Stone Bridges

by Carla Neggers

  Or maybe he just wanted her as a friend.

  “That’s the Chianti,” she said. “You’re overthinking again.”

  She pulled on warm pajamas and climbed into bed, pulling up the covers. She checked her email one last time. She had emails from friends in Australia, Kenya and San Francisco.

  And a text from Vic.

  I heard about Eric and Trish. They never were the right match. Glad he’s okay.

  Adrienne smiled and typed her response. You see? You’re a part of this town now.

  He texted her back almost instantly. It didn’t tell her much. Just that wherever he was, he was awake. Elly keeps me posted on local gossip. You’re okay?

  I’m taking tomorrow off.

  Putting your feet up?

  Helping Adam pick up rocks in New Hampshire.

  This time, Vic’s reply wasn’t instantaneous, but a few seconds later, she saw his text: I heard about that, too. He told Brandon, who told Maggie, who told Elly.

  Who told you.

  Have fun with the rocks.

  She smiled and texted good-night. She would have fun with the rocks, and with Adam.

  * * *

  The quarried stone in New Hampshire matched. Adam had known it would, obviously.

  On their way back, they stopped for apple pie and coffee at a well-known diner and arrived in Knights Bridge just after dark. Maggie and Olivia were at Carriage Hill. “I should see what they’re up to,” Adrienne said.

  “Sure thing.”

  “Adam...” She started to push open the passenger door to his van. “Today was fun, and I learned a lot.”

  “About rocks.”

  She grinned. “I love soaking up new information. Now you have to go home and explain to Violet why you took me with you instead of her.”

  “Let’s hope she didn’t chew up Vic’s cashmere throw in revenge.”

  She found Maggie and Olivia in the kitchen, with their line of goat’s milk products set out on the table. “Olivia needed a distraction,” Maggie said.

  “I’ve been obsessing about the baby.” She left it at that, as if she didn’t want to trigger a fresh round of anxious thoughts. “How was New Hampshire?”

  “Beautiful scenery,” Adrienne said. “We found rocks and we had pie. I was glad to see more of the countryside.”

  They didn’t question her explanation for the day. They heated soup Maggie had brought and filled bowls at the table, turning the conversation back to goat’s milk products and all the possibilities that went with them. After using the products in the rooms, many of the inn’s guests had asked if they could purchase full-size versions, and the small amenity sizes often went home with them.

  As they left, Maggie and Olivia invited Adrienne to join them Friday night for one of their periodic “movie nights” with friends. “We’ve always had them here, but we can have it up at the barn,” Olivia said.

  “Here’s fine. I can get everything together—”

  “Oh, we’ve got it down to a science,” Maggie said. “You’re not in your innkeeping role.”

  “We want you there as a friend,” Olivia added.

  Adrienne thanked them. “It sounds like great fun.”

  For the next two days, she busied herself with some of the things she’d put off during the intense weeks of peak foliage—such as figuring out where to relocate the cordwood. It looked as if it’d involve building a lean-to or some other type of structure. Having the wood out in the open through cold weather would only deliver her a fresh set of problems. Cordwood and snow, sleet, freezing rain and just plain rain weren’t a good combination. A tarp would help, but then she’d have to pry it off every time she needed to get wood.

  “No wonder the wood’s in the shed,” she said to herself.

  She drove into town for more books at the library and stops at the country store, post office and bank. She saw Adam and his crew working on the building with the stone from New Hampshire. They looked as if they had their hands full, but he spotted her car and waved to her.

  By movie night, she was ready for a distraction.

  Clare Farrell, Jess Flanagan and Samantha Sloan were free for the evening and showed up with food and drinks. It was an informal, “come if you can” sporadic get-together. Adrienne had lit a fire and set out napkins, utensils and small plates but otherwise stepped back from an organizing role.

  Samantha pulled her aside in the kitchen shortly after she arrived. “I felt as if I’d never fit in around here at first. Movie night? I’d never done anything remotely like it. Then I realized it’s not about fitting in. It’s about being myself and enjoying being around other women who were being themselves.” She screwed up her face. “Does that make sense?”

  Samantha Bennett Sloan wasn’t particularly introspective, something Adrienne appreciated since she’d been overthinking everything lately. She smiled. “It makes perfect sense. Thank you.”

  Maggie burst into the kitchen with hors d’oeuvres hot out of her oven at home. Adrienne didn’t need to know what they were to know they were delicious. Everyone gathered in front of the fire and decided to watch Vera, a beloved British detective series. They put on the first episode of the first season and enjoyed simple snacks, Kendrick Winery reds and sparkling water with slices of lemon and lime for Jess and Olivia, both pregnant. Jess announced that to help her get through morning sickness, she’d binge-watched Shetland, another detective series based on books by Ann Cleeves, the same author who’d created Vera. “I had morning sickness bad,” she said.

  Maggie shuddered. “My mother was sick as a dog with the twins. She says if they’d been first, there’d have been no Phoebe and me. I sailed through with Tyler and Aidan. A good thing, because they’re putting me through my paces now.” She pointed cheerfully to the spot where she’d hit her head. “I have the scars to prove it.” She grinned. “Don’t worry. I love them to bits and won’t guilt-trip them. It’s my own damn fault I stumbled. I still haven’t seen the moose. Have you, Adrienne?”

  “Early on,” she said. “Not recently. I don’t think he’s around anymore. It’s been busier here with events and more hikers on the road.”

  Samantha, who’d chosen to sit on the floor, stretched out her legs toward the fire. “Tyler and Aidan suggested we choose Walking with Dinosaurs for our movie tonight. They said Adam watched it with them and insisted he loved it.”

  “He probably did,” Maggie said. “He was a dinosaur nut at their age. It’s a fun movie but I’m good with Vera.”

  They all loved DCI Vera Stanhope, a woman comfortable in her own skin, witty, occasionally caustic and always dedicated to her work. “She has cute detective sergeants,” Olivia offered as she helped herself to a handful of popcorn.

  “That’s an understatement,” Jess said.

  It occurred to Adrienne that however by happenstance, she was the only single woman at tonight’s gathering. If any of the other women guessed what was going on between her and Adam, nothing was said or even hinted at. Which probably meant they didn’t know. Clare was discreet by nature and might not have said anything, but Maggie, Olivia, Jess, Samantha—they’d want details. Adrienne smiled, not as threatened or uncomfortable at that prospect as she would have been even a couple of weeks ago.

  “Eric’s unattached and has been for a while now,” Maggie said. “We just didn’t know.”

  Jess nodded. “He seems fine. I bet he won’t have any trouble getting back into the saddle, so to speak. He’s good-looking.”

  “All the Sloans are,” Olivia said. “He’s rougher-looking than Vera’s detectives.”

  “I like Kenny,” Clare said, referring to an older detective constable in the series, as opposed to his good-looking younger colleagues.

  “My talented, ambitious little sister Ruby broke Christopher’s heart, I think,” Maggie said. “I don’t know how happy she
is in Hollywood. She says she’s learning a lot, taking it all in. I doubt she’ll stay out there.”

  Jess helped herself to more water. “Adam had his heart broken when he left the military. That’s when he got Violet. I remember how sick she was.”

  “They helped each other heal,” Olivia said.

  Clare smiled. “Knights Bridge itself has a way of helping people heal.”

  “Yeah, being back home definitely helped him,” Maggie said. “We worried about Adam night and day when he was deployed, even Brandon, who’s not a worrier. It never would have worked between Adam and the woman he was involved with—I just realized I’ve never known her name. See? He’s a hometown guy to his core. No way would she have wanted to be here.”

  “It’s a welcoming town,” Clare said. “More so than I expected when I moved here. It’s only been a year but Owen and I are very much at home. I certainly never expected to have a man in my life by now, but here I am. No cute British detective sergeant.”

  “A cute ER doctor, though,” Samantha said.

  Maggie nibbled on a few cashews. “It’s best to move on when a relationship isn’t right, but you need to know it’s not right, especially once you’ve made a commitment to each other. You work at it before you walk away for good.” She was pensive, staring at the television as a new episode of Vera loaded. “Brandon and I almost called it quits. I’m glad we worked through our issues.”

  “Trish never wanted to be a part of Eric’s life here,” Olivia said. “She’s solid, a good person, dedicated to her job—I hope she loves Atlanta and does well there.”

  Maggie glanced around the room. “I just realized that except for Jess, we’ve all lived somewhere besides Knights Bridge. I never thought I’d come back. Olivia always wanted to come back. Samantha wandered into town looking for pirate treasure. Clare moved here for work. Adrienne—well, you’re here because of work and Vic, right?”

  “That’s the short answer,” she said.

  Maggie’s turquoise eyes settled on her knowingly, but she smiled and settled in to watch the next episode of their British DCI at work.

  Once the dishes were cleaned up and the leftovers stored in the refrigerator and everyone had gone home, Adrienne poured herself a small glass of wine and stood out on the terrace in the dark. She could hear animals in the woods and smiled, not the least bit concerned.

  When she went inside, she saw she had an email from Vic. I haven’t abandoned you.

  I know you haven’t.

  Then, later, a text from Adam. Full moon tonight, did you notice?

  I noticed.

  It was a while before she dropped off to sleep.

  * * *

  In the morning—Saturday—Adam and Brandon arrived at the inn to build a lean-to for the cordwood. “If this isn’t a good time, we can come back,” Brandon said.

  “No, it’s fine,” Adrienne said. “Thank you.”

  They took her out back and explained what they thought would work. They’d run it past Olivia, who’d long known the shed wasn’t a permanent solution, but she wanted Adrienne’s opinion. Not her wheelhouse, but their choice of size and location—just off the terrace, toward the addition—were in line with what she’d imagined. She gave her approval. “It’ll take us the morning,” Adam said. “We’re making cider this afternoon.”

  “You’ll have to join us,” Brandon added, seemingly oblivious to the sparks between her and his younger brother.

  She glanced at Adam. “Cider?”

  “Apple cider,” he said. “It’s a family tradition.”

  How could she resist?

  The two brothers made short work of the lean-to and even transferred the wood from the shed. Adrienne admired their handiwork—the lean-to, the neatly stacked wood—and thanked them profusely. Brandon took off in his truck, and she rode with Adam out to the Sloan place. The old farmhouse had white clapboards and black shutters, set atop a hill with a red barn, shade trees and views of the fields and hills and a sliver of the reservoir in the distance.

  Except for Heather, all the Sloans were present for the family tradition of making cider, using their own hand-cranked press and their own apples. Adam took Adrienne to one of the gnarly trees in the backyard, and they picked the last of the Baldwin apples—an old-fashioned variety—and placed them in a bushel basket. Tyler and Aidan joined them. Of course they had to get up into the tree. Adam laughed and helped them.

  Adrienne loved learning about cider making, a New England tradition that went back generations. “Hence Cider Brook and Justin’s old cider mill,” Adam explained. “Hard cider was a staple back in the day. Chris likes to make a batch. I prefer beer and fresh cider.”

  He handed her a glass of the first pour from the press. “This is wonderful,” she said after taking a sip.

  The atmosphere helped, she thought. She watched him with his family. He was quiet but he had a firm place with them. His brothers relied on him to rein in expenses and keep them from overextending. He was solid, intelligent, strong and hardworking, and she doubted she was doing a good job hiding her attraction to him.

  In a few minutes, Evelyn Sloan confirmed Adrienne’s suspicion by easing next to her. “Cider’s good this year,” she said. “I remember when my husband and I got the cider press. It was just the five boys then. Heather wasn’t born yet. Adam always loved making cider.”

  “What wonderful memories you must have,” Adrienne said.

  Evelyn finished her cider and returned her glass to the table set up next to the press. “Don’t let Adam’s military service fool you. He’s never wanted to live anywhere but Knights Bridge. Brandon did. Couldn’t wait to get out of here.” She was silent for a moment. “It’s good he and Adam are both home to stay.”

  Christopher joined them, taking his grandmother by the arm and edging her toward her great-grandsons. Adrienne smiled to herself. “He’s a firefighter,” Adam said, easing next to her. “He likes to rescue people.”

  “Your grandmother loves you guys.”

  “It’s hard to believe but she’s even more outspoken in her old age.”

  She looked out across the fields toward Quabbin in the distance. “I wonder where Vic is right now.”

  Maggie and Brandon set up food on the porch. Evelyn Sloan settled into a comfortable chair and pointed her cane at her walking shoes. “I need to buy new shoes for England and make sure I give myself enough time to break them in.”

  Samantha and Maggie both volunteered to take her shopping.

  “She could have planned D-Day,” Eric told Adrienne. “She ran a nursery school for decades. She helped potty train most people in town. Gives you a certain perspective on life.”

  She helped herself to food and, especially, cider doughnuts.

  “Come on,” Adam said finally. “I’ll get you out of here.”

  “It’s been fun.”

  “Cider and Sloans.” He threw a jug of cider into the back of his truck and drove Adrienne back to Carriage Hill. “A solid family doesn’t mean we’re without conflicts and problems.”

  “No rose-colored glasses for me, then.”

  He grinned. “Good idea. Want me to fill the wood box for you?”

  “I already did.”

  “My brothers and a few other guys are coming out to the lake. We’ll make sure Eric has his head screwed on straight.”

  “This will involve a bonfire, beer and pizza?”

  “Who said anything about pizza?”

  “You all have a good life here. I saw that last winter. Your grandmother says you never wanted to live anywhere else.”

  “I didn’t, and I don’t,” he said. “I’ve always known Knights Bridge is home. I didn’t think about it that much until I wasn’t here.”

  “You took it for granted,” Adrienne said, reaching for the jug of cider in back.

  “I guess y
ou could say that.”

  She set the jug in her lap. “Now you’re making sure nothing disturbs your tranquility.”

  “I have a big family. My tranquility gets disturbed on a daily basis.”

  “Mostly in good ways,” she said.

  He studied her a moment and then nodded. “Yeah. You all set here?”

  “All set. Thanks.” She pushed open the door.

  “Enjoy the cider.”

  “Enjoy the beer and bonfire.”

  He winked. “We’ll have cider, too.”

  Seventeen

  A few minutes after Adam arrived back at the lake, a man he didn’t recognize walked down from Vic’s house. He was thin, fair-skinned, in his early fifties at a guess. He held up a hand. “It’s okay. I’m one of Vic’s former colleagues. Sorry if I startled you.” He pointed up through the trees behind him. “I parked up there. I’ve been wandering around the area. I wasn’t prepared for rain. I thought I might see a deer.”

  “There are a lot of deer out here,” Adam said, keeping his tone neutral. Violet raced to him with a stick he’d thrown for her. He got it from her and threw it again. “What can I do for you?”

  “Nice place Vic has here. I’m not a lake-and-woods sort but I wanted to have a look around.” He tilted his head back slightly. “You’re staying in his guesthouse, aren’t you?”

  “Are you and Vic friends?”

  The man shrugged. “Not really. I heard he retired out here. His daughter’s living in town now. Adrienne...” He paused, shook his head. “I can’t come up with the last name. Porter or something. It’s not Scarlatti.”

  Adam didn’t supply it. Violet streaked to him with her stick. He took it and had her sit at his side. His brothers and whoever else they rounded up would be here soon. He wanted this guy on his way by then.

  “I found out about her through small-town gossip,” the man added. “People were talking at breakfast about the three boys who took off into the woods out here. I guess Adrienne found the mother of two of the boys injured? Glad it all worked out. I was at the local diner this morning. Smith’s, I think it’s called. I had the cornmeal pancakes. Delicious.” He smiled, an obvious effort to appear nonthreatening. “Not that I should be eating pancakes.”