“It’s only common sense
not to stand on the top of a shaky ladder.”
“Annie was
fine until you came in,” Mattie said in a subdued voice, apparently cowed by
her nephew’s disapproval.
“What was so
important you had to climb up there?” he asked, picking up one of the old
canning jars. “This stuff isn’t even worth taking to the thrift store. I’m
putting it in the trash right now. You can’t seriously think my mother would
ever use any of it.”
“Mattie wants
the kitchen to be clean when your parents get home. I can’t imagine your
cleaning service does cupboards,” Annie said defensively.
“Well, neither
are you from now on. Aunt Mattie, I didn’t hire Annie to be a maid. The two of
you will have to find something else to do—something safer.”
“I suppose you
expect us to play checkers,” his aunt said in a sour voice.
“We’ll think
of something,” Annie assured him, suddenly afraid he might replace her with an
elderly woman closer to Mattie’s age.
“I’m sure you
will,” he said as he loaded the entire contents of the cupboard into a big
black garbage bag.
“Someone might
be able to use those canning jars,” Mattie weakly protested.
“They’re going
in the recycle bin.” Nathan’s tone practically dared her to argue.
Annie felt
deflated, her bubble of happiness burst by the Nathan’s disapproval. Even if he
hadn’t fired her on the spot, was their date tomorrow still on?
He disappeared
for a few minutes, lugging the ladder and the plastic bag to the bins in the
garage. Annie expected him to leave from there, but he came back to the
kitchen.
“I’m sorry for
getting mad,” he said to both of them. “Just don’t take on more dangerous jobs,
Annie. And don’t expect her to, Aunt Mattie. Promise me, both of you.”
Annie nodded,
and Mattie made a little huffy sound. Nathan seemed satisfied.
“I can fix
your lunch in a hurry,” Mattie said, her good humor restored.
“I don’t have
time. I have to get back to the office,” Nathan said, looking at Annie. “I’ll
call you later.”
He left
without saying anything else.
Did that mean
their date was till on? Now that the crisis was past, she hated herself for
taking a risk on the old ladder. She should’ve stood up to Mattie instead of
balancing on the top of a stack of old wood. Nathan must think she didn’t have
a brain in her head.
More than
before, she was certain Nathan would never see her as anything but his aunt’s
companion. He’d probably keep his word about tomorrow night, but that would be
the end of it.
Chapter 12
When Annie got
home Wednesday evening, she went to her closet and tried to find an outfit
appropriate for a date with Nathan. He must think she was a klutz, falling off
a ladder into his arms, so it would probably be the one and only time she went
somewhere with him. She was determined not to wear anything that looked like a
thrift store reject, but her wardrobe was suffering from major neglect.
It was
hopeless. Even her best jeans were faded and threadbare in spots, and she
hadn’t thought about new clothes in ages. She was ready to cancel the date when
she took out her plastic-covered prom dress. The sapphire blue gown hadn’t been
out of the bag since she’d brought it home from the dry cleaners, but it was
every bit as nice as she remembered. Never a fan of frills and flounces, she’d
helped her mother sew a classic design, strapless with a fitted bodice. It
would be perfect for an important date if it weren’t floor length with bare
shoulders.
Spreading it
out on the blue and yellow quilt that served as a bedspread, she laid a white
lace jacket on top. Although she’d had the jacket for ages, a gift from her
aunt in Omaha, Annie rarely wore it because she’d didn’t have anything to go
with it.
Now she did.
All she had to do was shorten the skirt of her prom dress, and she wouldn’t
have to feel out of place with Nathan.
Rushing to the
dining room where her mother
not to stand on the top of a shaky ladder.”
“Annie was
fine until you came in,” Mattie said in a subdued voice, apparently cowed by
her nephew’s disapproval.
“What was so
important you had to climb up there?” he asked, picking up one of the old
canning jars. “This stuff isn’t even worth taking to the thrift store. I’m
putting it in the trash right now. You can’t seriously think my mother would
ever use any of it.”
“Mattie wants
the kitchen to be clean when your parents get home. I can’t imagine your
cleaning service does cupboards,” Annie said defensively.
“Well, neither
are you from now on. Aunt Mattie, I didn’t hire Annie to be a maid. The two of
you will have to find something else to do—something safer.”
“I suppose you
expect us to play checkers,” his aunt said in a sour voice.
“We’ll think
of something,” Annie assured him, suddenly afraid he might replace her with an
elderly woman closer to Mattie’s age.
“I’m sure you
will,” he said as he loaded the entire contents of the cupboard into a big
black garbage bag.
“Someone might
be able to use those canning jars,” Mattie weakly protested.
“They’re going
in the recycle bin.” Nathan’s tone practically dared her to argue.
Annie felt
deflated, her bubble of happiness burst by the Nathan’s disapproval. Even if he
hadn’t fired her on the spot, was their date tomorrow still on?
He disappeared
for a few minutes, lugging the ladder and the plastic bag to the bins in the
garage. Annie expected him to leave from there, but he came back to the
kitchen.
“I’m sorry for
getting mad,” he said to both of them. “Just don’t take on more dangerous jobs,
Annie. And don’t expect her to, Aunt Mattie. Promise me, both of you.”
Annie nodded,
and Mattie made a little huffy sound. Nathan seemed satisfied.
“I can fix
your lunch in a hurry,” Mattie said, her good humor restored.
“I don’t have
time. I have to get back to the office,” Nathan said, looking at Annie. “I’ll
call you later.”
He left
without saying anything else.
Did that mean
their date was till on? Now that the crisis was past, she hated herself for
taking a risk on the old ladder. She should’ve stood up to Mattie instead of
balancing on the top of a stack of old wood. Nathan must think she didn’t have
a brain in her head.
More than
before, she was certain Nathan would never see her as anything but his aunt’s
companion. He’d probably keep his word about tomorrow night, but that would be
the end of it.
Chapter 12
When Annie got
home Wednesday evening, she went to her closet and tried to find an outfit
appropriate for a date with Nathan. He must think she was a klutz, falling off
a ladder into his arms, so it would probably be the one and only time she went
somewhere with him. She was determined not to wear anything that looked like a
thrift store reject, but her wardrobe was suffering from major neglect.
It was
hopeless. Even her best jeans were faded and threadbare in spots, and she
hadn’t thought about new clothes in ages. She was ready to cancel the date when
she took out her plastic-covered prom dress. The sapphire blue gown hadn’t been
out of the bag since she’d brought it home from the dry cleaners, but it was
every bit as nice as she remembered. Never a fan of frills and flounces, she’d
helped her mother sew a classic design, strapless with a fitted bodice. It
would be perfect for an important date if it weren’t floor length with bare
shoulders.
Spreading it
out on the blue and yellow quilt that served as a bedspread, she laid a white
lace jacket on top. Although she’d had the jacket for ages, a gift from her
aunt in Omaha, Annie rarely wore it because she’d didn’t have anything to go
with it.
Now she did.
All she had to do was shorten the skirt of her prom dress, and she wouldn’t
have to feel out of place with Nathan.
Rushing to the
dining room where her mother
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