by Jillian Hart
“Then my motto would be Don’t Think About It.”
“Exactly what I’m trying to do. But then this man wanted to hire me, and I had to admit the truth.”
“Where is this man? I’ll knock some sense into him. Tell him you want to forget the past. Leave it behind you.”
“That would be good. Hey, where did that broom go?”
He chuckled. So, she could make him laugh. That didn’t mean he was going to like her any more than he’d liked any other housekeeper. “Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt, right?”
“It’s my preferred state of mind.”
“I’ve spent time there.” He plunged his tea bag into the water and watched the liquid froth. The scent of apples and cinnamon warred with his senses. The tea smelled good, but it was nothing compared to Alexandra’s sweetness. “You said you left everything behind. That had to be hard.”
“I was renting a furnished room in a house, where we shared the kitchen and living areas. I didn’t really have much, but I did leave most of what I had. I took my camping gear and two duffel bags of clothes.”
She must have been in a lot of danger. “Did your housemates know what you were going to do?”
She shook her head, scattering her molasses-dark hair and making her earrings jangle. She appeared smaller on the chair. More fragile. “No one did. I’d cashed my paycheck that afternoon. Patrick had been watching me carefully, so I didn’t want to do anything suspicious. Like closing my account. Packing my car up after work. That sort of thing.”
“He was watching you? As in stalking you?”
Her fingers trembled as she wound the string around the tea bag, squeezing the liquid from it. “I’d already given him back his engagement ring. He didn’t take it well.”
“He wouldn’t let you go? Was he violent?”
“He didn’t think he had a problem with his anger while he was yelling at me.” She kept her voice even, as if an angry yelling man was nothing to be afraid of.
John knew better. He could see it without her words. Sense it as if he’d been able to peek inside her heart. The secrecy of quietly packing one evening, windows closed, curtains drawn, a radio on to hide the noise of dresser drawers opening and metal hangers rocking on the wooden closet rod.
“You’re going to be safe here.” He resisted the urge to reach out and brush away the lines of worry from her brow with the pad of his thumb. He knew what it was like to be afraid. To hurt. To want peace. “I’m going to make sure of it.”
“I can’t ask that of you. I’m not even sure I should be here. I appreciate the job, don’t get me wrong, and the pay is generous, but you’re not my keeper.”
“Someone has to be.” John offered her the cookie bowl. “Just think of me and my family as your temporary guardian angels. We’ll watch over you.”
An uneasy chill shivered through her stomach. She kept her voice light, because not all men were like Patrick, right? John didn’t mean he’d literally be keeping a watch on her. “A girl can’t have too many angels looking out for her.”
“Good. I’ll have the sheriff drop by, so be expecting him. You won’t be in need of the broom.” He bit into the edge of the iced cookie.
“Thanks for mentioning that. I’m still embarrassed enough I could spontaneously combust.”
“Why? It’s important for a woman to know how to defend herself. Cameron will be able to keep an eye out for any strangers in town. With any luck, this Patrick of yours will decide to stay in Seattle where he belongs.”
“That’s what I’m hoping.” She bit into the cookie and let the sweetness melt on her tongue. She thought of her self-esteem, still tender, and tried to put aside the bad memories of Patrick’s angry words that always tore her down….
No, she wouldn’t think of that ever again. She was strong enough to evade him. To make a new life. With the Lord watching over her and a few extra guardian angels, she couldn’t go wrong.
“Didn’t you get a restraining order? Didn’t the police help you?”
“A restraining order can only do so much, and the police did all they could.” She closed her mind against the pain. The wound in her heart hurt like crazy. She’d once loved Patrick Kline with all her being. Where all that love used to be was a dark, aching place that felt as if it would never be touched by sunlight again.
“You don’t need a restraining order here. Not with me around.” John’s gaze met hers, full of promise, as unyielding as the strongest steel. “You’re safe with me. You can count on it.”
The tension inside her eased. Just like that, like a tangled knot of yarn suddenly pulling loose. She believed in him. “You really are a guardian angel.”
“Good, I’ve got you fooled.” With a wink, John slid off the stool with a man’s athletic power, taking the mug and cookie with him. “I’ve been told I’m a good listener. Any time you want to talk, I’m here. You’re not alone. Remember that.”
“I will.”
“If you have any questions about the list I gave you, just give me a jingle down at the store. I wrote down the number.”
“Sure thing.” It was hard to speak past the tight ball of emotions locked in her throat, but she managed.
He disappeared through the threshold, and his steps tapped through the house. The door opened, then closed, leaving silence in his wake.
For the first time in a long while, Alexandra didn’t feel alone. Her spirit had been uplifted after she’d confided in John. She hadn’t dared to trust her troubles to many people. Opening up now left her feeling connected instead of isolated and reminded her that God’s love was everywhere, especially in the hearts of others.
She took another bite of the delicious cookie and started reading the work list John had left her.
The late-afternoon sun was blazing strong enough to make the inside of the old VW hot as Alexandra pulled into the gravel driveway of the little yellow house a few blocks from the town’s main street. It was always a blessing not to have air-conditioning. Otherwise how could she appreciate the sun’s heat?
She killed the engine and rolled down the rest of the windows. A strain of piano music lilted from the house’s open front door. Hailey’s halting rendition of “Moonlight Sonata” was certainly unique. Fondness for the little girl filled Alexandra’s heart right up.
What a wonderful day this had been. After a morning spent cleaning John’s beautiful house, she’d met Hailey at the bus stop at the end of the mile-long driveway. Stephanie had come to visit, so there were two little girls to entertain. Easy to do with a fresh pitcher of lemonade and the last of Bev’s Sunday cookies.
While she’d dusted the plant shelves in the family room, the sounds of their laughter and constant chatter wafted in through the open windows. Happy sounds of childhood that Alexandra remembered from other children’s homes. From other children’s yards.
She grabbed the dust mop, reaching for the peak of the vaulted ceiling, straining on the top step of the small ladder she’d found in the garage. Those happy, innocent voices drifting into the room made her happy, too. As if, for one moment in time, she was able to step out of the shadows of her troubles and let the sun warm her. It had been a good feeling, and it lingered with her still as she waited for Hailey’s lesson to end.
The halting music continued, one wrong note souring the melody, and then another. She tugged a paperback inspirational romance out of her purse and opened it to the dog-eared page that marked her place. She’d no sooner started reading than she heard footsteps in the gravel behind her.
“Alexandra.” It was John’s voice and his reflection in the cracked side-view mirror, coming closer.
Oh, he looks good. That was her first thought. Her second was—don’t notice. “John. Bet you couldn’t resist the chance to hear your daughter play.”
A series of sour notes came from inside the house before the melody rang true.
“I’m not sure her true talent is the piano, although Mom sure keeps hoping.” John knelt down so
they were eye level. “I was down the street delivering a new mower to the Whitlys, and I spotted your car.”
Only then did she recognize the big red pickup parked across the street behind her. “Checking up on me?”
“Let’s call it Providence lending a hand. The Whitlys have puppies that are just eight weeks old today. They offered me the pick of the litter, since I didn’t charge them for the delivery.”
“Now you’re in a bind—is that it? Seeing as Hailey wants a dog.”
“You see my situation. If I say no, then I’m a horrible, terrible father of the worst sort. If I say yes, then I’ve got a puppy in my house.”
“Look at the bright side. You have wood floors and not carpeting. That will come in handy during housebreaking.”
“I like your outlook on life. Yep, there’s a blessing if I ever saw one.” He shook his head, scattering his dark hair, and for a moment those shutters on his soul opened again. It was easy to see all the good in him.
When he caught her looking at him, the shutters closed. She felt embarrassed for looking so deep.
John stood, gazing at the house, feeling distant again. Remote. “Think you’re up to coming along and helping us pick out a dog?”
Before Alexandra could answer, the old metal screen door flung open and a pink-and-purple blur streaked out of the house.
“Daddy!” the streak shouted in an excited rush. “What dog? I getta dog? Yippeeeeee! I’m gonna get a dog. Really, really, truly?”
“Nope. Just kiddin’.” John’s wink brought another squeal as Hailey bounded to a stop against Alexandra’s car, jumping up and down with glee.
“What kind of a dog? A baby one, right? It’s the Whitlys’ babies, isn’t it? I knew it. My best friend Christa lives next door and she gets to visit them sometimes. She wants to get the white one, but I ain’t never seen them even once—”
Hailey kept talking, and John held up one hand, like a crossing guard attempting to halt speeding traffic. “It’s not doing any good.”
“I see that.” Alexandra covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
“You see why I hired you? I need help.”
“If I had known that, I’d have demanded higher wages.”
“Maybe hazard pay.” John took his daughter by the shoulders and guided her around to the passenger side door, while she chattered the entire time.
He opened the door and Hailey plopped into the seat, chasing away all the quiet.
“I won’t want the white one, ’cuz it’s the one Christa likes, but maybe there’ll be one I like. Do you know what? What if there isn’t one I like?”
“With my luck, you’ll like all of them. Don’t worry.” John brushed tangles from her face, a wonderfully loving fatherly gesture, before handing her the seat belt. “Buckle up, and give Alexandra directions. I’ll follow, okay?”
“Yep. I love you, Dad.” She gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek, an open show of affection that made Alexandra look away.
She turned the key, pumping the gas until the old engine sputtered to life. She felt sharply alone, even with Hailey’s merry chatter and John waving them off as she backed onto the street.
“Yippee! I get a dog. I really, really get one. Can you believe it? Cool. My dad’s so cool.” Hailey bounced on the seat, her happiness tangible. She beamed, her hands clasped, all brightness and innocence.
“Your dad is definitely cool.” Alexandra could see him in the rearview, walking the half block down the residential street, his athletic gait striking, his hair wind tousled. There was something about him that held her attention—and that couldn’t be good.
Don’t think about it.
She forced her attention completely on the road ahead of her, following Hailey’s pointing finger toward a paved driveway in front of a vintage, Craftsman-style house, where a profusion of bright tulips were cheerfully saluting.
An elderly woman rose from her weeding in the colorful flower beds in the shade of the house, and waved her garden-gloved hand. Her face wreathed into a smile. “Why, it’s Hailey. Your daddy said we ought to be expecting you.”
“Hi, Mrs. Whitly!” Hailey shot from the car before Alexandra could set the brake.
Alexandra then pocketed her keys, approaching, as the older woman offered a friendly greeting.
“I saw you in church,” Mrs. Whitly was saying, grasping Alexandra’s hand in a tight hold that felt so sincere. “What a blessing you are to them, I’m sure. That poor widower all alone, and with a child to raise. I already sent Hailey into the house to find the puppies on her own. Didn’t think that child could wait a second longer without exploding on the spot.”
“Good idea. She’s pretty excited.”
“So I see.” Laughing, Mrs. Whitly held open the door. “Please come in. Can I get you some iced tea?”
“Thank you.” Being part of the Corey family made her belong somehow, she figured. Small towns were like that, she knew all too well. It was a nice privilege, to be welcomed without question.
“Go on into the laundry room.” Mrs. Whitly gestured to the far end of her perfectly tidy kitchen to an open door, where Hailey sat sprawled on the linoleum floor, surrounded by leaping puppies.
“Alexandra! Look!” Hailey twisted around, hugging one fluffy black puppy beneath her chin, sparkling like all the stars in the sky, like joy unleashed.
In all her life, Alexandra had never been so happy, but it touched her now. Knocked away one stone in the wall around her heart. Forgetting that she was an adult and not a child, she fell to her knees amid the puppies, scooping up a wiggling little brown one that jumped right into her hand.
“He’s so soft.” She’d never felt anything so wonderful. Fluffy puppy paws were everywhere—her arms, her shoulders, on her jeans, as the little ones tried to get her attention, jumping up to swipe wet warm tongues at her chin.
“I love this one!” Hailey kissed the head of the puppy she cradled. “This one is the sweetest, bestest puppy, right?”
“Right.” Alexandra started when a hand lighted on her shoulder. A heavy, broad touch that somehow made the happiness inside her double. Made another brick crumble in the wall around her heart.
John knelt down beside her. “It looks to me like these puppies are all wrong. Now that you girls have looked, let’s leave them and go.”
“Daddy!” Hailey protested, giggling. “I found the one I want. Looky!”
“I was afraid of that.” John winked, acting as if he was greatly pained, but anyone could see the happiness that made him bigger than life. “Looks like you’ve got yourself a dog, Hailey.”
“I know.” She said it with such confidence, as if there had never been a single doubt in her mind. She’d known all along how this would work out.
Alexandra turned away, lowering the puppy she held to the floor, stroking its downy little head with her fingertip. A second pup pushed its way in, wanting attention, too.
All her life, she’d been on the outside looking in. Like a child peeking through the window, wistfully wishing to be part of the happy family inside. She’d always wondered if those people she saw were really that happy. Or was it different, with the curtains drawn and the doors closed. Were they as unhappy down deep as her family had been?
It had always burdened her. She wanted to marry. She wanted a family, just like the ones she’d always watched so wistfully as a child while at the same time fearing that nothing could be that wonderful. Not really.
And now she knew for sure. Those families were real. Like John’s family. So this dream in her heart could really happen—one day. Maybe that was why God had brought her here, on this uncertain journey from her past. To show her this genuine, happy family. To let her see what her future could be.
She hugged another puppy close, closed her eyes and gave a silent prayer of thanks.
Chapter Eight
“I hope you know something about dogs.”
Alexandra dug her car keys out of her pocket. “Actually, I do, but you
’re not paying me for that.”
“Getting tough with me, are you?” He crossed his arms over his chest, impressive as always with the shadows clinging to him and the wind ruffling his dark hair. “I knew you were too good to be true. Now I see the real Alexandra.”
“Oh, you’re one to talk. Hiring me to keep house and look after your daughter, and now this. A hidden agenda.”
“Guilty as charged. Except I didn’t know we were going to get a dog so soon.”
“You must have known you would fold and give in to Hailey’s wishes. After all, Mrs. Whitly told me you had asked about the puppies only last week.”
“Can’t trust anyone to keep a secret. What’s the world coming to? Okay, so I had a suspicion, but that’s all it was. Mom doesn’t know anything about dogs, either, so that leaves us at your mercy.”
“You’re in luck. I do have some puppy knowledge, but it’s going to cost you.”
“I knew you were going to say that. Okay, give it to me. How much is this going to set me back?”
“Your mom’s potato salad recipe. Hey, don’t look at me like that. I know what’s important in life.”
“Getting you all the gold in Fort Knox would be easier. Do you know my mom guards that secret family recipe with her life? Is there any chance I could just pay you extra?”
“Nope.” Alexandra swung her car door open. “Talk to Bev.”
“She’s gonna hurt me if I ask her for the recipe.”
“A big brave man like you shouldn’t be afraid of a little pain.” She couldn’t help teasing. “Still want my help with the puppy?”
He gestured toward the pickup’s passenger window where Hailey could be seen through the tempered glass, her cheek to the puppy’s cute round head. They were nuzzling, clearly in love, as only little girls and their puppies can be.
“I need all the help I can get,” John confessed. “Are you going to make me beg?”
