Retire? Oh no. She couldn’t be around him all the time. The way he made her heart race and her body tingle…
They walked around to the front of the building and April nearly ran into a tall, muscular colored man. “Pardon me, ma’am.”
“That’s quite all right,” she said.
The man’s eyes brightened. “Mrs. Brown what a pleasant surprise.”
“April this is George, Allison’s husband. George this is April. She’s going to be Mr. Seever’s new nanny.”
“Temporarily,” April added. She didn’t want him to think she was stealing his wife’s job. And she didn’t know how long she could stand to be around Mr. Seever without acting rash.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’ve been so worried about Allison.”
George’s enthusiastic response took her by surprise. “You’re welcome.”
George’s face and neck were sweaty and his white shirt so wet it clung to his skin. He rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand. “The children are in the back room with Mr. Seever.”
Mrs. Brown nodded. “We’re headed that way.”
“Good.” George shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “If you two ladies excuse me I’d like to spend my break with Allison.”
“Certainly,” Mrs. Brown said. “Try not to burn the supper tonight.”
George chuckled as he headed up the stairs. “I’ll do my best.”
“They’re a nice young couple,” April said.
“Yes. Quite a good match.”
Relief rose over her like the tide only to ebb and leave her nervous again. Mrs. Brown had already told Allison and George she was going to be Mr. Seever’s nanny. Like she already had the job. What if Mr. Seever turned her down?
Chapter 5
His brother had merely asked him to look over the books and reacquaint himself with their clients and inventory. With two children clamoring for his attention, the simple request became near impossible.
“Papa! Papa!” Seth and Hannah said at the same time.
“Yes?” Matt said his patience wearing thin.
“Do you have to work today?” Seth asked. “It is a sunny day. Can we go fishing?” The whine in his voice made it so hard to resist.
Matt put his head in his hands and slowly pulled his fingers down his face. If they went fishing would they leave him alone for a few minutes? No. He knew they’d continue to pester him expecting him to give in again.
“Remember when I said last night I was done working on the steamboat?”
Hannah nodded.
“Yes,” Seth said. “So we can go play.”
Mr. Seever groaned. He wanted to play with them. When he had days ashore in St. Louis he always spent time with them doing fun things like fishing and swimming. He couldn’t blame them for not understanding why it was different.
“I work with your uncle now.” He inwardly cringed. He really worked for his older brother. “I work here.”
“All the time?” Seth asked.
“No. Not all the time. But I have to work now. We can play this evening.”
“Why can’t you work this evening and play now?” Hannah asked.
Oh, the logic of a child. “The sooner I get my work done the more time we’ll have together. This shouldn’t take me too much longer.” If they leave me alone.
“Fine,” Seth said, raising his voice.
Matt reached across the desk and grabbed Seth’s arm before he turned away. “Even when you are upset you need to remember your manners.”
Seth pressed his lips together, staring at him. Would his son going to test him further?
“Fine, sir,” Seth said.
Matt let go of his arm. “Go play with your sister.”
He rolled his eyes. “She made me play with her doll last time.”
“Then I guess it is your turn to pick the game. You can play with your soldier.”
Seth took a small metal soldier out of his trouser pocket and they huddled in the corner of the room.
Matt much preferred his accommodations on the Queen Bee to his makeshift office. The desk and two chairs carried into a back room of the warehouse was a sad state of affairs. His brother ran the main office in town.
A knock on his door brought him out of his moment of self-pity. He took a deep breath and rose from his chair, eyeing the unread papers on his desk. If his brother was inquiring on his progress he’d be sorely disappointed. Could he be fired by his own brother?
Matt opened the door and saw Mrs. Brown and April. He let out the breath he’d been holding.
“May we come in, sir?” Mrs. Brown asked.
Matt opened the door wider. “Please do.”
“Mrs. Brown!” Hannah shouted, running over to her and giving her a big hug around her legs.
“Miss April,” Matt said, nodding to her. “What a pleasant surprise.”
April’s mouth gaped, her surprised expression adorable.
“Seth, Hannah, I’d like you to meet Miss April. April these are my children Seth and Hannah.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Seth said.
April’s attention swept from Hannah to Seth and then landed on him with the force of a hurricane. She was clearly shocked. He’d give his next paycheck to know her thoughts.
He bent down to his children’s level. “You remember where I said the mama cat had her kittens?” Matt asked. “If you crouch down real quiet behind those crates you might get a peek at them.”
Hannah’s eyes lit up and both of the children scurried out of the room.
Matt glanced at the two women and the two chairs in the room. “Wait one minute.” He left and returned carrying in another chair. “Please sit. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
“I uh…your children…” April slowly took her seat. She continued to look out the open door.
Matt returned to his chair and folded his hands in his lap. “Yes, they are my children.”
April swallowed and finally met his gaze. “They’re mulatto.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t realize…I mean…” Every time she started again she didn’t get much farther.
“I told April you were looking for a nanny,” Mrs. Brown said before the poor woman got any more flustered.
“Yes, I am.” He pointed to his paperwork. “I haven’t gotten much done today with them in the office.”
“I’ve worked many years as a nanny, sir,” April said, finally recovering her voice. “I wouldn’t mind taking care of your children. At least until Allison’s back on her feet.”
Matt leaned back in his chair and pretended to think for a minute. He didn’t want to seem too eager. “Have you talked with Allison?”
“Yes, sir. Before we came here,” April said.
“In her condition she can’t really watch the children. She was so tired today…I took the children although I haven’t gotten any work done.” He paused. “I have a house not far from here. You’d get room and board.” Watching the children was a job worthy of a high salary, but he couldn’t offer her anything more—except maybe the security of being in his arms.
“I’m sorry I can’t afford more at the moment. Are you still interested?”
*
Mr. Seever’s children were mulatto? April’s brain struggled to process this revelation. It spurred many questions she didn’t dare ask. She’d never imagined she’d ever be a nanny to mulatto children. The idea excited her.
“Yes, sir. That sounds just fine.”
Mr. Seever grinned. “Thank goodness. I didn’t know what I was going to do if you said no. I hope you don’t mind cooking and doing other household chores.”
She shook her head. “Don’t worry. I figured that all came with the job.”
“Good. I’d appreciate it if you could occupy the children for a couple hours. As soon as I finish going over this paperwork we can walk home together.”
April nodded. “Yes, sir.” She stood and headed for the door. The expans
e of the warehouse seemed daunting. Where were the children hiding?
Mr. Seever walked over to the door with her. “Has she met George?” he asked the midwife.
“Yes, briefly on the way here,” Mrs. Brown said.
“Good. Just ask George where the children are and he’ll be happy to show you.”
April walked out of the office and Mrs. Brown followed, gently shutting the door behind her.
“I am headed back home,” she said. “Feel free to stop by any time, April. My door is always open.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I’m sure I will.”
April walked out of the warehouse with Mrs. Brown and waved to George who was unloading barrels from a wagon.
“Yes, ma’am?” George asked.
“Mr. Seever said you could show me where the children were hiding.”
George grinned. “They’ve been sitting quietly for a whole five minutes. That’s a record.” He wound his way through a maze of barrels and boxes. He pointed over to the side of the building. “They’re right there.”
Seth and Hannah were both on their knees peeking behind some crates.
“How did you know where they were? You’re working far away.”
“I keep an eye on them, ma’am. I reckon we all do.”
“We?”
“All the men who work at the warehouse.”
“Oh. Well, thank you.”
Knowing there were other people looking out for the children eased her fear of Hannah and Seth running off and getting hurt. She’d learned the hard way a body wasn’t capable of watching a child every minute.
George nodded. “You’re welcome, Miss April. I better go finish unloading that wagon.”
April knelt next to the children and spied a black and white mama cat cleaning one of her kittens.
“I’m bored,” Seth said.
Hannah jumped to her feet. “Me too.”
“Shall we find something else to do then?” April asked. “Your papa told me to look after you.”
Seth put his hands on his hips. “I don’t need looking after.”
Poor choice of words there, April. “Fine, then I’ll just play a game with your sister.”
“What kind of game?” Hannah asked.
April looked around the warehouse. “Hide and seek.”
“I want to play, too,” Seth said. “Can I please?”
April smiled and nodded. “All right. I will close my eyes and you two can hide.” April covered her eyes with her hands.
“No peeking,” Hannah said.
“No peeking. I promise,” April replied, she drew a cross over her heart and then began to count. The children ran off to hide.
Over the next hour they all took turns hiding and seeking. The game helped her get acquainted with the warehouse, and if she couldn’t find the children one of the men tipped her off. She enjoyed the afternoon, not remembering when she’d smiled and laughed so much.
Sitting, she leaned back against a large wooden box, tired. Seth and Hannah snuggled up next to her. “I like you, Miss April,” Hannah said.
April gently brushed a piece of long black hair out of the girl’s face and swept it behind her ear. “I like both of you.”
“Can we play again tomorrow?” Seth asked.
“Tomorrow and the next day and the next,” April said. “I’m going to be working for your Papa until Allison can again.”
“Allison never worked for Papa,” Seth said.
“She was taking care of you.”
“Yes, but she never worked for Papa. She just watched us. George, he works for Papa’s brother, Uncle Boyd.”
“I see.” The boy was likely confused. How would he know if Allison worked for his papa or not? “So you’ve never had a nanny before?”
“No,” Seth said.
“Are you going to be our nanny?” Hannah asked.
“Yes.”
“Good.” Hannah rested her head on April’s shoulder and closed her eyes. “I’m sleepy.”
April couldn’t hold back a yawn. They’d worn themselves out. She forced her eyes open until both children were asleep and then allowed herself to join them in slumber.
*
Matt barely held back tears seeing the children sleeping on either side of April. In the dim light April reminded him of Caroline in so many ways. She had the same molasses colored skin, the same sleepy smile.
He rubbed the back of his neck. April was not Caroline. She could not replace his beloved. Still, the children looked perfect nestled in her arms. Like they belonged there. Would he be able to convince her she made his family whole again? Could make him whole again?
He gently shook April’s shoulder and her eyes parted, still glazed with sleep.
“We took a nap.”
“I see that. I finished my work. We can go home.”
He picked up Hannah and the little girl hugged his neck. “Papa, is Miss April going to live with us?”
“Yes.” He smiled at April. “I see you left an impression on them.”
As quickly as you left an impression on me.
She shrugged. “You needn’t be concerned. I didn’t make them any promises.” She woke Seth and the boy got to his feet, yawning.
“Just give me a minute,” Matt said. He walked over to George. “I’m heading home are you done in the warehouse?”
George scratched behind his left ear and looked a little sheepish. “I know the other men were happy to go home early, but Allison’s not in the best of moods.”
Matt laughed. “I remember when Caroline was pregnant with both Seth and Hannah.” He patted George on the back. “I sympathize.”
“One more month. It is going to be a long month.”
“You can hide out here as long as you need. Lock up when you’re done.”
“Yes, sir. I will. Thank you.” He smiled at the little girl in his arms. “Bye Miss Hannah.”
“Bye George.” She waved at him.
“Are you going to walk home or do you want me to carry you?” he asked his daughter.
“Carry me, Papa. Please.” She dragged out the last word.
“All right. Let’s go.”
April picked up her gunnysack of belongings and walked out of the warehouse as if she was on a mission. Matt and the children followed a couple steps behind her.
She paused outside the door and looked right and left down the street. “Which way?”
He pointed back toward the water. “Down there.”
“You live in the colored community?”
Matt kissed Hannah’s forehead. “Why shouldn’t I?”
April pursed her lips together. “No reason, I suppose.”
He led the way to his modest white washed house which most people considered to be the first outside of town. His skin was white, but when he started a life with Caroline he knew he would be straddling both worlds just like his children. He couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
“You live close to Mrs. Brown,” April said.
“Yes, if you ever need anything and I am unavailable, go to her.”
“Yes, sir.”
Matt had always thought his home charming, but now he realized it no longer held that appeal. It looked rather dour and dull. The flower boxes under the windows each boasted a crop of weeds. He’d seen no need to plant flowers after Caroline’s death.
He rested his hand on the railing beside the front steps, relieved it didn’t break. Putting his weight on each step brought a creaking nose from the wood. Perhaps the house protested the fact he was bringing another woman home.
Guilt ravished him. He couldn’t raise the children on his own. Hiring April did not demean Caroline’s memory. Telling this to himself did little to relieve his inner anguish.
He unlocked the door and a stale stench rushed toward him. He needed to open the windows to air out the place. He cringed seeing his messy house in the daylight for the first time in months. “I’m not home much,” he said trying to explain the disarray. “The chi
ldren have been living with George and Allison. And as you can see I’m not much of a housekeeper.”
April inhaled sharply. Dirty pans and plates and silverware sat stacked in the sink.
The rest of the house wasn’t any better. He prayed this mess wouldn’t scare her away.
“I see I have some work to do,” she said her voice even.
“The children can help you.”
“Yes, we’ll get started in the morning.”
Lord, he needed April in his life. He couldn’t work, keep house, and take care of the children all at the same time. Something had to give. He noted the mud stains on Seth’s trousers for the first time. And he didn’t want his children to look neglected.
April set her gunnysack on the floor. “I’ll wash a few dishes and make us something to eat.”
Matt opened the cupboards and showed her where all the provisions were. He’d restocked all the groceries early this morning. Most of the goods he’d bought came out of a can. “If you need me to buy anything just let me know. I buy fresh milk, vegetables and eggs from George’s brother and other locals.” He walked to the end of the kitchen and lifted up a small door in the floor. “I do have a cellar where I keep the milk and eggs cold. Be sure to take a lamp when you go down there it is dark.”
She nodded. “It looks like you have all the essentials, sir.” She sounded pleased. Bending down, she reached into her gunnysack and pulled out a white apron, tying it around her blue dress.
“I’m sorry,” he swept his arm across the kitchen, “for all of this.”
“It is all right, Mr. Seever. I understand. A woman’s place is in the home, and you’ve been without for a long time.”
“Four years,” he said. He let out a short sigh and touched Hannah’s nose. “I miss your mama.”
“I don’t remember her,” she said.
“I know.” It pained him to think Hannah wouldn’t know her mama and Seth’s memory of her would fade, too. Hannah had turned two before Caroline took ill. He remembered the sorrowful day in vivid detail. He pushed the image of her dying out of his mind.
April didn’t complain, diving in to start supper before it was too late to prepare a hot meal. She did her best to put on an understanding front, but she couldn’t hide the shock in her eyes and the slight wrinkle in her nose.
Midnight Kiss (Moonlight Romance) Page 4