Sadie and Lincoln had gone to celebrate the warmer weather and her intense pregnancy craving with a trip to Sprinkles Ice Cream. Maybe it was the pralines-and-cream-fueled sugar rush, but before she’d even finished her double scoop waffle cone, she’d strapped Lincoln back into his car seat and lead-footed it to the Old Red Mill. It was a blue-sky April afternoon, and daffodils and tulips lined the street. It was a short distance to the mill’s location on a quiet bend of the Indigo River, maybe half a mile at most. Sadie drove with all four of her windows (plus the moon roof) open. The rearview mirror revealed Lincoln in all his chocolate ice cream smeared glory.

She wasn’t going to fret about the sticky mess she’d have to deal with later. She was too busy licking her own cone, deliriously happy with possibility. She had discovered Grandma Hester’s missing recipes. There was a new life quietly taking shape inside her. She might be returning to the design world with an exciting new business venture.

Hope bloomed through her chest like a sunflower.

She parked the minivan by the river and got Lincoln out to take a look around. That’s all she was doing, she told herself as she tried to focus on the mill’s faults. After all, the red paint was chipped in places, and some of its boards looked rotted. The waterwheel was impressive, though it had been decades since it had been in use. But the stone foundation appeared solid, and the roof had no missing shingles or obvious leaks. Not only was the mill adjacent to the river, it was also surrounded by mature maple and ash trees and all sorts of wildflowers.

“Gorgeous.” Sadie breathed in the fresh air and potential of this place.

The Old Red Mill was always stunning during the fall, with the red, orange, and yellow foliage on display. If she squinted hard enough, she could imagine customers at farm-style tables, smiling over warm slices of Renee’s pies, cozy and content as they enjoyed the view.

“Well well well! Hey there, Sadie. Hiya, Lincoln! Fancy seeing you here.”

Sadie jumped two feet as her cone hit the ground.

Essie Park posed on the front steps of the Old Red Mill in knee-high boots.

“Essie, hi,” Sadie sputtered, embarrassed by both her nosiness and clumsiness. Hastily, she bent to pick up the fallen ice cream cone. She may be a snoop, but she was no litterbug.

“Oh leave it.” Essie smoothed a lock of perfectly straightened hair over her camel-colored blazer. “You’re about to make some raccoon very happy.”

“Ha, right.” Sadie shuffled awkwardly. “Lincoln and I were exploring.”

“Beautiful day for it.” Essie’s smile held a glint of glittering resolve. “But not all who wander are lost. What’s the deal? You interested in a lease?”

Busted.