The Wedding Circle Read Online Free Page A

most confidential tone. “Well, he says he wants to see me in his office after the ceremony is over. It seems he has some important questions about the new library he wants to discuss and resolve, whatever that means.”
    â€œDo you think you offended him with that shoveling remark?”
    â€œI doubt it. He’s pretty jaded.”
    â€œSo what do you think he’s up to now?”
    â€œAnything and everything would be my guess. I like to think of him as one of those nesting dolls—you know, a different, smaller version of himself constantly being exposed. And I do mean smaller, and I do mean exposed.”
    Renette was temporarily amused, but then looked worried. “You don’t think there’s any way he can weasel out of building this new library, do you? I don’t think even he could pull that off.”
    Maura Beth shook her head emphatically at the mere suggestion. “Oh, I can handle whatever this latest agenda of his turns out to be. I’ve had almost seven years’ experience dealing with him, and I’m getting better and better at it all the time. If I hadn’t learned from my considerable novice mistakes, we’d be in this god-awful building forever. I’m afraid I was a bit naïve about the way things worked around here for too long. With the way I was brought up, I thought it was bad form to challenge authority. Just part of my on-the-job training, I guess.”
    â€œI don’t think anyone could blame you for that, Miz Mayhew. Councilman Sparks is a pretty intimidating man. I know I always get nervous when he pops into the library now and then. Why do I always think he’s spying on us? Anyway, what are you going to look forward to the most when we finally move in out there?” Renette asked, rubbing her hands together and sounding a bit like a kid in a candy store.
    Maura Beth took a moment and then pointed her finger at random spots on the wall. “Well, aside from watching this library rise from the ground up, I’d say that having an office with at least one big window would be first on my list. Maybe more than one. I’ve read that a little light and a view of the outside world can work wonders for the psyche. That and some color. I’m so sick of this off-white. Egg shells are for chickens.”
    Renette lit up, full of her girlish enthusiasm. “Ooh, what color would you paint your walls?”
    Maura Beth was staring up at the ceiling, putting a finger to her lips. “I might just go crazy. Pink, or maybe even purple to match my walls at home.”
    â€œWhat fun!”
    â€œYes, wouldn’t it be? I’ll have light and color and some real space to put an end to all of this miserable clutter once and for all. This dark little closet I’ve been sentenced to all these years has almost made me feel like Maura Beth, the Vampire Librarian.”
    Renette laughed brightly. “Hey, with all the spooky, gory stuff the kids are hooked on these days, you probably could’ve made that work for you. Maybe you could’ve come to work in costume.” Then she checked her watch. “Oops! I guess I’d better get back to the front desk. Good luck out there this afternoon, Miz Mayhew. Don’t let Councilman Sparks trip you up.”
    â€œNot a chance,” Maura Beth said.
    But even as Renette left the room, Maura Beth couldn’t help but wonder what the councilman had in store for her after the groundbreaking ceremony had become history. Might as well start psyching herself up for it now.
    Â 
    The unexpected expanse of white canvas took Maura Beth by surprise as she drove up to the somewhat overgrown groundbreaking site and parked her little Prius within shouting distance of the willow-lined lake. The noonday sun bearing down made the temporary structure all the more dazzling to behold. The McShays, looking dressed for summertime in their prudent white outfits, were already underneath it,