screened the house on one side, "is the farm. Near it are the ranch hands' quarters and a couple of cottages. The other staff quarters, we call them help houses here, are spread out throughout the ranch. The one closest to us is the farm manager's. Juan Rodriguez, the manager, is my brother-in-law. Theresa whom you met yesterday is his wife and Angela's their daughter. Marie who helps in the house is a cousin's daughter. I married Juan's older brother, Carlos, when I was eighteen. Carlos died five years ago when a horse threw him. Since then I’ve lived in one of the smaller cottages, semi-retired, till the accident last July.
Rachel didn't need to be told, Hannah's giving up of her retirement had been voluntary. She wouldn't delegate the task of caring for Rob's son to anybody else.
"You've been here a long time."
"Yes. I came out from Denmark when I was fifteen to live with my married sister in Solvang. Two years later I saw the advertisement for a cook at the Diamond Bar in the local paper and applied for the job. I didn't know a thing about American cooking, but I learned. I met Carlos soon after I came here. Our only regret in the fifty two years we were married was that we had no children of our own. Rob and Luke made up for it though."
Moisture seeped into Hannah's eyes as she stared into the distance.
"Luke's father lives in Arizona, now," Hannah continued after a while, "He's been here four times since the accident, even offered to move back if it would help, but Luke won't let him. His arthritis almost cripples him when he's here. Luke's convinced him we have it all under control. He hired Angela and Marie to help in the house, so I can have all my time free for Gordie. I still like to do the cooking though."
Rachel stared out at the hills wreathed in lazy mists. What strange law made one man such a wonderful father, another a total failure? She had watched the way Luke picked up the baby, held him, tended to his needs. There was no awkwardness there. His hugs and kisses were an open declaration about how he felt about his nephew. Of one thing there could be no doubt. Gordie wouldn't ever lack for love here. The fact that she would never see Chris' son again shouldn't matter.
"Ready?" Luke's gaze skimmed Rachel's face, took in the corralled tears. He had come up so quietly behind them she hadn't even heard him.
She was as ready as she would ever be. Luke was carrying her handbag and her rucksack. She hadn't even remembered them. What was the sign she had seen in railway carriages in India? Less luggage, more comfort. Make travel a pleasure. She certainly qualified as their official mascot. No excess baggage. Material or emotional.
"I need to..." it was the only excuse she could think of to go in once again.
Luke nodded, "I'll wait right here."
Gordie was in his play pen. On her way back from the bathroom, she paused a microsecond by him. Hannah was in the walk-in pantry with her back to her. Rachel leaned down and kissed the baby on the cheek. She was entitled to one memory.
"Gaga," said Gordie agreeably.
"Love you," whispered Rachel.
To Rachel's relief, Luke didn't seem to notice her tension as they drove away from the ranch in a blue pickup truck. He talked about the ranch, how his great grandfather had come west in a wagon train during the gold rush.
"He didn't find any gold, but the land and the climate kept him here. He staked out five hundred acres. Refused to grow grapes though. Ran cattle and horses."
Rachel had been staring out of her window since they left the ranch. Her usual stony shuttered look was back in place. So, thought Luke with satisfaction, leaving Gordie is costing her. He needed to be sure.
"Great Grandpa Jasper had only one son, Robert," he continued smoothly, "Grandpa Rob had three children, two daughters and one son, my father, Gordon. Both my aunts went to colleges
Rachel didn't need to be told, Hannah's giving up of her retirement had been voluntary. She wouldn't delegate the task of caring for Rob's son to anybody else.
"You've been here a long time."
"Yes. I came out from Denmark when I was fifteen to live with my married sister in Solvang. Two years later I saw the advertisement for a cook at the Diamond Bar in the local paper and applied for the job. I didn't know a thing about American cooking, but I learned. I met Carlos soon after I came here. Our only regret in the fifty two years we were married was that we had no children of our own. Rob and Luke made up for it though."
Moisture seeped into Hannah's eyes as she stared into the distance.
"Luke's father lives in Arizona, now," Hannah continued after a while, "He's been here four times since the accident, even offered to move back if it would help, but Luke won't let him. His arthritis almost cripples him when he's here. Luke's convinced him we have it all under control. He hired Angela and Marie to help in the house, so I can have all my time free for Gordie. I still like to do the cooking though."
Rachel stared out at the hills wreathed in lazy mists. What strange law made one man such a wonderful father, another a total failure? She had watched the way Luke picked up the baby, held him, tended to his needs. There was no awkwardness there. His hugs and kisses were an open declaration about how he felt about his nephew. Of one thing there could be no doubt. Gordie wouldn't ever lack for love here. The fact that she would never see Chris' son again shouldn't matter.
"Ready?" Luke's gaze skimmed Rachel's face, took in the corralled tears. He had come up so quietly behind them she hadn't even heard him.
She was as ready as she would ever be. Luke was carrying her handbag and her rucksack. She hadn't even remembered them. What was the sign she had seen in railway carriages in India? Less luggage, more comfort. Make travel a pleasure. She certainly qualified as their official mascot. No excess baggage. Material or emotional.
"I need to..." it was the only excuse she could think of to go in once again.
Luke nodded, "I'll wait right here."
Gordie was in his play pen. On her way back from the bathroom, she paused a microsecond by him. Hannah was in the walk-in pantry with her back to her. Rachel leaned down and kissed the baby on the cheek. She was entitled to one memory.
"Gaga," said Gordie agreeably.
"Love you," whispered Rachel.
To Rachel's relief, Luke didn't seem to notice her tension as they drove away from the ranch in a blue pickup truck. He talked about the ranch, how his great grandfather had come west in a wagon train during the gold rush.
"He didn't find any gold, but the land and the climate kept him here. He staked out five hundred acres. Refused to grow grapes though. Ran cattle and horses."
Rachel had been staring out of her window since they left the ranch. Her usual stony shuttered look was back in place. So, thought Luke with satisfaction, leaving Gordie is costing her. He needed to be sure.
"Great Grandpa Jasper had only one son, Robert," he continued smoothly, "Grandpa Rob had three children, two daughters and one son, my father, Gordon. Both my aunts went to colleges
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