Spring Comes To Barncastle Inn (9 page)

             
Peter preferred to be a hermit and stay in his lounge pants and old T-shirt. They planned to have a small ham tomorrow, provided he didn't burn it, and he had promised to let Marin make Kate's cheesy potatoes for one of the side dishes.

             
“We're going to the parade, right?” Marin called from the living room. “Andy told me they have hats we can wear for costume. I want to wear a lavender one—if we go.”

             
“I wasn't planning to go today.” Anticipating her next question, he added. “And, no, I'm not planning on dropping you off there, either.”

             
“I won't run off, I promise.” She entered the kitchen, right as he was pouring his first cup. “I don't want to go without you, anyway. Besides, I don't think Mommy would have wanted us to sit home because of her.”

             
He nodded and took the first sip of coffee, then swallowed. “I don't think she would have, either.”

             
“I already know what dress I want to wear.” She grinned at him, her eyes sparkling like Kate's did.

             
He figured he could be ready within thirty minutes. “All right, we'll go.”

             
He had no idea what to say to Sadie when he saw her today. Likely she'd be helping out with the activities and running the shop; still, he couldn't avoid her. Not that there was anything to say.

             
She'd already told him she was looking for a job near Boston, once the shop took off and someone else could run it.

**

Sadie just knew if she turned the wrong way, she was going to knock something, or someone, over with the brim of her wide hat. She liked the bright color, a happy shade of coral, with a darker coral ribbon bow. Anything to boost her mood today, after last night's events.

             
Her 1800s costume had a high neck, perfect to sport an antique cameo broach that Jayne lent her. She felt like she'd stepped off the set of Meet Me in St. Louis, with her swirling skirt and petticoat, high top boots.

             
“I can't help with the eggs and carry a parasol at the same time,” she told Jayne, who was loading the eggs into large baskets with the kids' help, although Hank had started rolling one egg across the kitchen floor.

             
“That's why you have a gigantic hat.” Jayne wore a similar gown, except in navy blue, with her hat a natural straw with a wide brim. A navy blue ribbon under her chin held it firmly on her head.

             
“Do we have our kid-count?” Sadie kept putting eggs in the basket in front of her. Would Peter and Marin show up? After last night, she'd made a hasty retreat after Luke arrived with the ladder to get Marin out of the tree. She yawned.

             
“Besides my kids and the guests' children, we're prepping for about twenty more. We have Nate, Kayla, and Alex—although Alex is still a baby and not walking.” Jayne paused and looked at Sadie. “Late night?”

             
“Not really.” Sadie glanced at Andy, who wore khaki pants and a white shirt, along with a striped clip-on tie. He'd managed to somehow arrange his unruly hair.

             
He tugged at his collar. “Mom, may I go outside to see if anyone's here yet?”

             
“Yes.” Jayne looked up from the eggs. “If you could, please bring two pitchers of lemonade out to the refreshment tent? We'll start serving as soon as the egg roll is over with.”

             
“Okay.” He left the basket of eggs on the table, with Hank running after his older brother.

             
“Keep an eye on Hank, too,” Jayne called after him. Then, she looked at Sadie, her eyes filled with concern. “What's wrong, Sade? Something happened last night...”

             
“It's Peter—and Marin.” She tried not to sigh, but it came out anyway. “I was confused, but last night, after Marin ran off and got stuck in the tree, I saw how he's not ready to move on. No matter what he says, or does, even.”

             
“What do you mean by that?”

             
“He—uh, we—kissed the other night, before we went out to eat.” Sadie rubbed the long sleeves on her dress. “But now he said last night, they would always want Kate back. I was thinking, maybe, especially after that kiss, he was ready to move on. Not leave the memory of his wife behind, but maybe, see a life with me in it? Plus, Marin likes me, but I know she doesn't want me as a mother figure.”

             
She sank onto a nearby chair. The brim of her hat struck the wall, jarring her. “Ow.”

             
“But Luke and I thought you would only be around temporarily, for the store? Maybe until the end of the summer?”

             
Sadie nodded. “That was the idea. At first.”

             
“And now...”

             
“Nothing now. Not after last night. Like I said, it's clear to me that he's not ready.”             

             
“Did you ask him if he was ready?”

             
“No.” She didn't want to think about the answer to that painful question. Kate Appleman stood but a few steps below sainthood, the way Marin spoke of her mother. Talented, crafty, a good cook. A stunning beauty, Sadie had noted that one night she'd had supper with Peter and Marin.

             
She didn't want to share the man she loved with someone else, someone Sadie wasn't.

             
The man she loved. She barely knew Peter, but in some ways felt like she'd always known him.

             
“Luke and I had our own obstacles to overcome.” Jayne fetched an empty straw basket from the shelf. “You know, when I came home, my MBA in tow, I never imagined I'd end up with a readymade family, although I did have dreams of a family someday.”

             
Her cousin had been married nearly eight years and had blended right into the Gilbert family. Hank had her caramel-colored hair, whereas Andy resembled his father.

             
Sadie swallowed her words, and let her cousin continue.

             
“Of course, Andy was a bit younger than Marin is. He took to me right away. It was very—natural.” Jayne pulled open a drawer in the butler's pantry and rummaged through the silverware. “We have some good, sturdy spoons to use. I would have used plastic, but this is a grand occasion.”

             
“Mom, the guests are starting to arrive for the parade and egg roll,” Andy said, entering the room. His voice had lowered an octave or two.

             
“Time for the egg roll!” Hank said, hot on his brother's heels.

             
Jayne smiled. “Wonderful! Now, everyone, remember, this is a fancier time period, for the Easter parade. Our inn guests should be assembled on the lawn in their own finery by now. Andy, if you could help carry the basket of spoons?”

             
Sadie picked up her own basket of colored eggs. She'd never participated in an egg roll, or even seen one before. The rear lawn of the inn had been roped off and a series of “lanes” marked on the grass where the competitors would roll their eggs.

             
Her hat slipped off the back of her head, the ribbon jerking against her throat. How in the world did women manage in these get-ups? It was miles away from the hoopskirt days, and she should be grateful no one wanted a Civil War era or Gone With The Wind theme for a getaway.

             
They paraded out the back door of the inn. The Easter weekend guests waited in costume, and not quite a dozen more people clad in their Sunday best stood beside them. Including Peter, and Marin.

Chapter 9

Peter's mouth went dry. He tried to remember if he'd ever seen Sadie in a dress and couldn't. Nothing like this, that was for sure.

              The pinkish-orangish number hugged her curves in the right way, with a snug waist and a long skirt that topped white lace-up boots that peeked out from under the skirt's hem. She wore white gloves, and she wrestled a hat, wider than a Mexican sombrero, back onto her head. Her blonde hair, caught back into a poofy style on the back of her head, showed off her slim neck.

             
“Wow, Daddy, Sadie looks beau-ti-ful.” Marin's voice held admiration.             

             
“Yes, she does.” He'd always thought Sadie pretty, but now, stunning seemed to be a more fitting word. She flashed the guests a smile, then caught him looking at her. Her smile wavered for a millisecond.

             
Okay, so he should say something. Explain. Take back his words. Or not.

             
He needed to figure out what he wanted. Kissing her had been unfair, and they'd talked about that. Why couldn't today be just about dressing up and letting the kids take turns rolling eggs across the yard, then having lemonade and cake?

             
Lord, we had a simple life, once...

             
“Greetings, guests,” Luke said, looking mighty dapper in his dark gray walking coat, striped vest, and dark gray trousers. His coordinating bowler hat blocked the sun from his eyes. “My wife Jayne and I extend to you our thanks for coming today to our Easter parade and egg roll. This is a time-honored tradition that we enjoy sharing with you. If you would be so kind as to accompany us to the lawn, as the band plays.”

             
Peter heard the brass band before they exited the barn, crossed the parking lot, and joined them at the rear of the house. The band had a bass drum that kept time as the quintet marched toward the rear portion of the lawn.

             
The Gilberts fell into step behind them, with Sadie, Ted, and the guests as well.              

             
“Come on,” Peter said to Marin. “Time to roll some eggs.”

             
Marin pumped her arms as she marched, her head tilted back, and Peter wished he'd brought his camera with him to capture the moment. So determined, so strong.

             
They marched joyfully toward the place for the egg roll contest. The lineup indeed made for a fine parade, everyone in their best, costumed or otherwise. The Gilberts had erected a white tent with a set of tables underneath. Peter could see a clear glass dispenser containing lemonade, and a two-layer cake stood beside it.

             
Jayne smiled as she faced the crowd. “Thank you, thank you. Young ladies and young gentleman under the age of twelve, we'd like you to step up first and select a spoon.” She touched a basket nearby. “Then, each of you should select an egg from one of the baskets.”

             
Marin glanced at Peter before joining the other kids lining up at the table behind Jayne.

             
“Go get 'em, Marin,” he called out.

             
Sadie, in character, gave him a sharp look. “Sir, this is a friendly competition.”

             
“But of course.” He nodded in return.

             
The kids lined up, each at the end of one of the marked lanes on the lawn. The finish line lay a good twenty-five yards beyond them.

             
“Remember sportsmanlike conduct and no pushing. If any of you push anything, it should be an egg, not anyone else in another lane. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place finishers,” Jayne said. “Mr. Gilbert, if you would, please.”

             
“With pleasure, Mrs. Gilbert.” Luke pulled a whistle from his coat pocket with a flourish. “On your mark, get set—go!” He gave a long blast on the whistle and cheers rose up from the other parents.

             
Peter joined in, clapping, then whistling through his fingers.

             
“Really, Mr. Appleman, one would think you were at a horse race,” came Sadie's voice beside him. A light floral scent drifted on the breeze. It came from her.

             
He fought to keep his gaze on the race. “Well, I've taught my daughter when you race, you race to win.”

             
“That's an admirable quality.” She stood, her hands clasped in front of her.

             
“Go, Marin, go!” Peter clapped again.

             
Marin, hunched over, tongue stuck out, focused on the egg on the lawn. It tumbled end over end along the grass as she tapped it with a spoon. A boy about her age—likely one of the inn's guests—had already passed her. His shirt came untucked from his trousers, and one suspender dropped from his shoulder.

             
She kept glancing from the egg to the boy and back again.