“What are you two handsome gentlemen over here talking about?” His mother had left Ruth chatting with some younger women and had sidled up and given him a kiss on the cheek before looping her arm through Mathew’s.
“Just saying how pretty the new nanny is, that’s all.” Mathew elbowed Jonathon in the ribs and let out a chuckle.
“Mathew!” Jonathon gritted his teeth. “Stop it.”
“I’m only stirring, son. But don’t you agree, love?” He gave his wife’s hand a squeeze. “She’s a good-looker.”
“She is, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to discuss things like that here.”
“Of course, you’re right. But Jonathon, you’d have to be blind not to appreciate her.”
Jonathon glared at his stepfather. But he wasn’t really annoyed. More amused than anything. And maybe he was right. Although he wasn’t looking for a new partner, if he had to choose someone, Ruth would definitely top the list. “I’ll go grab that coffee, shall I?” he said.
“Good idea. Thank you, son.”
Later that day, Ruth was pleased when the children asked their father if he’d swim with them in the pool and he agreed. Although it was still technically her day off, they’d invited her as well but she declined, stating she wasn’t overly fond of swimming. That wasn’t quite true, although she wasn’t a great fan of swimming unless the day was so hot that sliding into a cool pool held more appeal than sweltering on a sun lounge watching. But if she were honest? The real reason she’d declined was because of how uncomfortable she’d feel wearing a bathing suit in front of John. Not that her suit was inappropriate in any way. Far from it. In fact, her mother always told her she should wear something less conservative and more flattering to her slim figure, but she felt comfortable in her conservative one-piece bathing suit. Just not in front of John.
Instead of joining them, she used the time to check her emails and call her mother and David. Not surprisingly, David didn’t answer, but there was an email from him. He was leaving for Broome in Western Australia the following day, and from there he was planning on travelling down the coast road to the Ningaloo Marine Park where he would spend several weeks exploring the reefs and the local area. He’d also be there for Christmas. It sounded like he was enjoying himself. He also mentioned names of several people he’d befriended, one of them a female.
Ruth sent up a prayer, asking God to look after him and not only keep him safe, but to help him make wise decisions. She had to trust that his faith would equip him to withstand the temptations that no doubt he was facing daily as he travelled. He’d assured her before leaving that he would do nothing to disappoint her and that he was aware of the challenges he would face, but he also told her that he needed to explore the world on his own so his faith could be tested away from the confines of a safe Christian home. “You’ve been a wonderful mother,” he’d said the day before he left, “but I need to spread my wings. I want to see the country God created.”
She’d felt bad when he said that. But it was true. She’d never had the money to take him places. The furthest they’d been was Adelaide and that had been years earlier for a cousin’s wedding. She told him she understood and promised to pray for him daily.
When she called her mother, they chatted for almost half an hour. Her mother always wanted to know everything. Ruth was used to it, but she was reluctant to tell her too much. She spoke about the children but said little about John, although she did pass on Peggy’s message. Her heart was already in turmoil. She didn’t need her mother making it worse.
For the first time in their lives, her parents would be away for Christmas—they were taking a two-week cruise to celebrate their retirement. Although her mother talked about it with enthusiasm, she was sorry not to be spending Christmas with Ruth.
“It’s okay, Mum. Enjoy yourselves. You and Dad deserve it.”
“But I don’t want you to be on your own at Christmas.”
“I won’t be, Mum. I’ve been invited to spend it here.”
“With John and the children?”
Ruth groaned. “It’s not like that, Mum. Don’t get any ideas.”
“I think you like him.”
Ruth blew out a breath. More than you would ever know. “No, he’s invited all the staff who don’t have family nearby.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, Mum, I have to go. I think I can hear the children calling me.”
“I thought it was your day off.”
“It is.”
“Hmmm....”
“Mum!”
“Okay, love. Take care of that heart of yours.”
“I am. All right?”
“All right. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” Wow. Her mother was so intense.
After the call ended, she wandered down to the pool complex. The Montgomerys didn’t have a normal backyard swimming pool. No, the complex, because she had to call it that, was almost twice as large as the local public pool she used to pay to take David to when he was younger. This was an Olympic-sized swimming pool, complete with slides, climbing towers, play hoses and trick fountains. It was a kid’s paradise.
John was sitting on a sun lounge watching them. Despite being determined to rein in her thoughts and emotions, she was pleased he was on his own. She had an idea she wanted to run past him.
He looked up as she approached and smiled. “Hey, Ruth. Like to join me?” When he wriggled up on the sun lounge, despite her resolve, she had trouble keeping her eyes off his trim torso.
“Thanks. As long as you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. Let me grab you a drink.” He jumped up and once again she struggled to avert her eyes. He was wearing swimming trunks that hugged his trim hips, and his body was tanned a warm honey brown despite him wearing business attire most of the time. It wouldn’t surprise her if there was a swimming pool in his penthouse office, although she struggled to imagine him taking time out of his busy day to sunbathe. Or work out. But work out he must. His body was too well honed not to.
“What can I get you?”
“Lemon soda?”
“Sure. I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks.” She smiled and tried not to watch him walk to the bar.
He returned in a matter of moments and handed her the icy cold drink. She thanked him again and took a sip. It was delicious. Just what she needed on a hot summer afternoon. She drew a breath and turned to him. “John, may I speak with you about an idea I have?”
He liked that Ruth still called him John. It made him feel connected to a part of his past. He’d started going by his full birth name of Jonathon when he was at university, thinking it made him seem more mature, and very few folk called him John anymore. Ruth was one of the few. Angling his head, he smiled at her. “Absolutely. What are you thinking?”
“I was watching the children playing with their friends this morning after church, and now, watching them play in the pool, I thought how fun it would be if they could have a pool party.”
“A pool party? Here?”
She nodded.
In all the years they’d lived here, not one of the previous nannies had ever suggested a pool party, but why not? It made sense. “I think that’s a great idea.”
“Really?” Her pretty face lit up and something inside him jolted. What was it about her that made his heart tick faster whenever she smiled at him?
“Are we having a party?” Molly appeared out of nowhere and slithered her tiny wet body onto the sun lounge beside him and looked at him with eyes that would melt the hardest of hearts.
How could he resist her? He chuckled and then replied, “Indeed we are!”
“Can I invite all my friends?”
He chuckled again and kissed the side of her wet cheek. “Sure, sweetheart.”
“Can I tell the others?”
“I don’t see why not.”
She jumped off the lounge and into the pool and dog paddled to where the other two were lying on floats. “He
y Stuey, Bethie. We’re going to have a pool party and you can invite all your friends!” Her words came out gurgled as she bobbed up and down in the water, but they must have understood enough because both their faces lit up. They turned to look at him and Ruth for confirmation.
Jonathon lifted a hand and nodded. The joy and excitement on each of his children’s faces, including Bethany’s, was enough to confirm that something amazing was happening in his family, and he had a sneaking suspicion it was all because of Ruth.
Chapter 14
“Mrs. Shields, can you come in for a moment, please?” Jonathon released the buzzer on his office phone and leaned back in his chair. Almost before he could blink, his secretary appeared at the door.
“Yes, sir?”
“I need to leave, but I just wanted to make sure everything is in hand for the Christmas Eve Extravaganza.” It was less than a week away, and as far as he knew, everything was on track, but he wanted to be totally sure before he left. He’d promised the children he’d be home in time for the pool party this afternoon, but all his morning meetings had run over, and now he was scrambling to get to the car.
“Yes, sir, you have nothing to worry about. The new caterer has everything in hand and the decorator has already started. You can leave it all behind and spend time with the children. A pool party, I hear?”
“Yes, and I’m late. How did you—” He didn’t remember telling her about the party, but it never ceased to amaze him how the woman seemed to know everything, whether he told her or not.
“Never you mind how I know what I know, Mr. Montgomery. The helicopter’s waiting for you. I ordered it when I knew you were running late. I hope you don’t mind.”
He shook his head and laughed. “No, I don’t mind at all. Thank you, Mrs. Shields.”
“You’re more than welcome. Now, go and have a good time. All right?”
“All right.” He was tempted to salute her but refrained. Instead, he popped a kiss on her cheek as he passed and told her she was the best.
“Oh, Mr. Montgomery.” A blush crept up her neck. “I’ve never seen you quite so playful, but I think I like it.”
He laughed again as he hurried out the door.
Ruth stood back and inspected her work. She and the children had spent most of the day preparing for the party and had decorated the pool area with festive leis, balloons, colourful paper lanterns and tinsel. It looked like a Christmassy tropical paradise and she was extremely pleased with the result. “What do you think, Bethany?” she asked the pre-teen who’d been excited enough about the party that she’d risen early to help.
“It looks good.” She was biting her nails and Ruth was tempted to tell her to stop but decided against it. They’d come so far in their relationship in the short time she’d been there, so she didn’t want to risk overstepping the mark now and alienating her. “Did everyone say they were coming?” Bethany asked casually.
Ruth hid a smirk. She knew that tone of voice and what it meant. Bethany didn’t care if everyone had said yes to the invitation. She only cared about one person in particular. “Stephen Mitchell will be here,” Ruth replied as she pretended to busy herself with a row of paper lanterns while eyeing Bethany’s reaction from the corner of her eye. Just as she suspected, Bethany’s cheeks grew pink.
“How did you know?” she asked.
“It wasn’t that long ago I was your age and had a crush on a boy.”
“You did? Really? What happened?”
Ruth blew out a breath. “Someday, when you’re a little older, I’ll tell you more, but I can tell you that he grew up to be a wonderful man.”
“I wish I was older now! Can’t you tell me more, anyway? Did you marry him?”
Ruth swallowed hard as she recalled her own youthful dreams. How many nights had she lain in bed and imagined her wedding to John? She’d even planned her dress down to the finest detail. A Cinderella ballgown with a huge skirt that twirled and bounced and floated. It was simply gorgeous. She sighed. She knew the longing in Bethany’s young heart. Of course, reality would come all too soon and her fragile heart would be broken, just like hers had been when John started dating her best friend when they were fourteen. But for now, Bethany had her dreams, and Ruth wasn’t about to burst them.
“No, I didn’t. But he did marry someone very special.”
“Were you sad about it?”
Ruth drew a slow breath. “I didn’t know her. I just heard. But no, I wasn’t sad in the end. He loved his wife very much.”
“Oh. Well I guess that’s all right, then.”
“Yes. Anyway, we need to get this finished before everyone turns up.” She smiled at Bethany and gave her a quick hug. She was amazed at how close the girl had allowed her to get in such a short amount of time and could only thank God for the change in her.
A short time later, when the party was in full swing, Ruth couldn’t stop glancing towards the house. John was close to an hour late. She kept assuring the children he’d be here any moment, but she couldn’t help the feeling of disappointment welling inside.
Madeline was busy replenishing the bowls of chips and snacks that seemed to disappear the moment she turned her back. Peggy and Mathew were seated on comfortable chairs on a terrace above the pool where they could keep a good watch on the children in case any of them got into difficulty. Not that they could do anything other than alert Ruth if something happened, but Peggy had the eyes of an eagle, and there couldn’t be a better watchman than her. All the same, with so many children in her care, Ruth felt the weight of responsibility without John there to help.
Suddenly, a whirring noise came from the north and grew louder by the second, grabbing her attention. It sounded like a helicopter. No, it couldn’t be. She knew John had one but had never dreamed he’d use it to travel the short distance from Melbourne. But yes. There it was in the night sky, lights flashing as it headed for the landing zone behind the garage. She laughed at the extravagance, but at the same time, warmth flowed through her as moments later he appeared wearing an apologetic grin and a twinkle in his eye. “Sorry I’m late.”
She shook her head and chuckled. “At least you arrived in style.”
“It was faster than driving.” He grinned and opened his arms to Molly who launched herself at him.
“Daddy! You’re here! Come and swim with me.”
“I need to change first, sweetheart.”
“All my friends want to go in the copter. Can they?”
He smiled and kissed her wet head. “I’m not so sure about that, sweetie. Perhaps another time.”
“Okay. I’ll be in the pool.”
“All right. Just give me a moment.”
She ran off and jumped onto a slide, landing in the water with a splash.
He turned to Ruth. “So, how’s the party been going? I’m really sorry I’m late. It looks like they’re all having fun.”
“They are. But the children were waiting for you, John. You shouldn’t have been late. I was worried you wouldn’t turn up.” Despite relief that he’d finally arrived, she couldn’t keep annoyance from her tone.
“I’ve done it again, haven’t I? Let them down.”
“You’re here now, and that’s all that matters. You’d better go and get changed.”
“Right.” He turned to walk towards the house when he stopped and stared.
Ruth followed his gaze. Bethany was sitting on a pool chair next to Stephen, laughing and smiling.
“No way,” John said. “Is he—?”
“Yes, that is a boy, talking to your daughter. A boy she seems to have a little crush on.” Ruth held her breath as she awaited his response.
“I’ll throttle him.” John started to move towards the pair.
Ruth put an arm out and held him back. “You’ll do no such thing. It’s perfectly healthy for her to have a crush at her age, and he’s a good boy.”
“How do you know?”
“I saw him at church on Sunday.”
�
�That doesn’t mean a thing.” His jaw tightened. “You knew about this?”
“Calm down, John.” She guided him to one of the poolside tables and motioned for him to sit. She sat opposite. She could only imagine what he was feeling. His little girl was growing up and he’d almost missed it. Discovering that she was old enough to have a crush on a boy would be a shock for him, just like it had been for her own father.
“Yes, I figured it out when we were at church, though Bethany only admitted it to me this morning.”
“And you encouraged it?” His eyes enlarged.
Ruth swallowed hard. She’d overstepped the mark. Again. But she’d only done what she believed was right for the girl. “You can’t stop her from having a crush, John. She’s growing up, and it’s better for you as her parent to know what she’s doing than for her to go behind your back.” She held his gaze and prayed he wouldn’t fire her for her brazenness. Sometimes, like now, it was hard to remember she was only the nanny and not a parent. “Besides, I had a crush on a boy when I was her age, so I know how she feels.” She didn’t believe she’d just blurted that out.
“Really?”
“Yes,” she replied, her heart thumping. “And you know him.”
He sat up, interested. “Who was it?”
Since she’d blurted the news, there was no way she could get out of this now, but if it helped him understand his daughter better, who was she to allow her embarrassment to hold him back? Besides, it was long ago. Decades, in fact. They were at an age and point in their lives now where, surely, they could laugh about her schoolgirl crush. Still, it didn’t make the admission any easier, especially when he still made her heart race.
She took a deep breath and focused her gaze on Bethany and Stephen who were still laughing together. It would be easier to tell John if she didn’t look at him. “Sunday was my favourite day of the week back then, and Sunday School was my favourite time.”
“Mine too. What was the teacher’s name? Mrs. Chambers? Or was it Childs? Anyway, she was nice, and I remember you were her favourite.”
Billionaires with Heart Boxset: Christian Romance Series Page 43