“She’s old enough to remember,” she said quietly.
John simply nodded.
Ruth immediately regretted prying. Pain squeezed her heart for the loss this family had endured, and she grew even more determined to give the best care possible to these motherless children over the Christmas holiday.
“This is a lovely kitchen,” she said, changing the topic.
“Yes, it is. Larissa loved it.” His voice caught.
There he went again. It seemed Bethany wasn’t alone in her struggle.
Ruth would have to try harder to steer the topic of conversation away from John’s wife. Not that she didn’t want to hear about her, but it could become awkward if everything she said evoked memories that caused him pain.
“What other rooms are on this level?” she asked, looking around and thinking that keeping him moving might be the best approach.
“The dining room is through here,” he said, pointing to a wide hallway that led from the far side of the kitchen. “We have a cook who looks after most of our meals, but feel free to help the kids with breakfast and afternoon snacks.”
She nodded. Breakfast and snacks sounded easy enough.
“And out through this door are the garages. You’ll have access to any of the estate’s vehicles, but we also have a driver who’ll be available whenever you need. Or, if you prefer, there’s the Lexus SUV. I drove it today but usually it’s here. Feel free to drive it whenever you wish.”
The thought of driving a car worth more than her annual salary filled her with anxiety, although she wasn’t about to tell John that. He obviously trusted her. She nodded and smiled. “Great. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Let’s go upstairs and I’ll show you your rooms.”
Rooms? Plural? At best she’d hoped for a comfortable place to sleep each night, but John made it sound as if she had a suite.
She followed him up a wide, spiral staircase and once again thought she could be in a palace. The paintings adorning the walls were large, and she imagined, expensive. Possibly Monets or Van Goghs. Not that she was an art buff—far from it, but they looked like the paintings she’d studied at school. Maybe they were prints, not originals. Surely they weren’t originals.
As John led her down the second-floor hallway towards her rooms, Ruth mentally pinched herself and thanked God once again for the blessing of this position but determined that she would not allow herself to fall for John. She was his employee, and although they came from the same background, their worlds were now poles apart.
Chapter 5
“The children’s rooms are down this hall to the left.” Jonathon was speaking quickly. He knew it. Ruth had unsettled him. Her gentle, understanding heart had been evident in her eyes as she listened to him talk about how each of his children had coped with their mother’s death. He could easily have broken down and opened his heart to her, something he hadn’t done with anyone since Larissa’s illness had snatched her from them.
He rarely spoke of her with anyone. He certainly didn’t allow his staff, other than Mrs. Shields, to speak on such personal matters. But there was something about Ruth that weakened his defences. Maybe it was because of their past. That was probably it. She knew him before Larissa. Before all of this.
He had to keep the tour moving. “And here on the right is your suite.”
“Suite?” Her bright blue eyes popped as he motioned for her to step into the first of three rooms reserved for the children’s caregiver, a cosy sitting area complete with two recliners, a top of the range sound system and a smart television. He could only imagine what was going through her head.
“Yes. There’s a study through those doors, and the bedroom is off to your left. Feel free to make this space your own, and if there’s anything you need, let one of the housekeepers, or myself know and we’ll make sure you have it.”
“I…I couldn’t imagine needing anything more than this,” she said, her voice fading to a hushed stillness.
He briefly wondered if her impoverished childhood had carried into adulthood. He didn’t like the idea of her struggling when he’d lived such a privileged life, but he also didn’t have the time or energy to think about why he cared. Eager to flee any emotional reaction to his new nanny and return to the business at hand, he said, “If you don’t have any other questions, the children should be ready to meet you. I can show you the grounds later.” He couldn’t allow his history with Ruth to colour their relationship as employer and employee. He turned to re-enter the hallway when she stopped him.
“Actually, I do have a question.” Her voice had regained confidence and she’d squared her shoulders.
“Yes?”
“What do you expect me to do with the children during the day now they’re on summer vacation?”
Relief filled him. It was back to business. “Well, that’s entirely up to you. You’re basically here to do everything a mother would.” He groaned inwardly. Why did he say that? “I’m sorry. Everything a full-time caregiver would.”
“Yes, of course,” she replied, moving past his slip-up, much to his relief. “But do they have activities or commitments over the break? Doctors’ appointments? Swimming lessons?”
He frowned a moment. “I don’t think they have any regular activities on now, but check the manual in the family room. Everything’s in there, I believe.” He felt uncomfortable standing in front of her admitting he didn’t know what his children did during the day, but he’d never been involved in their day to day activities. That had always been Larissa’s responsibility, and then the nanny’s or his mother’s.
Ruth folded her arms and pinned him with her gaze.
He felt her keen disappointment at his apparent lack of interest in his children’s day to day lives. But it wasn’t like that. Not really. “Sorry. I should have said that most of their organised activities are on break until classes resume and you should feel free to do with the children as you see fit.” It was a forced recovery at best, and he hoped it satisfied her.
“Is there anything in particular they like doing?”
Jonathon scratched his head. “There’s the pool, and Stuart likes riding his bike. The nanny normally looks after that type of thing. Like I said before, everything here is at your disposal, but if you want to run something by me, by all means, call me.”
He led her back down the stairs where all three children were waiting. Stuart and Molly were running around after each other in the living room, but Bethany was slouching in an armchair, her feet on a footstool, flicking through her iPad.
He paused before they entered and turned to Ruth. “One more thing…”
“Yes?” Her response was polite but clipped. She was irritated with him, and he understood why. But how could he be involved in the kids’ day to day lives when he was managing multi-million-dollar projects? Looking after the children was the nanny’s job. He shrugged her abruptness off. It didn’t matter. He was her employer and he called the shots. “Should the children call you Ms. Taylor or would you prefer to be addressed by your first name?” If she could be clipped and business-like, then so could he.
She hesitated a moment before replying, “I think it’s fine if they call me Ruth.” Her tone had softened again, and a hint of a grin appeared on her face. She obviously couldn’t stay upset for long, and that made him smile.
Chapter 6
Ruth drew a deep breath as John led her into the living room where the children were waiting. She was eager to meet them, of course. After all, they were the reason she’d accepted the position, but one glance at the eldest confirmed it wouldn’t be plain sailing.
“Children, come and meet your new nanny.” John waved them over. The youngest two stopped running around and hurried to stand in front of their father. Ruth didn’t miss the look of contempt the older girl shot him before pushing the footstool away and standing. It was obvious she wasn’t in any hurry to join them.
“Do you like animals?”
Ruth looked dow
n and her heart lurched. The young boy, Stuart, looked up at her with his eager face, reminding her of David at that age.
“Stuart, is that how we introduce ourselves to someone new?” John moved forward and laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder.
Stuart turned bright red and shook his head before extending his hand to her. “I’m Stuart. I’m ten, and it’s very nice to meet you.” He quickly followed his new, more respectful introduction with, “But do you like animals? Because we have two dogs, Riley and Rex, and if you don’t like animals, I don’t know how we’ll get on.” He kept his hand extended, waiting expectantly for Ruth to take it.
She fought to suppress a smile. Except for his bright blue eyes, he looked just like John. “Well, Stuart, I’m Ruth, and it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She took his hand and gave it a firm shake. “As it happens, I do like animals very much and I look forward to meeting Riley and Rex. What kind of dogs are they?”
Stuart’s face relaxed into an easy smile. “Golden Retrievers, and they’re really good at running and swimming. Have you ever been to Australia Zoo? It’s in Brisbane, and when I grow up, I’m going to work there.”
“I’ve not been there, but I’ve heard about it.” She glanced at John who was smiling proudly at his eager son before she returned her focus to the boy. “I bet if you study really hard, you’ll be a great zookeeper. I have a son and he loves animals too. He’s all grown up now.”
“Has he ever been to Australia Zoo?”
“I don’t think so, but he’s backpacking and right now he’s in the Kakadu.”
“Where’s that?” Stuart looked at Ruth and then at his dad.
John put his hand to his chin as if he had to think about it for a moment. “Maybe you should ask Ruth.”
“Do you know, Ruth?”
“I sure do. It’s at the very top of Australia.”
“Wow. That’s a long way.” Stuart’s mouth gaped.
“You’re absolutely right. It’s a very long way.” David could have been on the other side of the world, it was that far. It certainly felt like it.
Ruth felt a tug at her side and looked down. Molly, the youngest, was tugging gently on her arm trying to get her attention. It seemed her brother’s friendly enthusiasm was infectious. The girl held a doll dressed similarly to her in a blue dress, and it also had the same blonde hair and big blue eyes as her. They could almost be twins.
“And who’s this?” Ruth asked, bending down to be on the same level as the child.
“Her name is Mary, and I’m Molly,” the little girl said.
“Well, Molly, I think you and Mary both have very pretty names. And you look so similar. It’s lovely to meet you both.” Ruth offered her hand and was pleased when Molly had her shake Mary’s hand first, then her own.
“I think you’re very pretty,” Molly said, blushing.
“Well, I think you’re very pretty as well.”
The girl blushed even further.
“What’s your favourite colour, Molly?” Although Ruth could easily guess since both the girl and the doll were dressed in blue, she thought the question would be a good ice breaker for a seven-year-old.
“Blue,” the girl said, shyly twirling around to show off her dress.
“I love blue too,” Ruth said.
“Is it your favourite colour?” Molly asked.
“No, my favourite is purple, which is also the colour of my birthstone, Amethyst.”
The two children stood wide-eyed, as if she’d said something profound.
Ruth couldn’t help but chuckle at their innocence and exuberance. She’d half expected to find the children morose and sad but was beyond pleased to see that at least the younger two had warmed to her. She glanced at Bethany who was watching her interaction with her siblings with suspicion.
Ruth looked to John for support, hoping he’d initiate an introduction between her and the older girl, much like he had with Stuart, but he’d stepped away to take a phone call and was so involved in the conversation that he was completely unaware of the stalemate between the two of them.
She drew a slow breath. No worries. I can handle this. Dealing with a pre-teen girl was the thing that had concerned her most in taking this position. Boys she had experience with, thanks to David. But girls, especially girls on the cusp of their teenage years who had lost their mother, she didn’t have a clue about. But God did.
She stood straighter and faced the girl. “You must be Bethany,” she said, extending her hand. “I’m Ruth.”
“I heard you before.” Bethany ignored Ruth’s outstretched hand and simply stood there, arms folded, glaring at her. “We don’t need to be friends. You’re just another nanny.”
Feeling the sting of the girl’s rejection, Ruth stiffened, momentarily abashed, but she quickly put her feelings aside. She was the adult here, and besides, she wondered how many nannies the children had had. She spoke softly. “No, we don’t need to be friends, but it might be nice if we tried?”
Bethany continued to eye her suspiciously. “We’ll see.”
Ruth closed her eyes briefly and prayed for the special patience and wisdom that would be needed to reach the girl.
John walked back to join them, his phone call over. “Sorry about that, a quick work interruption.” He smiled at everyone but quickly grew aware of Bethany’s demeanour. “What did I miss?” His gaze shifted between Ruth and his daughter.
“We were just getting to know each other,” Ruth said, trying to downplay the situation. She didn’t want to cause the girl trouble with her father on her very first day.
“Bethany, are you behaving?” he asked anyway.
“Of course, Dad,” she answered so sweetly that butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.
“Glad to hear it.” John visibly relaxed. But did he truly believe her, or was he simply playing along for her sake? It was clear Bethany had no intention of behaving. “Why don’t we take a walk down to the beach and show Ruth around?”
Bethany’s brows shot up, puzzling Ruth. With the beach so close but John working so much, she wondered when the last time was that he had taken a walk with his children. Surely he didn’t leave that to the nanny as well?
“Can we bring Rex and Riley?” Stuart pleaded. Molly joined in, jumping up and down excitedly.
John looked to Ruth and shrugged, as if silently asking her permission.
“I think bringing the dogs would be a great way for me to get to know them too,” she replied, frowning at him. Why would he need her approval to take the dogs? Did he not have much to do with them, either?
“Then it’s settled. Stu, go get the animals and we’ll leave right away.” John scooped Molly up and placed her on his shoulders, much to her delight and Ruth’s surprise.
Ruth glanced back at Bethany who was dragging her feet but nevertheless, was following. A walk was a great idea. Maybe she’d get some time alone with Bethany along the way, and the chance to break the ice with her. Although, to be honest, she felt totally inadequate and out of her depth with the pre-teen. What on earth had made her think she could do this?
Chapter 7
“Wait, Dad. Put me down!” Molly started squirming and wriggling on Jonathon’s shoulders. Having barely made it out the door, he couldn’t for the life of him figure out what had made his youngest daughter want to desperately head back inside.
Setting her down, he asked what was wrong, but she sprinted inside the house without answering. Frowning, he scratched his head.
“Maybe she had to use the toilet,” Ruth said quietly. “Should I go check?”
Before he had a chance to answer, Molly had returned, out of breath but smiling broadly.
“What was that all about, sweetheart?” he asked.
“I forgot Mary.” She beamed at him as she held her doll up for his inspection.
“We can’t have a walk to the beach without Mary, can we?” He leaned down and scooped her up, and as he did, he caught Ruth’s gaze which was filled with war
mth and mirth. He could already tell she was developing a soft spot for Molly, and that pleased him greatly. He gave his daughter a tight hug that she returned before he hoisted her onto his shoulders again.
After a kilometre of tree-lined estate road, the asphalt stopped and the gravel started. Manicured trees morphed into native bushland and the road narrowed to a trail that led all the way to the beach. When he and Larissa were looking to build their dream home, they’d specifically wanted land that led down to this part of the bay. With Point Leopold in the distance and a wide expanse of soft sand leading out to crystal blue water, it was the perfect place to call home.
The sea breeze hit his face while familiar sights and smells assaulted him. How long had it been since he’d taken the time to walk to the beach? He knew that Rose, the previous nanny, had often brought the children down. Many nights when he arrived home, the aroma of coconut sun cream wafted in the air. Now, watching the ease with which Stuart and Molly ambled along the trail, he guessed they were as familiar with this stretch of beach as he used to be.
Jonathon allowed his mind to wander back to the last family walk they’d taken together. Larissa had barely been strong enough to keep her legs moving and he’d supported her with his own strength as Bethany ran ahead and tried to make her laugh. He glanced back at Bethany now, so quiet and pensive as she lagged behind, and his heart broke for her.
“She needs time,” Ruth said, as if reading his mind.
So wrapped in his thoughts, he hadn’t noticed she was walking beside him. He blew out a heavy breath. “I know. I only wish I knew how much she needs. It’s already been four years. I hate seeing her like this.”
Billionaires with Heart Boxset: Christian Romance Series Page 38
