Free Spring Comes To Barncastle Inn by Lynette Sowell

you climb up there?”
                  “I—I got scared. I thought I heard something.”
                  Ah, child logic. Sadie glanced around the darkened woods. A few flashlight beams bounced in the distance, as the others headed toward her. Peter arrived first.
                  “I already hollered for someone to bring a ladder,” Sadie told him.
                  “Thank you.” He laid his hand on the tree trunk and looked up. “Marin, you scared me. Why did you leave the barn?”
                  “I—I don't know. I didn't want to be there anymore. It was so sad, and I...I miss Mommy.” With that, she started to sob.
                  Sadie lowered the flashlight, and sighed. “Peter.”
                  He echoed her sigh. “I know...Marin, honey, after we get you down from there...”
                  “It was tomorrow, Daddy. Tomorrow. And I still want her back.”
                  “I know, sweetheart. We'll always want her back.”
                  The words cut into Sadie and ripped into her heart. She thought she'd done a good job protecting it, but evidently not. Her eyes stung with tears.
                  If Peter wasn't ready to move on, despite the kiss, all this between them would be a mistake.
                  She allowed herself a smile at the bitter irony. It was on this same spot, years ago, he'd nearly kissed her. But her own pride had made her stand by while other kids teased him about it, and then she joined in.
                  After this weekend, she'd email Jessica a fresh copy of her resumé.
                 
     
    Chapter 8
     
    Peter woke Saturday morning with a headache. It figured. Two years ago today, Kate had left them. The day had grown ever closer, and of course, the perfect Vermont spring weather called to him outside as if nothing were wrong in the world.
                  He rolled out of bed, and headed downstairs to the sound of cartoons.
                  Marin sat on the couch. She held a bowl, probably containing her favorite cereal. “Morning, Daddy.”
                  “Morning.” He headed for the coffee pot, and groaned as he stood at the counter. He'd forgotten to program the coffeemaker last night.
                  They'd stayed up late, talking about Kate and going through a photo album, started when Marin was a baby and filled with pictures until right before Kate got sick. She'd been the one to keep the photos straight. Peter had plenty of digital photos stored on the computer, but had neglected to keep up with ordering prints.
                  He set up the coffeemaker, and while the coffee gurgled and brewed, his thoughts drifted to Sadie. Last night he hadn't missed the look on her face, lit by flashlight. He wished he'd chosen his words more carefully, but at the moment, his first priority had been Marin.
                  His first priority, for the past two years, had always been Marin. But Sadie—
                  A pair of arms crept around his waist. “Thanks, Daddy.”
                  “For what?”
                  “Being the best dad in the world.”
                  “Remind me again about that when you're sixteen.”
                  “Huh?”
                  “Never mind.” He leaned over and kissed the top of her forehead. “I'm glad Sadie found you.”
                  “I knew somebody would find me. I didn't want to yell at the end of the service and ruin it. I could hear the music, too. It was beautiful.” Marin skittered back to the living room.
                  Barncastle Inn had invited him and the rest of the neighbors up and down the road to their Easter egg roll and Easter parade today, along with a picnic lunch.