Love & Hope: Mother's Day (Holidays In Hallbrook Book 5)

by Elsie Davis

  “Okay, then.” Grace pulled out her phone and dialed her sister’s number. “Hi, Faith.”

  “Hiya! What’s up? I’m just on my way out the door to go to the movies with friends.”

  “Are you working anywhere yet?” Her mother had just about given up hope of Faith growing up and joining the real world of work and responsibility, but Grace had convinced her that at twenty, her sister was still young. There was plenty of time for tough love.

  “Just part-time over at the Piggly Wiggly bagging groceries. Not exactly a dream job, but it pays for my movies and fun money, I guess. Mom is after me to get serious, and maybe I will after this summer. I just want to have fun for a while.” It was the same tune Faith had been singing since she graduated two years ago. Her sister’s youthful excitement reminded her of Karen.

  There appeared to be a lot of that going around with young kids these days. Grace shook her head. Whatever happened to going to college and getting a good job or starting at the bottom and working your way up the ladder? Both were acceptable routes. But starting out your adult life satisfied with movie money wasn’t exactly promising for the future.

  Grace had to find a way to entice her sister into accepting her proposition. “What if I offer you a full-time job babysitting for the next few weeks? It would be temporary, but it would pay well. And then maybe you can find something steady.”

  “But you don’t have a baby? Unless those stork stories I heard growing up were really true.” Her sister laughed at her own joke, but Grace wasn’t impressed with the deflection.

  “Babies don’t come from storks. I’m talking about Holly.”

  “Why would you be watching Holly? Oh, wait. I get it. Aunt Helen can’t watch her because she broke her hip. So how is it that she’s with you and you’re trying to find a sitter?”

  “Karen’s here at the house, and she brought the baby. She needs help while she pursues a career opportunity. I want to help her, but I start a new job tomorrow. For me to help Karen, I need you to help me. It would be at my place from eight to six, Monday through Friday. Just think, you get to play with a baby all day and get paid.” Grace was trying everything she could think of to make it sound appealing, wanting her sister to agree.

  Keeping Grace for three weeks would soften the devastating blow the adoption agency had delivered. For Grace, coming home to a baby at night would be amazing, even if it was only temporary. Not to mention, it might help Karen work through her issues. Perhaps she’d miss Holly enough to want to come home and stay home with her daughter.

  “I don’t know. That’s like full-time.” Her sister was stalling, trying to find a way to say no. Grace couldn’t let it happen.

  “Come on, Faith. It’ll be fun. Think of all the extra time you and I can spend together. You’ve always wanted big-sister time. Now I’m offering it.” And maybe, just maybe, she’d help her sister grow up through this process as well as Karen.

  There was nothing but silence on the other end of the line. “Fine. I’ll be there in the morning.” Grace let out a huge breath of relief. This was going to work, and she was going to be a bona fide mother for three weeks. Best news ever.

  “Thanks. You won’t regret this. Tell you what, meet me at the Sweeter Side of Life in the morning, and I’ll even treat you to your favorite pastry and coffee. You can stay with me these next few weeks if you want.” It would be fun. A sister and a baby. Grace was ready for more fun in her life.

  “The bakery sounds good. Staying with you, not so much. You’re worse than Mom when it comes to rules.” It was true. But only because her mother was lax with Faith. Her sister had been a late-in-life baby, born almost eight years after Grace, and right at the time when their father had deserted them. As a result, her mother had spoiled Faith.

  “Fine. Meet me at seven.” Grace hung up the phone and turned back to Karen, who stood watching with a lopsided smile plastered on her face.

  “The answer is yes? You’ll do it?” her cousin asked, hope lacing her voice.

  “Yes.” Grace nodded. “Holly and I are going to play house for a few weeks. Aren’t we, sweet girl?” Grace hugged the baby tightly, excitement racing through her body and love overflowing from her heart. It wasn’t the smartest thing she’d ever agreed to, but it was one of the most heartfelt and loving things that felt right. After all, it might be her one chance to take care of a baby like this. Even Lucky seemed to sense the joy. The dog came to lick Holly’s arm to show her some love.

  “Yay! I’m going to California!” Karen exclaimed, dancing in circles. She threw her arms around Grace and Holly, hugging them both. “Thank you. You won’t regret it.”

  Lucky barked several times, joining in the excitement even if she didn’t understand what was going on.

  “I hope not. If I lose my job because I can’t make it work, I’ll be looking to you to pay my bills here, Miss Hot Shot Superstar.” Grace shook her head and laughed, unable to believe what she’d just agreed to.

  “We’re just opening for a band, but it really is a good opportunity.” Karen’s smile was infectious when she spoke of her music.

  “You have a beautiful voice, and you have a passion for music. Let your light shine, and it’ll be good.” If Karen was going to chase her dreams, she needed to do it with all her might, so that when she returned, she’d be ready to settle down to real life. And in real life, breaking into the music world with any flourish was next to impossible.

  “Thank you. Let’s just hope you’re right. I was optimistic and brought you a few baby things. Some diapers and clothes and bottles.” Karen pulled each thing out of the bag, showing her as she rattled off the items. It explained the extra luggage. One whole bag was filled with toys. “I’ve got a pack ‘n play in the car and her car seat. I’ll be right back with them. And then I have got to leave. The band really wants to hit the road tonight, it’s a long drive across the country, and none of us could afford to fly.”

  “Cutting it close for me to say yes, weren’t you?”

  “Let’s just say, based on the circumstances I was hoping you wouldn’t say no.”

  “Circumstances?” Grace frowned, glancing up at her cousin.

  “You know, like, the fact you can’t have kids. I once heard my mom and your mom talking about it. I’m sorry.”

  “It is what it is. I’m glad you thought of me, and you’re right, it would be hard for me to say no to Holly.”

  Karen left to get the pack ‘n play, and Grace sat down in the armchair, Holly on her lap. This was insane, but she’d make it work. “We can do this, can’t we, Holly?”

  The little girl touched her face and smiled, her soft chubby fingers poking at Grace’s mouth to investigate. Luckily, she hadn’t bothered to put on any earrings today. The last time she’d held Holly, the pretty pink and white beads had been too much to resist, and the baby had practically ripped one out of her ear.

  After Karen returned with the pack ‘n play and car seat, it didn’t take her more than ten minutes to clear out after saying her goodbyes to Holly. Grace wasn’t sure how she had the strength to leave, but then she hadn’t walked in Karen’s shoes and wasn’t willing to pass judgment.

  Grace completely put the new job out of mind, preferring to focus on her new charge. Tomorrow would come soon enough, and she’d start in her new role as administrative assistant and marketing guru. Tonight, however, was all about Holly.

  After setting up the portable crib in her bedroom, Grace put away the baby’s things. Holly was intent on exploring, which made the task take twice as long as she tried to keep up with the baby. Lucky followed Holly around like a second mother, trying to get used to her.

  Once Grace had everything put away, she set her sights on feeding the baby. That sounded easy but turned out to be anything but. It didn’t take long for Holly’s face to be coated in a yucky-smelling green mush from the jar of food Karen brought, some of which made it into the baby’s hair, turning dinner into dinner and a bath.

  Hoping b
ath time would be less complicated, Grace filled the tub with only a few inches of warm water, testing it frequently. Holly loved the water, her laughter and splashing a joy to watch. There wasn’t much in the way of toys, but the bright-blue loofah and headrest pillow kept the baby occupied. Next time, she’d remember to have more toys for the baby. Maybe then there’d be less water on the floor to clean up afterward.

  Grace used only a dab of her body wash on the baby, and only a washcloth on what little hair the baby had, not wanting to risk getting soap in her eyes. She kept a tight hold on the baby’s arm since her skin was silky soft and slippery. Wrapping the baby in a towel, she carried her to the bedroom, and laid her on the bed to put on a fresh diaper and pajamas. Before long, the two of them settled down in front of the TV to watch a Mickey Mouse cartoon. With Lucky sleeping peacefully at her feet, and Holly snuggled in her arms, the moment was almost perfect. Her prayers had been answered, even if it was only temporary. She had a baby.

  Chapter Two

  The alarm went off way sooner than Grace would’ve liked. Whether it was because of too much excitement or new surroundings or both, Holly hadn’t fallen asleep right away, which meant Grace hadn’t gotten much sleep. It hadn’t taken much crying from Holly for Grace to give in and let the baby cuddle next to her in bed.

  Not long after that, the baby settled down and drifted into sweet slumber. Only then had Grace turned the lamp to low and closed her eyes. She wouldn’t hesitate to make the same choice again, hating the idea of Holly being scared or lonely. Lucky, on the other hand, hadn’t appreciated the plus-one in bed and had slept on the floor.

  Grace silenced the alarm, glancing over at Holly who was still fast asleep. She rolled out of bed, careful not to wake the baby, but determined to take advantage of the free time. It was a good thing she’d showered yesterday, because it was out of the question this morning. If the baby had been in her pack ‘n play, a shower would’ve been easier to pull off, but short of waking Holly to put her in it, there was nothing else that could be done. And there was no way she was leaving her unattended and free to crawl where she couldn’t see her.

  Something else Grace would need to figure out. Karen had mentioned a baby monitor, but a search had turned up nothing of that nature. It would be the first thing on her shopping list if she didn’t locate it this morning. And next on the list was bath toys. None of the ones Karen had brought were even remotely suitable.

  After dressing in the outfit she’d laid out yesterday, Grace brushed her shoulder length hair into place, thankful it was a simple cut that was more wash and wear than wash and style. Every few minutes, she checked on Holly, which only impeded her progress to get out the door on time.

  She’d barely managed to get a dab of makeup on before she heard Holly stirring. Grace went into the bedroom and crossed the room to sit down on the bed beside the baby, hoping to reassure her as she woke up in a strange place.

  “Good morning, sweetheart.” Grace smiled, grabbing her tiny fingers and pulling them to her mouth for a kiss.

  Lucky jumped on the bed. “Good morning to you, too.” She rubbed the back of Lucky’s head, scratching her favorite spot behind her ears. “Don’t be so jealous. She’s just a little baby, and you’re still mommy’s little girl.”

  The dog seemed satisfied and laid down, her head facing Holly so she could keep an eye on her.

  Holly sat up and stuck her thumb in her mouth, gazing at Grace and then at the dog. The baby lunged toward the dog, awkwardly falling on her, causing Lucky to suddenly pull back and jump down. Holly tried to follow, and Grace caught her by the feet just in time to keep her from tumbling off the bed.

  Something else she needed to remember. Babies didn’t have a sense of distance when it came to drop-offs, and it was up to Grace to protect her. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to let the baby sleep on the bed.

  Holly laughed and crawled into Grace’s lap, hugging her. The baby felt ten pounds heavier with her diaper full to the point of exploding. Of course, the telltale signs of moisture leaking through to her pajamas was another indicator.

  “Stay here for a minute while I get a new diaper and some clean clothes.” Grace crossed the room to the dresser and got out what she needed, keeping an eye on Holly to make sure she didn’t try to get down again. Call her overprotective, but Grace wasn’t sure what to expect. Her lack of experience showing.

  After changing Holly, she picked her up, using her hip to support the baby and held her tight. She grabbed the diaper and tossed it in the trash, the wet mass landing with a thud. It would stink if she left it there very long.

  Mental note to self—empty the trash when I get home.

  Grace glanced at the bed, scrunching her nose in dismay. There was no time to make her bed this morning, something else to put on her to-do list for tonight. It was totally unlike her, but there was nothing she could do about it now. She glanced at her watch, realizing they needed to pick up the pace.

  Once Holly was safely strapped in her high chair, Grace mixed up a small bowl of the powdered flake cereal, following the directions. Sitting next to the baby, she tried to spoon-feed her, but each time she got near with the spoon, Holly smacked at her hand, knocking the concoction onto the tray, some of it making it as far as the floor. Apparently, this wasn’t a favorite. There was no time to use the internet to search for ways to make it better and Grace gave up, knowing they were on limited time.

  A pastry wasn’t the best breakfast for the baby, but it wouldn’t be the worst thing either. Grace fixed the baby a bottle, the smell as she added water enough to gag her. How could a baby drink something that smelled so nasty? Between green mush and this, it was a wonder babies ate or drank anything.

  Grace screwed the lid on tightly, grateful the odor became trapped inside. She handed the bottle to Holly, letting the baby sit on the floor to drink it. Grace used the opportunity to feed and put out clean water for the dog. Turning her focus back to the diaper bag, she unloaded some of the food and formula to make room for an extra change of clothes and plenty of diapers.

  Holly finished the bottle in no time at all, barely giving Grace time to drink her coffee. Lucky stayed on the other side of the room, watching them both, and ignoring her breakfast. The dog only bothered to pick up her head and check things out when the baby banged the bottle of milk on the tray. Grace would need to make sure she gave Lucky plenty of extra attention when she got home tonight, the dog’s jealousy evident.

  After rinsing her cup and putting it in the dishwasher, Grace rechecked the diaper bag’s contents. Satisfied, she slung the bag over her shoulder, picked up the baby, and put her on one hip. With her other hand, she picked up the car seat.

  She wished she’d thought to put the seat in the car last night. Advance planning didn’t seem to be her forte when it came to baby care. It would take some getting used to, but she was sure she would get the hang of it. Grace just hoped it would be sooner rather than later.

  “Be good, Lucky. Hold down the fort till mommy returns.” The dog wagged her tail but didn’t move to join Grace at the door like she normally would.

  Grace drove through town, feeling blessed to find a parking spot not far from the Sweeter Side of Life. She was only ten minutes behind schedule, which, to her way of thinking wasn’t bad for her first day of parenting. Glancing around the cozy bakery, she searched for Faith. Her sister hadn’t arrived yet, and Grace moved to stand in the line at the counter. It wasn’t unusual for her sister to be late, so flipping the panic button would be a bit premature. But by the time Grace reached the counter, ten minutes had passed, and Faith was still a no-show. There was no way her sister would stand her up, would she?

  Grace moved up to the register to place her order, refusing to step aside and wait for her sister to arrive. With her luck, a long line would form if she did, and then she’d really be late for her first day on the job. Faith would just have to take what she got when it came to pastries—the price of being late.

 
; “Good morning, Grace. Who’s the little cutie pie?” Amanda, the owner of the bakery, reached across the counter to rub Holly’s arm. It always fascinated Grace how people loved to touch babies, wanting to share in the cute joy and happiness.

  Grace smiled. “Morning. This is my cousin’s little girl, Holly. I’m going to be taking care of her for a few weeks.”

  “Wow. That’s a brave adventure. I’ve got just the thing a baby her age would love. But you’ll need to break it up into small pieces.” Amanda moved off and came back shortly with a glazed donut. “Just do yourself a favor and use the high chair to keep her sticky fingers away from your outfit. You’re dressed up mighty fine to be playing mommy.” Amanda shook her head and laughed.

  “Actually, I start a new job in Lancaster today. Faith is meeting me and is going to look after Holly during the day when I work.” At least she hoped her sister would show up. Based on her sister’s track record and how late she was right now, things weren’t looking good.

  “Sounds like you got everything under control. What can I get you this morning?”

  “I think Faith is partial to your custard-filled chocolate-covered doughnuts, so I’ll take two of those. And maybe another glazed donut. For me, I’d like an old-fashioned one. Oh, and two cups of coffee, please.”

  The door opened and closed, the overhead bell jingling to announce a new customer. Grace glanced up, fully expecting to see Faith. It wasn’t her. It was a handsome man, and she couldn’t help but do a double-take before he came up behind her and stood in line. It would look odd if she turned around now to check him out, so she stilled the driving need to see if he looked as good up close as he had across the room.

  Dressed in a suit and tie, he looked a little out of place for the Hallbrook bakery and was no one she’d seen before, earmarking him as an out-of-towner. He was probably just passing through and needed coffee. He’d picked an excellent place to stop, considering Amanda’s sweet treats were known throughout the county.