Janine Rhodes lifted her giggling charge into her arms and strode toward the cabin. She chuckled. Only a rich man would consider the sprawling structure a cabin. The rustic log cabin portion contained a large main room, kitchen, eating area and a powder room. A massive stone wing held eight bedrooms and five complete bathrooms.
Tammy wiggled free and ran toward the path leading to the
swimming pool and cabana. Laughter trailed after her. “Catch me.”
Janine snatched her up. “Snack time. Then nap.”
“No.” The toddler yawned and rubbed her eyes.
Janine tapped Tammy’s nose. “You’re months away from being
a terrible two.” Her feet crunched colorful fallen leaves blown from the woods.
Only a few white clouds floated in the sky. A warm day for early October.
At the door, Janine turned to admire nature’s bright
colors. Red, yellow and orange leaves adorned the trees. The dark green of
pines formed a background.
Janine sighed. This job was the best she’d ever had. As
well as leaving her weekends free for school, Andi and Rob had become friends.
She stepped into the large room and removed hers and
Tammy’s jackets. After a hand wash, she popped the toddler into the high chair
and poured a cup of juice and found cookies. While Tammy ate, Janine filled a
mug with coffee. She sipped the rich aromatic brew and sighed with pleasure.
The coffee here tasted like a treat.
Her glance flowed around the kitchen. She didn’t know what
halt the appliances did but this was a chef’s dream. A long island separated
the dining area from the kitchen. A large fireplace dominated one wall. Two
dark brown leather couches fronted the hearth. A pair of recliners faced a
large screen television.
By the time Tammy finished her snack, her eyelids drooped.
Janine lifted the toddler and went to the powder room to wipe the child’s face
and hands. A loud pounding at the door startled her. Tammy screamed.
“It’s all right.” Janine rubbed the little girl’s back.
Had to be a friend.
Only friends knew the combination to the gate at the foot of the long driveway.
Anyone else had to call the house to be let in. Before she had a chance to
check the monitor, the loud rapping sounded again. She opened the door.
A tall man she recognized brushed past her. “Mr. Quinn, is
something wrong?”
“Where’s Rob?”
“In his office. I’ll let him know you’re here.” Her employer’s
attorney’s green eyes flashed. Anger or
fear? His hair looked as if someone had run fingers through the thick dark
hair.
“Don’t bother.” He strode toward the bedroom wing.
Janine watched him rush away. Was there trouble at the
movie studio?
Tammy rubbed her face on Janine’s shoulder. She patted the
child’s back. “To bed.” She entered the hall.
She heard Nate shouting. Janine sighed. Though from the
first time she’d seen Nate Quinn, she’d felt an attraction but she knew there
was no chance for any relationship. He still grieved for his wife who had died
a year ago. An impossible dream. There
were too many tangled threads to unravel.
Tammy popped her thumb into her mouth. “Bear.” Janine
entered the bedroom wing.
Rob’s office door stood open. Nate Quinn’s near shouts
flowed into the hall. “What am I going to do? I can’t lose him to that damned
disease.”
Though she shouldn’t remain and eavesdrop, Janine froze in
place. Curiosity gripped like an iron glove. Did he mean his eight year old son
was ill?
Her arms tightened around Tammy. She should leave but she
had to know what made him sound angry and defeated.
“He’s been tired lately so two days ago, I took him to see
Andi. She ran some tests and called me around noon, wanted Davey admitted to
the hospital. She asked Dr. Chou to see him.”
“Did you?” Rob asked.
“Yah. I just left him there and fled in a panic. I can’t
endure anything going wrong.”
Janine edged along the all and stared at the open door.
Nate Quinn looked ready to collapse or cry.
“Dr. Chou is excellent,” Rob said.
“That’s what Andi said.”
“What’s the diagnosis?”
“Leukemia.”
Those words brought a rush of tears to Janine’s eyes.
Tammy wiggled. Before the little girl cried, Janine loosened her hold and
stepped into the child’s bedroom. Janine’s knees buckled. She drew deep breaths
to calm her raging thoughts. She bit her lip and focused on her charge.
“Nap time.”
Tammy popped her thumb into her mouth “’Kay.”
Janine lowered the little girl into her crib. She tucked
the white bear into Tammy’s arms. Janine left the bedroom and hurried down the
hall without pausing to listen.
She sank on one of the brown leather couches and wrapped
her arms around her waist. What would she do now? The urge to cry nearly
overwhelmed her. She had come to
Footsteps muffled by the thick area rug caused her to turn
her head. Nate Quinn lumbered past. His slumped shoulders concerned her. “Mr.
Quinn, are you all right?”
“There’s nothing you can do. Just mind your own business.”
But… His scowl
and sharp tone chilled her. Did he know who she was? A tear trickled over her
cheek. Once again she was attracted to a man who had no use for her. Good thing
she’d kept her identity hidden. More tears fell.
Once the crying bout ended, she wiped her eyes. She filled
a mug with coffee and glanced at the clock. Soon, Andi would be home and she
could leave. She walked to the child’s room. Tammy rolled over. Janine returned
to the main room and to her coffee and the book.
My Places
https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f
http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com
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Buy
Mark My Places
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