Adams Grove 03-Wedding Cake and Big Mistakes Read Online Free PDF

into the emergency lane to slow down for his turn. It was a little early in the year for trespassers on this land. Must have been the hot days we’ve had. Usually, it was a bigger summer problem, with kids wanting to hang out at the spring-fed pond. It was always a good way to cool off.
    Connor pulled his car right up to where the chain had once blocked the entrance to Old Pond Road. The grass held the indentation showing someone had recently driven down the path, but the only thing back there was the abandoned farmstead and acres and acres of overgrown cropland and woods that led down to the huge pond. Too bad the trust dictated that the land remain inactive and the entry barricaded. This would be a prime piece of real estate if the remaining family would sell, not that anyone local would ever buy it. The old-timers in town still whispered about the drowning that had happened here, even though it was so long ago.
    Thick gravel crunched beneath Connor’s expensive leather loafers as he approached the old wooden post. Someone had pried out the staple that held the locked end of the cable. He went back to the car and got his hammer to pound the staple back into place. With a few swings, the cable was back in place. Just like new. He quickly took a measurement to see what size pole gate they’d need.
    He’d have to come back when he was more suitably dressed to do a once-over around the house. A review of the property, fencing, and land was due anyway. He put the tools back in the trunk, then headed back to his office in town.
    Connor had just returned to the office when the bells clanked against the front door behind him again, and Mac walked in.
    “If you’re here surveying how we liked your bear claws, they were too good to resist,” Carolanne said. “You’re still the number one baker in this town.”
    “I was going to say I’m the only baker, but I guess now that Derek is here helping me out, that’s not true, so I’ll take that as a compliment.” Mac’s face turned a little pink against the white of his uniform. “I’m actually here to discuss some business with Connor.” He looked apologetic. “Is this a bad time? Anita said she could watch the store for a little while.”
    “Not at all.” Connor motioned for Mac to follow him down the narrow hall to his office. “Come on back.”
    Mac paused at the door. “Do you mind if I close this?”

    Carolanne went back to her filing. When she’d first partnered with Connor, she’d tried to talk him into hiring someone to do this kind of work. He’d won the first round, and she had to admit that he’d been right. She had plenty of time to do it herself, plus she’d come to rather enjoy the smaller tasks that administrative help would’ve covered for them.
    Sometimes it was still a challenge to feel like she’d put in a full day at the office with the slower pace of the small-town practice compared to New York—not that she missed that rat race.
    She went back into her office to review the real estate closing she was handling in the afternoon. Several of the older farms in the county were being split up and sold. Too bad the younger generations were not carrying on the agriculture that had carried this town for so many years. It was sad to see so much of that land get broken up. As one generation died, the next was making decisions that would change this town, but on the flip side, it was nice tosee the town growing enough to stay alive in the tough economic times. Almost every shop on Main Street stayed busy, and the few empty buildings were in the process of being revitalized. That was a good sign for Adams Grove.
    Mac and Connor walked by, still talking all the way to the door.
    When Connor closed the door behind Mac, he pulled his hands up on his hips and stood there shaking his head.
    “What’s the matter?” Carolanne called from her office. “You OK?”
    Connor looked her way, then walked toward her office with a serious look of concern on his