The Marriage Recipe Read Online Free

Easter-egg event the middle of the month.
    Rachel gathered her coat closer, and soon was inside the first set of huge wooden doors. She crossed the black-and-white tile floor and pulled on the next set. Lancaster and Morris was situated in the former county seat, an old court-houselike, three-story building complete with a rotunda. Colin Morris used to say there were two coveted offices in the place: the Morris office, which overlooked Main Street, and the Lancaster office, which overlooked the town park. Rachel strode over to the receptionist, seated behind a huge desk.
    â€œMay I help you?” the girl asked.
    â€œI’m here to see Bruce Lancaster. If he’s available,” Rachel added hastily.
    â€œDo you have an appointment?” She had to be about twenty, Rachel decided, and already she had a wedding ring on her finger.
    â€œNo.” Gosh, she really was an idiot. “I’m Rachel Palladia. My grandmother owns Kim’s Diner. She’s a client here.” Rachel had no idea whose, but Lancaster and Morris had handled both her father’s and her grandfather’s estates.
    â€œMr. Lancaster is out of town for the next two weeks,” the receptionist said politely. “He and his wife—”
    â€œOh, yes, Christina. I didn’t attend their wedding, but my mother and grandmother went.” Rachel smiled helpfully. “Is she available?”
    â€œNo, she’s out of town, as well. I can see who else could meet with you, if you’d like. If no one is available today, I’d be more than happy to set up an appointment for some other time.”
    Rachel sighed with frustration. She’d have better luck just walking next door this evening, bringing Reginald Morris an apple pie and asking for his advice after dinner. “No, that’s okay. I’ll take care of it.”
    She turned and began the trek back across the marble floor, the rubber soles of her tennis shoes squeaking. She’d just reached the outer set of doors when one of them opened as if of its own volition. The motion threw her off balance, and she plowed right into the man walking in.
    â€œCareful there,” he said, his bare hand catching her arm in an attempt to steady her. His wool overcoat slapped around his legs and his briefcase banged his knee. “Gotta look where you’re going,” he chastised her lightly.
    â€œI was,” Rachel replied, her patience a tad on the thin side.
    â€œAs long as you’re okay,” he said. It was then that they both took a good look at each other. “Rachel?” the man said. “It is you.”
    Colin Morris stood in front of her, blocking her escape. “Hi, Colin,” she replied.
    He smiled. They were still in the vestibule, and he let the outer door close behind him with a thud. “It’s good to see you. I heard you were in town.” His blue eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œWhat, in town?” He hadn’t grown dense over the years, had he?
    He frowned. “No. Here. Where I work.”
    â€œOh. I wanted to catch Bruce, but he’s away.”
    â€œYeah, his wife’s pregnant and soon she won’t be able to travel with Bella, her little girl. Christina and Bruce decided to visit her side of the family now, while she’s still mobile.
    â€œSo, you’re home for a while?” he asked conversationally.
    â€œYes. You know, I do come home occasionally. In fact, I was home this past Christmas,” she said, chafing. “I met Christina then. She came briefly into Kim’s to pick up some of my mom’s chicken salad. I’m in and out so quickly that I don’t have time to see everyone. Most of my friends are all married and busy with their own lives. I have managed to keep in touch with Heather.”
    â€œYeah, but not with me or Bruce. You didn’t attend his wedding. I thought I’d run into you there. We haven’t caught up in