Read Out in the Country for Free Online Page A

slapped his forehead. “The pastor mentioned it last week--there was a party for them on Saturday night.”
    “I’m sorry I missed it.”
    “I did too,” John replied wryly. “I had a call out.”
    John, Lynne knew, was chief of the area’s fire department. “I hope it wasn’t anything too serious.”
    “A house fire, but nobody was hurt.” He paused, and Lynne tensed for the question everyone felt compelled to ask her at some point. “So how are you doing, really?”
    Really. It implied that she hadn’t told the truth, that she was hiding something. Lynne pushed down the prickle of annoyance. John, like so many others, was just showing his concern. “I’m fine, John. Doing well, actually.” She glanced past him to where Jess was nursing her second cup of coffee in the corner, looking a bit lost. “Come meet my friend from Scotland, Jessica MacCready.”
    She placed a hand on John’s sleeve, conscious for a moment of the crispness of his shirt and the underlying strength of his arm. She hadn’t touched a man--any man--in a long time. Disconcerted, she removed her hand and walked over to where Jess was standing. “Jess, this is an old friend of Adam’s, John Tyre. John, Jess.”
    Jess smiled, shaking her dark hair back from her face, and John smiled back easily, extending one large hand for her to shake. “Pleased to meet you. Sometimes I forget Lynne is Scottish. She’s lost all her accent.”
    “She’s been in this country a long time,” Jess agreed, her own gentle burr noticeable.
    “Some would say the Big Apple is a country unto itself,” John joked. “I’m not much of a city person, myself.” His gaze slid speculatively to Lynne, although he made no further comment.
    After a moment of only slightly awkward silence, Kathy came over, smiling brightly. “Everyone ready? If we leave now, we can beat the rush to the café.”
    The clouds had given way to bright autumn sunshine as they walked down Main Street to the bistro Lynne had spied on her drive into town.
    “The Mountain High Café,” she said, eyeing the breezily scripted sign and the chalkboard menu which highlighted several classy brunch options. “When did this come to Hardiwick?”
    “It’s quite something, isn’t it?” Kathy said with a little smile. “The strawberry and white chocolate waffles can beat anything the city has to offer.”
    “Sounds scrumptious,” Lynne agreed. Once inside, she saw the café had been decorated with mismatched chairs and tables. Every seat had a different coloured napkin. It could have looked like the leftovers from a jumble sale, she thought, yet somehow, with the bright flowers and eclectic art hanging on the walls, it all pulled together to form a distinct and cozy look.
    “The owner, Mark Sheehan, is from New York,” Kathy told her as they sat down. The restaurant was filling up, and several waitresses hurried by, carrying coffee pots and extra menus. “He’s about your age, maybe a little younger. He opened this place last year.”
    “And it hasn’t stopped buzzing since,” Graham chipped in. “Hardiwick could use a good restaurant.”
    “And a good inn,” Kathy couldn’t resist adding. She leaned forward, her elbows on the table, and lowered her voice. “Have you thought about our offer, Lynne?”
    “I have...” Lynne paused as a waitress came over and began filling the colourful ceramic mugs on the table. Instinctively Lynne’s gaze slid to her daughter, who was sitting at the end of the table, looking preoccupied and withdrawn. Her dark, curly hair framed a pixyish face that Lynne was used to seen bright and animated. Now Molly looked strained. She hadn’t, Lynne reflected, relaxed all weekend. If anything, her daughter looked more wound up than when they’d first arrived.
    “And?” Kathy said, excitement and impatience in her voice. The waitress left and Lynne took a sip of strong coffee. It was good, she noted with reluctant admiration. Really good.
    “I still need