could make the whole stay do-it-yourself, Fiona suggested. Kitchen privileges, bathroom privileges, but leave em clean.
You cant imagine how appealing that is. His tone was heartfelt, less guarded than usual.
Oh, I dont know. After a few days of cleaning up after them she nodded toward the kitchen Im sure Ill be in complete sympathy.
Theyre done in the kitchen.
A non sequitur? Or not?
She braced herself. Is it clean?
Ive seen worse.
But youve seen better.
He shrugged. Theyre kids.
She should have continued supervising. Ill finish up.
I already did.
She winced. I wish you wouldnt do that.
He raised his brows. Do what?
She forgot she held a towel in her hands. Work nonstop. I feel guilty.
Youve worked nonstop today, too, he pointed out.
But theyre my job. My responsibility.
And the lodge is mine. While folding the last towel, he made it sound inarguable.
As, she supposed, it was. He couldnt want a crowd of teenagers trashing Thunder Mountain Lodge, even though he seemed less than enthusiastic as an innkeeper.
What are they up to now? she asked.
I offered some games. Most of them are in front of the fireplace playing them. I think a few are upstairs.
Not one boy and one girl, she hoped.
Amy?
Last I looked, sulking because someone else already took Boardwalk.
Oh, dear.
He frowned. Quit worrying about them.
But theyre
Your responsibility. I know. But theyre not toddlers.
No, theyre teenagers, which is almost worse.
Why did he look irritated? Was he tired of her fussing?
He picked up the piled towels before she could. Ill put these away.
I can
He ignored her, of course. Frustrated, she watched him limp out of the laundry room, leaving her to the sound of running water in the washer and the spinning dryer. Why did the wretched man have to be so hard to read? And why couldnt he be, oh, fifty years old, balding and potbellied? Or the wizened old man Dieter had said used to own the lodge?
Fiona sighed and went to see what the kids were up to.
She found them sprawled in chairs and on the floor around a couple of different gameboards. Dieter, Hopper, Tabitha and Amy played Monopoly, Kelli andTroy Chinese checkers. Erin was curled like a cat in an upholstered chair reading. Only Willow was missing.
Anybody seen Willow?
They hardly glanced up.
Nope.
Not in a while.
Uh-uh.
Fiona hesitated, hating to look as if she was following John, but finally started up the stairs. He was just closing the door to the linen closet when she reached the top.
Missing a kid, she said. Seen one?
He shook his head. Let me know if you need help.
Fiona glanced in the first bedroom on the girls sidebeds still unmade, she sawthen knocked on the door to Erin and Willows room. Willow, you in there?
Yes. The voice sounded small.
Id better feed the fire. John passed her, his shoulder brushing hers.
Even that minor, incidental physical contact made her heart jump. Darn it, he was the sexiest man shed ever met, even with a scar and limp. And she must be feeling a little more vulnerable than usual.
The kids. Think about the kids.
She took a deep breath. Can I come in?
If you want, Willow agreed.
Fiona pushed open the door. Willow lay on the bed, curled on her side around a pillow she clutched to her middle. Fiona sat on the edge of the bed.
You okay, kiddo?
Face wan, she nodded. I have cramps.
Period starting? Thank heavens for the tampons John had produced yesterday.
Not yet. But it must be.
Have you taken anything?
She shook her head. Do you have Midol?
No, but I bet I can find you some ibuprofen or something.
Her expression became anxious. You wont tell anybody, though. Right?
That your periods starting? Fiona rose to her feet. Wouldnt think of it. Ill be right back.
Going downstairs again, she reflected on how little she knew this particular student, the youngest of her Knowledge Champs kids. Fiona had never had her in a class, and Willow had just joined the Knowledge Champs team this fall. Fiona had been
You cant imagine how appealing that is. His tone was heartfelt, less guarded than usual.
Oh, I dont know. After a few days of cleaning up after them she nodded toward the kitchen Im sure Ill be in complete sympathy.
Theyre done in the kitchen.
A non sequitur? Or not?
She braced herself. Is it clean?
Ive seen worse.
But youve seen better.
He shrugged. Theyre kids.
She should have continued supervising. Ill finish up.
I already did.
She winced. I wish you wouldnt do that.
He raised his brows. Do what?
She forgot she held a towel in her hands. Work nonstop. I feel guilty.
Youve worked nonstop today, too, he pointed out.
But theyre my job. My responsibility.
And the lodge is mine. While folding the last towel, he made it sound inarguable.
As, she supposed, it was. He couldnt want a crowd of teenagers trashing Thunder Mountain Lodge, even though he seemed less than enthusiastic as an innkeeper.
What are they up to now? she asked.
I offered some games. Most of them are in front of the fireplace playing them. I think a few are upstairs.
Not one boy and one girl, she hoped.
Amy?
Last I looked, sulking because someone else already took Boardwalk.
Oh, dear.
He frowned. Quit worrying about them.
But theyre
Your responsibility. I know. But theyre not toddlers.
No, theyre teenagers, which is almost worse.
Why did he look irritated? Was he tired of her fussing?
He picked up the piled towels before she could. Ill put these away.
I can
He ignored her, of course. Frustrated, she watched him limp out of the laundry room, leaving her to the sound of running water in the washer and the spinning dryer. Why did the wretched man have to be so hard to read? And why couldnt he be, oh, fifty years old, balding and potbellied? Or the wizened old man Dieter had said used to own the lodge?
Fiona sighed and went to see what the kids were up to.
She found them sprawled in chairs and on the floor around a couple of different gameboards. Dieter, Hopper, Tabitha and Amy played Monopoly, Kelli andTroy Chinese checkers. Erin was curled like a cat in an upholstered chair reading. Only Willow was missing.
Anybody seen Willow?
They hardly glanced up.
Nope.
Not in a while.
Uh-uh.
Fiona hesitated, hating to look as if she was following John, but finally started up the stairs. He was just closing the door to the linen closet when she reached the top.
Missing a kid, she said. Seen one?
He shook his head. Let me know if you need help.
Fiona glanced in the first bedroom on the girls sidebeds still unmade, she sawthen knocked on the door to Erin and Willows room. Willow, you in there?
Yes. The voice sounded small.
Id better feed the fire. John passed her, his shoulder brushing hers.
Even that minor, incidental physical contact made her heart jump. Darn it, he was the sexiest man shed ever met, even with a scar and limp. And she must be feeling a little more vulnerable than usual.
The kids. Think about the kids.
She took a deep breath. Can I come in?
If you want, Willow agreed.
Fiona pushed open the door. Willow lay on the bed, curled on her side around a pillow she clutched to her middle. Fiona sat on the edge of the bed.
You okay, kiddo?
Face wan, she nodded. I have cramps.
Period starting? Thank heavens for the tampons John had produced yesterday.
Not yet. But it must be.
Have you taken anything?
She shook her head. Do you have Midol?
No, but I bet I can find you some ibuprofen or something.
Her expression became anxious. You wont tell anybody, though. Right?
That your periods starting? Fiona rose to her feet. Wouldnt think of it. Ill be right back.
Going downstairs again, she reflected on how little she knew this particular student, the youngest of her Knowledge Champs kids. Fiona had never had her in a class, and Willow had just joined the Knowledge Champs team this fall. Fiona had been
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