The Wedding Circle Read Online Free PDF Page A

Maura Beth had admired Jeremy’s tenacity so much because she knew she could not live without a generous dose of her own. So she really had no choice but to support him in all his endeavors, even if he wasn’t always tactful in his approach. “And what did he say to all that? Same as Yelverton?”
    â€œAll in all, I’d say his reaction was nothing short of horrified. You would have thought I was asking permission to blow up that school bus,” Jeremy continued, trying to keep a hint of levity in his tone. “Hutchinson gets this panicked look on his face, clears his throat several times, and finally says with his lips all puckered up, ‘As you’ll soon find out, we’ve got us a real tight budget around here, Mr. McShay.’ ”
    Maura Beth could almost guess what had happened next. “Please don’t tell me you challenged him about spending money on the football team and its road trips like you did in Nashville.”
    â€œNo, not yet. But I fully intend to at some point. So, anyway, he says something to the effect that we should just try to get through the orientation first. He sounded for all the world like a politician running for office.”
    â€œYou mean like Councilman Sparks always does,” Douglas added with a conspiratorial tilt of his head.
    â€œExactly.”
    Maura Beth moved in closer and slowly massaged Jeremy’s arm. She had discovered that he was more susceptible to her suggestions when she applied a gentle touch. “Maybe you should have waited until you got to know this man a little bit better before pushing all his buttons.”
    Jeremy finished off his second cup of punch and plucked a tuna fish sandwich from the artistic arrangement Connie had created on her big glass platter; but he did so rather clumsily, and the carefully balanced stack immediately tumbled into ruin. “Waiting to push his buttons is certainly one way to go. But I always like to know where I stand early in the game. I figure I plant the seed and then keep at it. In the long run, it’ll help me make my case and maybe get just what I want.”
    Maura Beth was secretly pleased by yet another confirmation of Jeremy’s considerable determination. A good, responsible husband should certainly possess that quality, among so many others. “Well, in that case, Mr. Hutchinson will never know what hit him when the time comes.”
    â€œYep,” Jeremy said, swallowing a mouthful of his sandwich. “Let’s just continue the double-team. You keep tabs on Councilman Sparks, and I’ll ride herd on Mr. Hutchinson.”
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    By noon the crowd had swollen to nearly fifty people—too many, in fact, to fit beneath the shade of the tailgating tent, even if they had all made short work of the McShays’ punch and sandwiches. Many of the citizens who had signed Maura Beth’s petitions to keep the existing library open had shown up—including James Hannigan and his flock of Cherico Market employees. Of course, the Crumpton sisters—for once underdressed because of the heat—and Nora Duddney had been afforded the luxury of standing on either side of Councilman Sparks. As expected, he was milking the occasion for all it was worth. Also granted a respite from the midday sun was the project’s architect, Rogers Jernigan, who stood as tall and spindly as one of the metal poles supporting the canopy. Even in the shade, however, he seemed to be sweating profusely, and his skin was sticking to his white shirt. Meanwhile, most of those who were not office holders, benefactors, or in some way connected to the library like Maura Beth were slowly roasting in the outside oven.
    â€œMy fellow Chericoans,” Councilman Sparks began, surveying the gathering with his trademark display of dazzling white teeth. “Today, we begin a new era for our wonderful little town. When I turn over this first shovelful of earth, construction on The