance. “We’d love that,” Charlotte said enthusiastically. “Thank you, Mary Jo. That would mean so much to us.”
    â€œWednesdays would be best for me if that’s okay with you? I can come by when I’ve picked her up from Kelly’s.”
    Kelly Jordan was Noelle’s day-care provider.
    Again, the older couple conferred with a single glance. “That would be perfect,” Ben assured her.
    â€œI’ll stop by after work, then. I won’t stay long, I promise.”
    â€œYou stay as long as you like. Ben and I will look forward to seeing our granddaughter—and you, too, of course.”
    â€œActually, Mack and I were just talking about you,” Mary Jo told Charlotte.
    â€œOh?”
    â€œWe discovered the oddest thing in the duplex. I found a box of old letters under the floorboards of my bedroom closet.”
    Mack moved closer to Mary Jo.
    â€œThey’ve been there for years,” Mary Jo said. “Theletters were written in the early 1940s to a woman named Joan Manry, who lived in the house.”
    â€œJoan Manry.” Charlotte slowly repeated the name.
    â€œDoes that sound the least bit familiar?” she asked hopefully.
    Charlotte’s forehead wrinkled. “I can’t say it does. I was a young bride myself back then. Clyde and I had just married, against the wishes of my parents, mind you. I was far too young, but these were desperate times and Clyde was about to go off to war.”
    â€œFrom what I’ve been able to decipher, Joan lived at 1022 Evergreen with her sister and worked in the shipyard.”
    â€œAs I did,” Charlotte said. “I’m sorry, but the name doesn’t ring a bell. Let me think about it, though.”
    â€œWho wrote the letters?” Ben asked. “A soldier?”
    â€œYes. His name was Dennison,” Mack supplied. “Jacob Dennison.”
    â€œJacob Dennison.” Charlotte frowned thoughtfully. “His name does sound familiar but I can’t recall why.”
    â€œI’d love to find out what happened to those two,” Mary Jo said, her voice full of enthusiasm. “I want to know if Dennison survived the war and if he and Joan ever got married. If so, I’ll bet their children and grandchildren would treasure these letters. They’re beautifully written and very moving.”
    â€œHidden away like that, too,” Charlotte commented.
    â€œYes, I can’t imagine why she’d do that. The only thing I’ve come up with is that, for some reason, Joan’s sister didn’t like Jacob.”
    â€œMaybe,” Charlotte murmured. “I’ll see what