by Carol Ross
Abby approached Lydia and slipped her tiny hand into hers. Lydia lifted it and planted a kiss on the back like she’d done it a thousand times.
Beside him, Gen said, “We’re going to show Lydia the horses next. Do you want to come?”
He did. And he didn’t. Frustration and longing constricted his chest so tightly he could barely breathe. Why had he agreed to let her stay for this bogus trial period? Two weeks hadn’t seemed very long at the time. He’d been desperate for child care and taken in by her enthusiasm and charm. His heart suddenly felt cold, like it was packed in ice. The girls were falling in love with her and he was falling in love with the idea of a woman he knew didn’t exist. She was only playing a part to keep this job. Although he didn’t see how she could fake the affection building between her and the twins. He needed to figure this out.
“I’m going to pass on that because I have a few more things I need to do.” Avoiding eye contact with Lydia, he said to the twins, “I’ll see you girls back at the house, okay?”
“Okay, Daddy. Come on, Lydia.” Gen took her other hand and led her toward the horse barn.
Resisting the urge to watch them walk away, Jon turned and headed back to the house.
* * *
JON WAS IN the office when Lydia and the twins returned to the house. The girls went in and visited with him for a few minutes, but they reappeared quickly. Lydia played a game. Then they got ready for bed and each picked out two books for Lydia to read. Usually, if Jon was in the house, he’d take over for the last story or two. Not tonight. She kissed them both and promised to let their dad know they were ready to be tucked in.
Lydia lightly knocked on the partially open door of his office.
“Come in.”
He was seated behind his desk.
“I’m sorry to interrupt but the girls are waiting for you to tell them good-night.”
He glanced up but didn’t quite make eye contact. “I’ll be right there.”
“Before you do, can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure.”
“Abby wants a bunny.”
“A bunny?” he repeated flatly.
“Yes, and I know Gen would love one, too. We looked at them today in Brewster’s. I know you have a lot going on, but they sell cages and I wouldn’t mind paying for them out of my own pocket and I could give them each a bunny for—”
“Lydia, hush.”
“Hush?” she repeated, casting him a playful scowl. “Did you just hush me?” He frowned, and Lydia saw the tight lines around his eyes. He looked upset.
“Yes, you don’t need to lay out an argument so my girls can get pet rabbits. I’m not opposed. Except...” He studied her carefully and that’s when Lydia realized that something was wrong. He looked exhausted. Probably because he was. She knew he only slept a few hours a night. But this was...different.
“Except what?”
He opened his mouth, shut it again and finally answered, “Nothing.”
“Great. Thank you. I’ve already done some bunny research. They make great pets and they’re relatively easy to care for.”
“More YouTube?” His smirk rubbed her the wrong way.
“Yes.”
He blew out an impatient sigh. “Don’t buy a cage. Tom and I will build something.”
“Okay, I’ll call Brewster’s and see if they can hold the bunnies for a few days.”
“They’ll do that. Ask for Grace or Alice and mention my name.”
“Thank you. Abby is going to flip.”
His expression was so intense it made her nervous.
Lydia walked closer to his desk. “Are you okay?”
“Yep.” He reached around to grip the back of his neck. “Just...trying to figure out what I’m going to do.”
Lydia froze while her heart clawed its way up into her throat. Was he talking about her? She still had several days left to prove herself. “Can I help?”
“Not unless you know a detective.”
Her pulse raced. “A detective?” Had he somehow found out the truth about her?
“My grandfather is still gone. He won’t return my calls. Three of my brothers won’t return my calls. My step—” One side of his mouth formed a sardonic curve. “Zoe won’t answer my texts.”
“Are you worried something happened to them? Should you file missing-person reports or something?”
“No. I’m not worried like that. They took off in their motorhome. They’ve been...seen. Sort of. Evidence of them has. I’m—I’m about at the end of my rope here.”
“Maybe I could—” She moved to step around his desk.
“No.” He stood so fast his chair hit the wall behind him with a thud. “I don’t want you—” He stopped to clear his throat and when he continued his tone was tight. “I’ll figure it out.”
Lydia was struck with the feeling that he was deeply displeased, possibly angry. With her? She didn’t know. For the life of her she couldn’t imagine what she’d done.
He moved around the desk and it took a second for Lydia to realize she was standing in his path. She waited until he looked at her again. Her spirits plummeted. Rancher Grim-Face had officially returned.
“Jon?” Reaching out a hand, she touched his forearm. “Did I—?” The jolt to her bloodstream combined with the look of revulsion on his face made her words skip like a scratched vinyl record. Lydia withdrew her hand and before she could get the needle back on track, he sidestepped her as if she’d burned him.
“Lydia, please...” Looking away for a moment, she watched him draw a few deep breaths. When he looked back at her, his eyes were like ice chips. Voice tight, he said, “What would help me is for you to keep your focus on the girls for the next five days, okay?”
Lydia felt her face heat like a blowtorch. What in the world had she been thinking trying to comfort him? And touching him? Then the meaning behind his words sunk in. Five days? He’d already decided to let her go?
“I’m sorry.”
He sighed. “Please stop apologizing when you’re just being yourself. You shouldn’t have to do that.”
“I don’t know what that means.” The knot of anxiety tightened in her belly.
“I know.” He shook his head and glanced up at the ceiling for a moment. “I know you don’t.” He nudged his chin toward the door. “I’d better get in there. Abby won’t fall asleep if she knows I’m coming.”
Lydia tried to smile but her face felt immovable, like a plastic mask. She wanted to cry but for a reason so much deeper than her humiliation. “No, she won’t.”
Jon strode out the door and that was the last she saw of him that evening.
* * *
A FEW DAYS LATER, Lydia and the girls were on their way inside from visiting the horses when a pickup pulled up. Lydia was expecting Sofie and she couldn’t wait to see her friendly face.
“It’s the Carnes!” Abby cried.
Lydia and the girls closed the distance and they all exchanged greetings. Gen and Abby hugged them both and then asked if they could head inside. Lydia knew they were anxious to finish a project they’d started the day before.
Sofie said, “Lydia, I don’t think you’ve met my husband, Zach, yet. Zach, this is Lydia.”
“Ah!” Zach took a step toward her, arms spread wide. He was wearing a smile Lydia could only describe as roguish. “Finally! It’s such a pleasure to meet Ms. Nanny Fantastic.”
“Zach!” Sofie cried.
Lydia let out chuckle of surprise. “Who?”
“What, Sofie? She’s gonna hear it eventually. Lydia, that’s what people are calling you all over town.”
“All over town?” A flurry of nerves erupted inside of her. “I’ve only been to town one time and that was three days ago.” Three days since she’d gone to town, three days of Jon acting displeased. R
ancher Grim-Face was worse than Rancher Grouch-Face. At least when he was grouchy he still spoke to her. She was convinced she was getting fired. “Why would they call me that?”
Zach laughed and shook his head. “You really don’t know what you’ve done, do you?”
“What I’ve done?”
“How you’ve tamed the Blackwell twins. It’s currently the talk of Falcon Creek. You’re fast becoming a legend.”
“Tamed them?” Lydia said, feeling her temper rise. She was getting tired of these false notions where the girls were concerned. “I didn’t have to tame them. They’re sweet, intelligent, amazing, wonderful kids who just needed some direction and attention.”
Zach tossed his wife an amused grin. “Sofie, I think you need to clue her in on exactly what she’s accomplished.”
Lydia scowled at the man. “I don’t think Jon would appreciate you talking about his children that way.”
Zach laughed. “It’s okay. Jon is my best friend. Trust me when I tell you, he knows how difficult the twins are.”
Words and statements came floating back to her. Jon warning her, calling the girls “holy terrors.” She thought about the women in the beauty shop, Dr. Beazley’s staff, Marilee studying them in Brewster’s, the clerk Belle gushing about their good behavior. How Mr. Rennick at the drugstore had seemed nervous when they came in and kind of followed them around. Lydia had thought he was being kind. Even the normally stoic Tom had commented on their good behavior.
“Well, I adore them. And whatever difficulties they may have had in the past need to stay there, in the past. And I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t use words like difficult and tame when referring to them. Often those kinds of monikers stick with a person and affect them their entire life.” Didn’t Lydia know the truth of that? Spoiled, difficult Lydia, who exasperated her father and couldn’t get along with her stepmother. All she’d needed was a little understanding, someone to listen and maybe give her the attention she’d no longer received after Nana passed away.
Zach removed his hat. “Yes, ma’am. I can see how that might be the case. I apologize.”
“Good.” Lydia had startled herself with the vehemence behind her speech. Maybe she was a little distraught, between Jon’s behavior and her impending dismissal. But she meant every word. Zach surprised her with the abrupt turnaround. “Apology accepted. I’m sorry if I seem a little, um, over-the-top.”
“You heard the woman, Zach, apology accepted. Now, if you’re done standing around and gossiping like an old hen I could use the help that you’re here to give me.”
Lydia turned to find Jon standing behind her. Perfect, she thought as her stomach took a dip. How long had he been there? Long enough to hear her give his best friend a piece of her mind. Everything had been going so smoothly until three days ago. She couldn’t take this anymore. She needed to talk to him.
At that moment, Abby stuck her head out the door. “Lydia, we’re ready for our fashion show.”
“Fashion show.” Sofie clapped her hands. “That sounds fun. I brought it, by the way.”
Jon focused his scowl on her and Lydia could feel the hostility radiating from him. In a tone rife with sarcasm, he repeated, “Fashion show? That sounds constructive.” He added a disgusted shake of his head. “I hope that’s not all you have planned for today.” He looked at Zach. “Let’s go.” Then he turned and stalked off toward his pickup.
Zach shrugged at Sofie, gave her a quick kiss and followed Jon.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“WOW. THAT WAS RUDE. What is the matter with him?” Sofie asked after the men were out of earshot.
Lydia felt horrible. Tears burned behind her eyes. “I don’t know. He’s been like that for a few days now.”
Sofie shook her head and was about to comment but Lydia headed her off. “Is it in the back seat?” She couldn’t talk about this. She was too close to breaking down.
“Yes,” Sofie said drily. “I was going to have Zach carry it inside before they left but apparently there’s a fire burning somewhere and Jon’s been elected fire chief. Seriously, Lydia, I can see you’re avoiding this subject, but I’m tempted to take off after him myself and give him a piece of my mind.”
“I can get it.” Lydia headed over to the pickup and opened the back door. She gathered the portable sewing machine and supplies sitting on the floor behind the seat.
“Why didn’t you lay into Jon like you did Zach? That was awesome, by the way.”
“Because I really want this job.”
“He doesn’t deserve you if that’s the way he’s been treating you.” Sofie shook her head as if trying to puzzle it out. “I mean he wasn’t happy that first day but I thought he was over it.”
“Me, too.”
“Him and his city-phobia.”
Lydia chuckled. “Is that a thing, city-phobia?”
“It is where Jon Blackwell’s concerned,” Sofie said. “Falcon Creek is the only city he doesn’t mind going to.”
Once inside, Lydia put the kettle on to make Sofie some herbal tea. While it was brewing, she poured a cup of coffee for herself, took a fortifying sip and then set it down.
“The girls are anxious to try on their dresses. If you don’t mind, I’ll just get them pinned and then they can work on their puzzles while we visit.”
“Of course.”
Lydia had ordered the dresses for Easter, but they didn’t quite fit. The girls were so slender, she needed to take them in a bit. She herded them into the bedroom and helped with the buttons and zippers. Together, they came out to show Sofie.
Abby touched the soft velvet. “It feels kind of like a bunny. It’s the prettiest dress I’ve ever had.”
Gen seemed fascinated by the tulle, sticking her arms out and spinning.
Sofie oohed and aahed appropriately while Lydia plotted and pinned. She and the girls headed back to the bedroom. Lydia helped them remove the dresses to avoid the sharp pins. She got them started on their puzzles and went back to the kitchen.
Sofie was sipping her tea. Gesturing toward the sewing machine, she asked, “You can do this? Work that machine and make them fit?”
Lydia laughed. “I can.”
“Who taught you how to sew?”
“My nana. Lucky for me, it landed me my first job. I worked as a seamstress for a while.”
“And you were a cook?”
“After I was a dishwasher and a waitress, yes. Then I worked for a caterer.”
“And a bakery?”
“Yep, among other things.”
“Like what?”
“Let’s see... Shampoo girl, babysitter, dog-walker, barista. Then I graduated to receptionist, office assistant, bookkeeper. There were other even more glamorous jobs thrown in there, too,” she added drily. “Like maid and car detailer.”
“Wow, I wish I would have done all that.”
Lydia answered with a doubtful look.
“A sociology degree doesn’t translate well to ranching life. In college, I worked at a bookstore. I could barely toast a bagel when Zach and I got together.” Holding up a finger, she added, “I can still barely toast a bagel, to be honest.”
Lydia smiled. “Yeah, I didn’t go to college, but I’ve got mad practical skills.” She didn’t particularly want to discuss her colorful job history. She couldn’t bear the thought that this job would soon be just the latest in a long list.
Changing the subject, she asked, “How did you and Zach meet?”
Sofie let out a snort of laughter. “Zach and I met at a livestock auction.”
“A livestock auction? I thought you said you were from Seattle?”
“I am. I was there for a college project. It’s a long story but I accidentally bought a bull from Zach.”
“You what?!”
Sofie laughed. “I know, and I couldn’t affo
rd it. I tried to return it, but Zach didn’t offer a return policy. He offered me a deal where I could work for him on his ranch and pay it off.”
“And you took it?”
“Heck, yeah, I had an ulterior motive, I needed to ace that project. Against Jon’s advice, Zach invited me to stay at his ranch. It didn’t go well initially. But it didn’t take long before I fell in love with the place and once Zach turned on that cowboy charm... I was a goner. The rest is history.” She shrugged and pointed at her belly. “Technically, I guess it’s more like the future.”
“That is quite a story.”
“Someday I’ll tell you the entire thing. Jon didn’t like me. Didn’t think I was right for Zach. Or more like, he doesn’t like people from the city in general. That sounds bad, but he’s not, I swear. He’s a really good man.”
Lydia did believe that last part. Already, she could see he was a wonderful father, an incredibly hard worker and a great boss. He was fair and kind to his employees. She couldn’t even say that he’d been unkind to her the last few days.
“I think you’re saying I shouldn’t take his bad mood personally. Believe it or not, aside from that first day, he hasn’t been like this... The first week and a half was...great.”
Sofie heaved out a sigh. “It’s all Ava’s fault.”
Lydia glanced down the hallway to make sure the girls were nowhere near. She lowered her voice, anyway. “The girls’ mother, where is she now?”
“London, as far as I know. She’s a broadcast journalist.”
Lydia felt a bolt of shock go through at those words. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected but that wasn’t it. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind she’d been speculating that maybe the woman had serious personal issues that made parenting prohibitive. Why else would she leave Jon and her babies?