Waiting for His Return
Page 8
The person turned around. Sarah immediately realized he was a man—a very good-looking man with a long straight nose, strong chin, and golden-brown eyes. He looked about thirty. She glanced at his clothes, and her eyebrows rose. He wore a dark-green baggy sweatshirt with a torn neck, worn black jeans, and slip-on leather loafers with no socks. She kept the chain in place and stood back a little.
He smiled, and a deep dimple creased his left cheek. “Hi. I’m Justin Latimer.”
Surprise rippled through her. She’d pictured Lillian’s grandson a little differently when they’d talked on the phone earlier.
He lifted his brows, reflecting her hesitant expression.
Heat radiated into her face. “Oh . . . yes. I’m sorry.” She unlatched the chain and opened the door wider. “I’m Sarah Montgomery.”
Molly lunged past her and leaped at Justin. Sarah hung on to the leash.
Laughing, he squatted to greet the dog. “Hey there, Miss Molly. What’ve you been up to? Giving this lady a hard time?” He scratched behind her raised ears and let her lick his cheek.
“How’s Lillian?” Sarah glanced down the hall toward her neighbor’s door.
He stood to face Sarah, and a serious expression replaced his smile. “She sprained her wrist, and they think she has a concussion.” He frowned and glanced away. “Her blood work came back with some strange results. The doctor wants to run some more tests. They’re keeping her overnight.”
“I hope she’s not too upset. I know she thought she’d be coming home today.” Sarah glanced down at Molly. Keeping the dog for one day had been a challenge. She’d had to rearrange her schedule and cancel two appointments. She wasn’t sure how she’d manage working and watching Molly tomorrow.
Justin held his hand out for the leash. “Don’t worry. I’ll take Molly.”
Sarah’s face warmed, surprised he’d read her thoughts, but she didn’t release the leash.
“It’s okay.” Amusement shone in his eyes. “I stay with Molly whenever my grandmother goes out of town. That was part of the deal we made when I got Molly for her.”
“You bought Molly for Lillian?”
Grinning, he nodded. “Yes, I’m the guilty party.” He leaned down and ruffled the hair on the dog’s head, his expression growing pensive. “She was lonely after my granddad died. I thought a dog would be a good companion for her.”
Sarah’s heart warmed as she watched him. “That was thoughtful.”
“Well, I’m glad it helped. Now Molly is one of the most pampered pooches in Manhattan.” He gazed at the dog with affection. “And my grandma has someone who needs her and a reason to get up in the morning.”
Sarah nodded and studied him. Even though he needed a good haircut and new wardrobe, a man who cared that much about his grandmother deserved a measure of trust. “Why don’t you come in, and I’ll collect Molly’s things.” She opened the door wider.
“Thanks.” He followed her into the apartment. His gaze traveled around the living room and dining room. “Wow, this is nice.” He hesitated and glanced at her. “Spacious and very . . . neat.”
She smiled. “You sound surprised.”
“It looks like the same floor plan as my grandmother’s apartment, but it’s a shocking contrast to her . . . housekeeping style.”
Sarah held back a chuckle. “Yes, I saw her apartment for the first time this morning.”
He lifted his hands. “She wasn’t always like this, but since my granddad died, it’s gotten out of hand. Hopefully, I can sort through some things and clean up while she’s at the hospital.”
Sarah tipped her head, considering the possibilities. “Maybe I could help you.”
His dark brows rose. “You want to help me clean out her apartment?”
“That’s what I do.”
“You’re a cleaning lady?”
She pulled in a deep breath and stifled her initial response. “No, I’m a professional organizer.” She reached in her suit jacket pocket and handed him a business card.
He took the card and read it, but the question in his eyes told Sarah he could use a little more explanation.
“I help my clients develop and implement plans to simplify and organize their lives, homes, and offices.”
He nodded, but still looked uncertain.
“I help them discover why they struggle with disorganization. Then I teach them how to overcome clutter, get organized, and realize their dreams.”
His eyes lit up. “That’s exactly what my grandmother needs.” He rubbed his hands together. “When could you start?”
“I’m glad you’re interested helping your grandmother get organized, but Lillian would have to be the one to hire me. As I said, I’m not a cleaning service. I work with my clients and help them learn the skills they need to not only get organized, but stay organized.”
“I’ve tried to help my grandmother clean up several times, but we never get very far. She has a hard time making decisions, and she doesn’t want to throw anything away.”
Sarah nodded. “That’s a common problem, but it’s not impossible to overcome.” She sent him a confident smile. “I’m sure I could help her. I deal with people like that all the time.”
“It might be a lot easier to just go in there while she’s away, throw out all the extra stuff, and clean everything up.”
Sarah cringed. His sneak attack strategy was not the best way to handle this. She would only agree to that in the most desperate situations. If he wanted lasting results, he’d have to trust her, and let her do the job her way.
“She might not like it at first,” he continued, “but she’d eventually forgive us and appreciate what we’d done.”
“The first step is discussing this with Lillian. I need to understand her unique situation and then set objective and goals with her. And of course we’d have to agree on a time frame and fee for the job.”
“Of course.” He nodded.
“Your grandmother’s apartment needs a lot of work. I’ll have to bring in some other people to help with the initial phase. It could be costly.”
“Money is not an issue. My grandmother’s safety and peace of mind are what’s most important.”
Sarah nodded, impressed by his caring attitude and commitment to help his grandmother. For someone who dressed so casually he certainly was decisive. Of course he was offering to spend his grandmother’s money, not his own. Sarah recalled the beautiful furniture buried under the clutter in Lillian’s apartment. Her neighbor could obviously afford to hire a professional organizer, and she certainly needed one. Now, all they had to do was convince Lillian that Sarah was the one she could trust.
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
About the Author
Excerpt of Moonlight Over Manhattan