Spring Comes To Barncastle Inn Read Online Free Page A

mess she'd made of her career.
                  “Do you mind covering that for the weekend, Sadie?” Jayne was saying.
                  Sadie shook her head. “I'm sorry, what did you just ask?”
                  “We need some extra hands with kitchen detail and brunch prep on the weekend.”
                  “Oh, of course.”
                  “We were thinking you could help, if your ankle isn't cooperating and you can't make the hike on Easter Sunday morning.”
                  “Yes, I don't mind staying back at the kitchen at all. I'm sure my ankle will be fine. Easter's in two weeks,” Sadie said, just as the front doorbell rang. “That's likely Marin, come to help me with the shop.”
                  Andy sprang to his feet. “I'll get the door.” He left for the foyer before anyone could say otherwise. Poor kid, the family powwow had him bored stiff, but Jayne and Luke probably eyed him to continue the family business one day. Sadie almost envied him.
                  Right now the current weekend guests were dining on a St. Patrick's day dinner in Csatlebury. Checkout time lay just ahead and the guests would head for home early this evening after spending a three-day weekend at the inn.
                  Voices echoed from the front of the house. Andy reentered the room, his cheeks shot with red, Marin on his heels with Peter bringing up the rear.
                  “Hi, Sadie, I'm here to help.” Marin smiled, but her focus was on Andy, who settled back onto the cushion he'd vacated minutes before.
                  “That's Miss Barncastle, Marin,” Peter said. “I'll be back at five for both of you. Hi Luke, Jayne...Sadie.”
                  At the “both of you,” Jayne's eyebrows shot up and she glanced at Sadie, who felt her own cheeks burning.
                  “Yes, Dad.” Marin nodded, unbundling the scarf from her neck.
                  “Good to see you, Peter.” Luke stood and crossed the room. The two men shook hands. “We've had a pretty busy late winter. Jayne and I have been meaning to invite you over for supper.”
                  “That's all right, I understand. My own work has kept me quite busy.”
                  It dawned on Sadie that she didn't know much about Peter, other than the past and their tenuous new friendship in the present. She wanted to find out more about Appleman the adult, but now wasn't the time. But at supper? She'd definitely see what she could learn.
                  He flashed a grin at her before leaving the room. “See you later, Sadie.”
                  Jayne leaned over and hissed in Sadie's ear, “We ought to talk, later.” As she sat up, she wore a grin of her own.
                  Sadie nodded, then glanced at Marin, chattering with young Hank, who played with his Legos on the floor. She knelt beside him, putting blocks together to construct a house.
                  “Well, c'mon,” Luke gestured. “I want to show grandma's prayer garden to the kids.”
                  “I'll wait here, for obvious reasons,” Sadie said. “But I'm sure looking forward to seeing it eventually.”
                  “I'll stay, too.” But Marin looked at Andy with a shade of regret on her face. The girl definitely had a little crush on the older boy. Oh dear.
                  “I'll get my coat.” Andy strode from the room, with his family following in his wake, Jayne explaining to Hank in as best terms as she could to a four year old what exactly a prayer garden was.
                  “So,” Sadie said after she heard an outside door close, “why are you smiling at Andy so much?”
                  Marin blushed. “I think he's cute. But I wish he'd talk to