yourself we don’t have a minute to waste. I hope you’re ready for a wild ride. We’ll have you up and running in no time.”
Two hours later, Jacob pulled into the driveway of the home he’d bought on the outskirts of town. His dream house, really. Surrounded by mountains with a good-size backyard and not a neighbor in sight. It was exactly what he’d wanted, and yet something about it felt so hollow.
He parked in the circle drive behind Rosemary’s minivan. The nanny had been a blessing over the past few weeks while he hunted properties and worked on the business plan with Kelly every time she drove in from Denver. Now that they’d found the space and he saw the amount of work ahead of them, he knew Rosemary would be even more helpful.
The upcoming remodel would be a welcome distraction. Keep his mind occupied. Keep his hands busy. That was the way to move beyond the past. The only way.
Inside, he hung up his coat and inhaled.
“Dr. Jacob.” Rosemary stood at the stove, stirring a large pot of sauce. Probably homemade. His mouth watered as the tangy smell of garlic wafted to his nostrils.
“Evening, Rosemary,” Jacob said, flipping through the mail on the counter. “Smells delicious.”
She smiled, but seconds later her face fell.
“What is it?”
“I’ve really loved getting to know you, Dr. Jacob.” Rosemary covered the pot and set the wooden spoon on the spoon rest.
Uh-oh. In the month he and Junie had been in town, he’d already had their first nanny quit after a week. Tabitha had cared much more about painting her nails than taking care of Junie or the house, though, so in the long run that had been for the best. But Rosemary? She’d been like a gift from God.
But then God had a way of taking back the things he gave, didn’t he?
“Don’t say it, Rosemary.” Jacob propped himself on one of the barstools, that familiar feeling of dread in his gut.
“And I love Junie. You know I do.” Rosemary’s eyes turned glassy.
Please don’t start crying.
“But my husband thinks I need to be home more. He likes dinner on the table right at five thirty. And he thinks our son is missing me.” She wiped a tear. “He got in trouble at school last week, and Paul —that’s my husband —he thinks it’s because I haven’t been home to keep an eye on him.”
It wasn’t Jacob’s place to have an opinion about Rosemary’s personal life. Instead he just nodded, hugged the plump woman, and thanked her once again for dinner, though he had a feeling it wouldn’t taste as good now that he knew it was her farewell meal.
She hugged Junie before she left and told Jacob she’d watch for them at church on Sunday.
He wanted to say, “Don’t bother,” but something stopped him.
Now what? He’d promised Kelly they could start full-time renovations next week, and he had no one to shuttle Junie to and from school, much less take care of her until he got home. What about the nights that went long? He’d have several if he wanted to open by summer. That was the goal, after all. Jacob would just have to find someone else to help with Junie. What other choice did he have?
He dished up the spaghetti and meatballs that Rosemary had prepared, covered it all with sauce, added the garlic bread, andcalled Junie to the table for dinner. When she didn’t come, he headed down the hall toward her bedroom.
“Junie?”
No response. Her room, with its bare walls and plain wood floors, looked nothing like a little girl’s room should. Gwen had known how to take a space and make it feel like home. Come to think of it, anywhere Gwen was had felt like home to him.
He couldn’t give that to Junie. He didn’t know how.
And he couldn’t stand it.
Again the anger rose up inside him, then the guilt. He hated that he was mad at Gwen, but he hated even more that he hadn’t been able to do anything for her. And he’d tried and he’d prayed, and he’d believed for a miracle.
But none came.
Junie’s
Two hours later, Jacob pulled into the driveway of the home he’d bought on the outskirts of town. His dream house, really. Surrounded by mountains with a good-size backyard and not a neighbor in sight. It was exactly what he’d wanted, and yet something about it felt so hollow.
He parked in the circle drive behind Rosemary’s minivan. The nanny had been a blessing over the past few weeks while he hunted properties and worked on the business plan with Kelly every time she drove in from Denver. Now that they’d found the space and he saw the amount of work ahead of them, he knew Rosemary would be even more helpful.
The upcoming remodel would be a welcome distraction. Keep his mind occupied. Keep his hands busy. That was the way to move beyond the past. The only way.
Inside, he hung up his coat and inhaled.
“Dr. Jacob.” Rosemary stood at the stove, stirring a large pot of sauce. Probably homemade. His mouth watered as the tangy smell of garlic wafted to his nostrils.
“Evening, Rosemary,” Jacob said, flipping through the mail on the counter. “Smells delicious.”
She smiled, but seconds later her face fell.
“What is it?”
“I’ve really loved getting to know you, Dr. Jacob.” Rosemary covered the pot and set the wooden spoon on the spoon rest.
Uh-oh. In the month he and Junie had been in town, he’d already had their first nanny quit after a week. Tabitha had cared much more about painting her nails than taking care of Junie or the house, though, so in the long run that had been for the best. But Rosemary? She’d been like a gift from God.
But then God had a way of taking back the things he gave, didn’t he?
“Don’t say it, Rosemary.” Jacob propped himself on one of the barstools, that familiar feeling of dread in his gut.
“And I love Junie. You know I do.” Rosemary’s eyes turned glassy.
Please don’t start crying.
“But my husband thinks I need to be home more. He likes dinner on the table right at five thirty. And he thinks our son is missing me.” She wiped a tear. “He got in trouble at school last week, and Paul —that’s my husband —he thinks it’s because I haven’t been home to keep an eye on him.”
It wasn’t Jacob’s place to have an opinion about Rosemary’s personal life. Instead he just nodded, hugged the plump woman, and thanked her once again for dinner, though he had a feeling it wouldn’t taste as good now that he knew it was her farewell meal.
She hugged Junie before she left and told Jacob she’d watch for them at church on Sunday.
He wanted to say, “Don’t bother,” but something stopped him.
Now what? He’d promised Kelly they could start full-time renovations next week, and he had no one to shuttle Junie to and from school, much less take care of her until he got home. What about the nights that went long? He’d have several if he wanted to open by summer. That was the goal, after all. Jacob would just have to find someone else to help with Junie. What other choice did he have?
He dished up the spaghetti and meatballs that Rosemary had prepared, covered it all with sauce, added the garlic bread, andcalled Junie to the table for dinner. When she didn’t come, he headed down the hall toward her bedroom.
“Junie?”
No response. Her room, with its bare walls and plain wood floors, looked nothing like a little girl’s room should. Gwen had known how to take a space and make it feel like home. Come to think of it, anywhere Gwen was had felt like home to him.
He couldn’t give that to Junie. He didn’t know how.
And he couldn’t stand it.
Again the anger rose up inside him, then the guilt. He hated that he was mad at Gwen, but he hated even more that he hadn’t been able to do anything for her. And he’d tried and he’d prayed, and he’d believed for a miracle.
But none came.
Junie’s
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