Spring Comes To Barncastle Inn by Lynette Sowell

hoopskirt days, and she should be grateful no one wanted a Civil War era or Gone With The Wind theme for a getaway.
                  They paraded out the back door of the inn. The Easter weekend guests waited in costume, and not quite a dozen more people clad in their Sunday best stood beside them. Including Peter, and Marin.
     
                 
    Chapter 9
     
    Peter's mouth went dry. He tried to remember if he'd ever seen Sadie in a dress and couldn't. Nothing like this, that was for sure.
                  The pinkish-orangish number hugged her curves in the right way, with a snug waist and a long skirt that topped white lace-up boots that peeked out from under the skirt's hem. She wore white gloves, and she wrestled a hat, wider than a Mexican sombrero, back onto her head. Her blonde hair, caught back into a poofy style on the back of her head, showed off her slim neck.
                  “Wow, Daddy, Sadie looks beau-ti-ful.” Marin's voice held admiration.             
                  “Yes, she does.” He'd always thought Sadie pretty, but now, stunning seemed to be a more fitting word. She flashed the guests a smile, then caught him looking at her. Her smile wavered for a millisecond.
                  Okay, so he should say something. Explain. Take back his words. Or not.
                  He needed to figure out what he wanted. Kissing her had been unfair, and they'd talked about that. Why couldn't today be just about dressing up and letting the kids take turns rolling eggs across the yard, then having lemonade and cake?
                  Lord, we had a simple life, once...
                  “Greetings, guests,” Luke said, looking mighty dapper in his dark gray walking coat, striped vest, and dark gray trousers. His coordinating bowler hat blocked the sun from his eyes. “My wife Jayne and I extend to you our thanks for coming today to our Easter parade and egg roll. This is a time-honored tradition that we enjoy sharing with you. If you would be so kind as to accompany us to the lawn, as the band plays.”
                  Peter heard the brass band before they exited the barn, crossed the parking lot, and joined them at the rear of the house. The band had a bass drum that kept time as the quintet marched toward the rear portion of the lawn.
                  The Gilberts fell into step behind them, with Sadie, Ted, and the guests as well.              
                  “Come on,” Peter said to Marin. “Time to roll some eggs.”
                  Marin pumped her arms as she marched, her head tilted back, and Peter wished he'd brought his camera with him to capture the moment. So determined, so strong.
                  They marched joyfully toward the place for the egg roll contest. The lineup indeed made for a fine parade, everyone in their best, costumed or otherwise. The Gilberts had erected a white tent with a set of tables underneath. Peter could see a clear glass dispenser containing lemonade, and a two-layer cake stood beside it.
                  Jayne smiled as she faced the crowd. “Thank you, thank you. Young ladies and young gentleman under the age of twelve, we'd like you to step up first and select a spoon.” She touched a basket nearby. “Then, each of you should select an egg from one of the baskets.”
                  Marin glanced at Peter before joining the other kids lining up at the table behind Jayne.
                  “Go get 'em, Marin,” he called out.
                  Sadie, in character, gave him a sharp look. “Sir, this is a friendly competition.”
                  “But of course.” He nodded in return.
                  The kids lined up, each at the end of one of the marked lanes on the lawn. The finish line lay a good