“And…” Sadie hesitated, searching for words. “I’d like to see more of him.” As soon as the words left her mouth, her cheeks heated again. “Professionally speaking,” she added hastily. “It would make the editing process easier.”
Maggie grinned, not fooled for a second.
“You know,” she said, leaning her elbows on the bar, “some people put up walls just to see who’s stubborn enough to scramble over.”
Sadie laughed quickly, shaking her head as she said, “Sounds like a line from those paperbacks you’ve got stashed back there.”
Maggie chuckled, low and warm.
“Doesn’t mean it’s wrong, love.”
***
Dropping her bag on the sofa, Sadie made her way to the kitchen, drawn by the comforting aroma of fresh bread. Shefound Edie at the island, flour dusting her forearms up to her elbows, a smudge of it across one cheek as she kneaded dough.
“Morning,” Edie called, looking up with a warm smile. “You’re earlier than usual. Eager to clash wits with our resident grump?”
Sadie grinned, heading straight for the cabinet where she knew Edie kept the mugs, grabbing one before replying, “Up with the birds. It’s hard not to be when the inn’s roosters think dawn is a competitive sport.”
Edie laughed, the sound rich and full.
“Ah, Maggie’s roosters. They’ve been the bane of this village for years. Even Paul tried to bribe her to relocate them once.”
“Let me guess, she told him exactly where he could stick that suggestion?”
“You’re learning our ways.” Edie nodded approvingly as she gave the dough a final fold and covered it with a clean cloth. “Sourdough today. Paul’s favorite, though if you asked him, he’d grumble that anything edible is his favorite. Man would eat bark if I buttered it properly.”
Sadie laughed, pouring water over her tea bag. Paul was still a bit of a mystery to her, but she’d been picking up little tidbits of information from Edie. She got the distinct impression that they were a case of opposites attract. Where Edie loved to talk and gossip, Paul was quiet and chose his words carefully.
“Heard you and Corbyn had a chat yesterday,” Edie continued after a moment. “Sorted some things out, did you?”
“We managed the conversation without bloodshed,” Sadie replied with a wry smile. “Progress, I’d say.”
“More than progress from what I can tell,” Edie’s eyes twinkled. “He came in and worked for hours. Even accepted a cup of tea and a slice of my lemon drizzle cake without acting as if I were poisoning him. Whatever you said on that ridge, it worked.”
Sadie felt her cheeks warm, and she insisted, “I just reminded him we’re supposed to be partners, not adversaries.”
“Hmm.” Edie’s expression suggested she saw more than she let on as she bustled around the kitchen, putting away the ingredients. After a comfortable moment of silence, she added, almost casually, “You know, he’s never been an easy man. Brilliant, yes. Kind, when he remembers the world doesn’t revolve around whatever stories are in his head. But no, never easy.”
“I’ve noticed,” Sadie said dryly, making Edie chuckle. “How long have you and Paul worked for the Pearce family?”
She had gotten the feeling after watching Corbyn and Edie interact that it had been many years. There was an easy familiarity between them that made Edie feel more like family than an employee.
“Oh, I’d say it’s been about thirty years now,” Edie replied. “Corbyn’s parents hired Paul, but when their housekeeper quit unexpectedly it seemed only natural that I step into the role, as the children were already comfortable with me. They were left in my care more often than not.”
The pieces started to fall into place for Sadie. She had learned early on that while Edie had a niece and nephew who lived nearby, she and Paul had never had children of their own. Stepping into the role of caretaker and ultimately surrogate parents seemed to have been a natural progression. It also explained why Corbyn never seemed to take issue when Edie stood up to his grumbling.
“The accident changed him,” Edie continued, her voice softening. “Not just the scars or the pain. It was like…” She paused, searching for words. “Like he lost faith in everything at once, his body, his talent, other people.”
“That must have been awful,” Sadie murmured, a heavy feeling settling in her chest.
“Hardest on his sister, Ellie, I think,” Edie said. “Being a doctor and all, she took it personally when she couldn’t fix him. Tried everything under the sun for his hand and his pain.” She shook her head. “It was a lot for him to take in.”
Sadie nodded, sensing there was more to the story but not wanting to pry. There was no way something of that magnitude could happen without affecting every member of Corbyn’s family, and even though Edie had lived it, it wasn’t entirely her story to tell.
“But lately with you here, he’s different,” Edie continued, looking at Sadie in a way that made her want to shift in her seat.
“I’m just doing my job,” Sadie said quickly, taking a sip of her tea to give herself somewhere else to look other than Edie’s knowing gaze.
