“Mrs. Colson’s arranged for us to have several minutes of privacy, so you don’t need to worry we’ll be interrupted.”

“I…see.” Sherry claimed Doc’s chair, on the other side of the desk, nearly falling into it. “What can I do for you, Mrs. Bailman?”

“I understand my son’s proposed to you?” She eyed Sherry speculatively.

Sherry didn’t mean to sound curt, but after everything that had happened that day, she was in no mood to review her private life with anyone. “I believe that’s between Cody and me.”

“I quite agree. I don’t want to be nosy. I hope you’ll forgive me. It’s just that Cody’s been single all these years, so I couldn’t help getting excited when Heather mentioned—”

“Heather?” Sherry interrupted. Just as she’d expected. That explained everything.

“Why, yes. My granddaughter phoned me first thing this morning.” A smile tempted the edges of her mouth. “She’s concerned that her father’s going to ruin her best chance at having a mom and being a big sister, and knowing my son, I’m betting she’s right.”

“Mrs. Bailman—”

“Please, call me Judith.”

“Judith,” Sherry said, “don’t get me wrong, I think the world of Cody and Heather. Your son did ask me to marry him—in a rather offhand way.”

The woman’s mouth tightened. “That sounds like Cody.”

“If you must know, I turned him down. Cody makes marriage seem about as appealing as a flu shot.”

Judith laughed. “I can see I’m going to like you, Sherry Waterman.”

“Thank you.” She wasn’t accustomed to having an entire town and now the man’s mother involved in one of her relationships. At least when she lived in Orchard Valley, her life was mostly her own. The minute she’d been hired to work in Pepper, her personal business was up for grabs.

“I hope you’ll forgive me for being so blunt, but are you in love with Cody?”

Sherry meant to explain that she was attracted to Judith’s son, then add how much she respected and liked him, but instead, she found herself nodding.

The full impact of the truth took her by storm. She closed her eyes and waited several seconds for the torrent of emotion to pass.

Judith smiled and sighed with apparent relief. “I guessed as much. I tried speaking to him about you, but he refused. Truth be known, I would’ve been surprised if he had listened,” she murmured. “That boy’s more stubborn than a mule.”

The description was apt, and Sherry smiled.

“If he knew I was here, he’d never forgive me, so I’m going to have to ask for your discretion.”

“Of course.” Sherry glanced worriedly at the door.

“You needn’t worry that Martha Colson will say anything. We’ve been friends for years.” She looked past Sherry and out the window. “Be patient with him, Sherry. He’s closed himself off from love, and I know he’s fighting his feelings for you with the full strength of his will. Which, I might add, is formidable.”

That much Sherry knew.