by Arlene James
Caroline nodded emphatically. "Absolutely. Very happy."
He nodded, too. "All right. Good."
He started to turn away, but Caroline stopped him with an uplifted hand. "Do you mind if I ask one more question?"
He rounded on her. "Yes, actually, I do!"
Caroline shrank back. "I just wanted to know how she told you."
His look was incredulous, but he answered. "She didn't tell me. You told me."
Now she was incredulous. "You didn't know until then?"
He shook his head. "It wasn't a surprise, though. I knew she was seeing someone after me and that it was getting serious. End of story."
. Caroline's elation soared. "I see." He regarded her a moment longer, then turned away, shaking his head.
Caroline was pleased on several levels. For one, she didn't want him to be hurt in any way, and obviously he wasn't. For another, she was selfish enough to be glad that he didn't care so much for Nancy that he could be hurt, for that could only mean that his heart was not involved in the affair. Also, he seemed to respect Nancy, to realize mat she deserved to be loved—just not by him. He hadn't disappointed her so far, except with that bit about her looking too young. She'd have to do something about that—if his mother decided to keep her around.
Suddenly everything hinged on Mrs. Wagner's approval. Caroline took a deep breath, fighting back panic. She could do this. She could do this. She had to do this.
Jesse led her around the corner of the house to a side door. It was quite a place, large but somehow cozy. The prim white siding shone cleanly against the vibrant green of the roof, shutters and trim. The deep front porch was stacked with cordwood to feed the pair of red rock chimneys that climbed above the steep roof, and she saw the spot where a swing would hang come summertime. The peak of the roof sheltered a dormer window, its shutters open to the setting sun.
A wave of warmth hit her as he opened the door and held it for her. She stepped up onto a flagstone floor and looked around. They were in a narrow, wood-paneled hall lined with pegs at a height just above her head, a small closet at the far end. Jesse wiped his feet on the mat, stepped inside and closed the door. Without a word he shrugged out of his coat and hung it up, then peeled off a scarf and his gloves and removed his hat before reaching for her coat, which she'd slipped off herself. He eyed her chambray shirt critically.
"Don't you know how to dress for the weather?"
She tried not to shiver as the warmth caressed her chilled skin. "Of course I do."
He went on to instruct her as if she hadn't spoken. "You need gloves, a scarf and a hat"
"I've been meaning to purchase those items," she said lightly.
"You can't have lived here four years without them," he went on doggedly.
Caroline spared him a dismissive glance. "No, of course not." She shrugged. "I used to have them, but they were borrowed by someone else and lost."
He frowned. "You shouldn't be loaning your things to such irresponsible—"
Exasperated, she snapped, "It was my mother, all right? Would you tell your mother she couldn't borrow something of yours?"
He thought that over and mumbled, "My mother wouldn't lose my things."
"Well, niy mother loses everything," Caroline told him, cheerfully blunt, "hers, mine, everything. Now that she's on her way to California, though, I don't suppose I'll have to worry about it anymore."
"You mean she's moving to California?"
"She is."
"What about your father?"
"Never knew him," Caroline said matter-of-factly.
He lifted a brow at that. "Then you're pretty much on your own."
She gave liim her most fetching smile. "Definitely on my own."
He frowned but nodded. "All right. We can take that into consideration. Now if you'll wait here for just a moment, I'll go find Mother."
"Fine."
He turned his back, and her smile wilted. She leaned against the wall and folded her arms, breathing deeply. Suddenly he looked back over one shoulder, raking her with a critical look. "You ought to layer your clothes," he said gruffly. "It traps body heat." Then he hung his hat on the last peg and walked away, turning the corner at the end of the short hall.
Caroline let out her breath and rocked up onto the balls of her feet, mimicking softly, "You ought to layer your clothes. It traps body heat" Why was he so concerned about how she dressed? She hoped he wasn't the controlling sort who had to order everybody's life to his satisfaction. She hoped she had a chance to find out,
Shaking her head, she took another look around her. There were four coats hanging in the hallway, including her own. All (he others looked like men's coats. Perhaps Mrs. Wagner hung her own coat in the closet, neatly, carefully. Or perhaps she elected to wear a man's coat. Caroline was betting on the former. The neatness of die short hallway told her that someone was meticulous, and she could only assume that it was Jesse Wagner's mother. Would such a woman be less meticulous about her personal things? She didn't think so.
Much more quickly than she expected, Jesse was back, saying, "Come on. She's in the kitchen^"
He led her around the corner and down another hallway flanking a large living room, a small den and a formal dining room. All were paneled in golden wood and warmly lit, the floors covered in wall-to-wall carpeting the russet color of terra-cotta tile. Somewhere in the house, a clock chimed the quarter hour.
Jesse halted adjacent to the dining room and lifted an arm, indicating that she should proceed him through the open doorway opposite. Caroline stepped into a brightly lit, cheerful kitchen done in soft yellows and cool blues. It was toasty warm and smelled of peaches and cinnamon. A small woman with a luxurious head of gray hair bound in a bun at the nape of her neck turned from the counter and dried her gnarled hands on her apron.
"Hello."
"Mom, this is Caroline Moncton. Miss Moncton, my mother, Sarah."
"How pretty you are," Sarah Wagner said, reaching out with both hands.
Liking her immediately, Caroline lifted both hands and felt her fingertips being gently squeezed. "Thank you. What a lovely compliment. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Let's have a seat," Sarah said, turning toward the oval table that sat before the window. Jesse slid past Caroline and quickly pulled out his mother's chair. Thanking him, Sarah placed one hand on the table and very slowly sank down into the seat. Meanwhile, Jesse repeated the gesture for Caroline, who also murmured her thanks and took her seat.
A grimace of pain passed over Sarah Wagner's surprisingly smooth face as she settled herself fully into her chair, but the next moment she smiled, displaying small fans of shallow wrinkles at the outside comers of her eyes. Caroline couldn't help thinking that she would look much younger if she colored her hair. A good cut wouldn't hurt, either. Her eyebrows were a sandy brown but too slight. Just a little pencil would add definition and call attention to her shining, silver-blue eyes.
"Would you like a cup of coffee, Miss Moncton? It's fresh."
"Please call me Caroline, but don't trouble yourself about the coffee."
"No trouble." Sarah turned a smile over one shoulder. "Son, would you pour Caroline a cup of coffee, please?" She turned back to Caroline. "Cream and sugar?"
"No, thank you. I prefer it black." '
Sarah nodded with approval. "You're older than you seem at first glance."
"I'm twenty-one," Caroline said.
"Today," Jesse added significantly, reaching past her to place a flowered mug on the table in front of her.
Sarah beamed, blue eyes twinkling. "Well, we have to have cake, too, then, don't we?" She winked, and Caroline smiled, thinking of Jesse dishing up gooey slices of cake for her and his mother.
"Absolutely," she said, and Sarah hunched her shoulders as if giggling before smoothly turning a complacent look over one shoulder.
"Son, there's a fresh pound cake under that cover on the buffet in the dining room. Would you mind cutting two slices?"
/> Jesse sounded as if he was strangling when he said, "Not at all."
"Use die good china," Sarah directed as he crossed the hall, "ft is a celebration."
. When he was safely out of hearing, she turned a conspiratorial smile on Caroline and whispered, "He's a dear boy but a little awkward to have underfoot from time to time." She patted Caroline's hand where it rested near her coffee mug and said, "Now tell me all about yourself."
"There's not much to-tell," Caroline said. "My father was a sailor my mother met in South Carolina. They married and then divorced before I was even born. I've never met him. She never married again, so there are no siblings." < "So it's just been the two of you all these years," Sarah divined correctly.
"Yes. My mother's parents died when I was small. She has a sister, in Oregon, I think, but they aren't close. Mom's something of a tumbleweed, never stays in one place too long if she can help it. She only stayed here because I refused to go with her when she wanted to move on." jiiS'Haw yoa been here long?"
; "Four years," Caroline said, "and as far as I'm concerned, here is where I'll stay. Mom, on the other hand, left for California this morning."
"Oh, my!" Sarah said, dismayed. "So you're all alone now."
"I'm a big girl," Caroline pointed out with a smile. "I'll be fine—as soon as I find full-time work."
Jesse entered the room then, warily carrying two plates of butchered cake. It looked like it had been carved out with a spoon. Sarah swallowed a chuckle and traded looks with Caroline when he plunked both plates down in the center of the table.
"None for yourself?" she inquired sweetly as he sucked crumbs off his thumb.
"Too close to lunch for me," he grumbled, moving back toward the counter.
Sarah waited patiently before gently prodding, "Forks, dear?"
Caroline listened to the drawer slide out, the flatware clinking as he pawed through it, and the whump as he shoved the drawer shut again. Two forks appeared in the center of the table. Sarah carefully picked up one, and just that small movement seemed to pain her. Caroline glanced up sympathetically, and Sarah acknowledged her concern with a smile, then launched into conversation once more.
Before long, Caroline had told her all about college, her boredom with keeping books and her impatience with her immature contemporaries. "All they think about is entertainment," Caroline said lightly, "while I'm thinking about paying the rent."
Sarah laid down her fork and covered Caroline's wrist with her cupped hand. "Don't worry yourself about that any longer. I mink we'll manage just fine together, you and I."
Caroline beamed, while behind her, Jesse cleared his throat. "You haven't even heard about her system yet," he pointed out to his mother.
"Oh, that doesn't matter," Caroline said quickly. "This is your mother's house, naturally she'll want things dorie her way."
"Not at all," Sarah said firmly. "I have a very open mind, I assure you." She started to rise, and Jesse rushed to help her. Caroline literally heard her joints creak. Standing once more, Sarah took a deep breath and briskly said, "We'll discuss mis system of yours while we're preparing lunch."
"Now?" Caroline said. "You want me to start now?"
"Unless you prefer another arrangement."
"No!" Caroline bounded out of her chair, too delighted to contain her laughter. "Thank you, Mrs. Wagner! You won't regret this, I promise!"
"Now, now," the older woman chided gently, "no formality. Call me Sarah, I insist"
Impulsively Caroline hugged her. She glanced up, catching a look of troubled speculation on Jesse's face. Immediately Caroline backed off. "Did you have something else in mind? Perhaps you'd like to interview a few more candidates?"
Jesse shrugged as if it was of no concern to him whatsoever. "Mother knows what's she's doing. I was just thinking about this room-and-board thing." He immediately turned to his mother, explaining, "Miss, uh, Caroline asked earlier i| there might be a possibility of room and board as part of the salary."
"Oh," Sarah began. "Well, we could always—"
"Maybe later," Jesse said, looking at Caroline. "If and when it's necessary." Again, he explained to his mother, "Caroline's concerned because her landlady is dunking about selling the duplex they're sharing."
"Yes," Caroline said, "the thing is, it's an older home that was converted into a duplex, and the landlady feels that a new owner may want it as a single-family dwelling again, but it hasn't even gone on the market yet, so there's no immediate concern."
"Well, let's wait and see then," Sarah said encouragingly. "But I don't want you to worry now. I'm sure that when the moment comes, there will be no problem."
"Thank you," Caroline said, smiling warmly at the other woman. "Now let's get that lunch on. Can I borrow an apron?"
She pretended not to notice when Jesse left the room and then returned a moment later with the newspaper, yet she remained acutely aware of him as he sat calmly at one end of the table, slowly turning through the pages. She found it difficult to believe had nothing more pressing to do than sit there reading with tech less man an hour away. Didn't he trust her enough to leave her alone with his mother? Apparently she would have to assure him again that she would make no mention of his former relationship with Nancy. She was really too busy to worry about it, though.
Sarah had stewed a chicken the day before, and Caroline's first job was to debone it and cut the meat into bite-sized chunks for soup while Sarah painstakingly cleaned vegetables. She was having a very difficult time with a paring knife. After a while, Jess folded his paper and suggested that he could try his hand at the vegetables. Sarah smiled to herself.
"Thank you, dear, but we're doing fine. You really don't have to hover."
Jesse grumbled something unintelligible, got up, stretched and said he had a couple things to do in the office. When he had gone, Sarah sent Caroline a speaking look.
"He tries to help, but there are hardly any vegetables left when he's through with them."
Caroline chuckled. "Well, at least he's willing to help. That's more than a great many men."
"Oh, my, yes," Sarah said, adding in a more strident tone, "his father isn't nearly so understanding."
Caroline said nothing to that, but as she had finished with the chicken, she washed her hands and took over the paring knife, freeing Sarah to mix together a batch of biscuits. From the corner of her eye, Caroline watched Sarah put together the dry ingredients and prepare to sift them. She hesitated only a moment before suggesting that half a teaspoon of cream of tartar would give the biscuits a crisp crust just made for dunking in soup.
"Now that makes perfect sense," Sarah said, reaching into the cabinet "I wonder why I didn't think of it before."
Beaming, Caroline began putting together the soup. It was simmering fragrantly when Jesse wandered in again.
"Everything okay in here?"
She lifted both eyebrows at him, wondering if he expected her to injure his mother in some way, perhaps splash her with scalding water, mistake her for a vegetable? He seemed to realize belatedly how the question had sounded. Coloring slightly, he looked straight at her and said, "Mother can't reach the dishes on the top shelves."
"I can," Caroline said. "I'm over five feet, you know. In fact, I'm—"
"Five-five, yeah, I got that," he said, clearly amused. To his mother he said, "Looks like I'll not be needed around here anymore." With that, he flipped a kind of salute, turned, and strolled easily from the room.
Laughing, Sarah put her hands to her hips. "What on earth has gotten into him?"
Caroline shrugged. "Maybe he just needs a little time to get used to having another woman around the house."
Sarah measured her with a speculative look. "You could be right about that."
Caroline merely smiled and looked around her. -'Now, what else did you have hi mind?"
"You can cut the biscuits and get down the noodles for the soup," Sarah said, all business again, "while I get the salad makings from the refrigerator
. Then we'll pop that peach cobbler in the freezer into the oven. These boys love peach cobbler."
"Sounds like 'these boys' eat pretty well," Caroline said.
"I get no complaints," Sarah said, "but it will sure be easier with you here."
"That's the idea."
Quickly, companionably, the two women put together the meal, but inevitably what Sarah started, Caroline finished. Finally, Sarah sat down at the table in disgust, holding her hands out before her. "I'm the next thing to a cripple."
Caroline dried her hands and slipped onto the edge of the seat closest to Sarah. A glance told her everything she needed to know. "You're in pain, aren't you?"
