butts off, Andy and I can keep Jillian’s on schedule.” Wil didn’t even want to think about telling Jillian they’d be off her job for a few weeks.
Their truce had been tentative at best, and Wil readily admitted it was her fault. But she was still shaken by the feelings caring for Jillian while she was ill had stirred. And she couldn’t stop replaying Jillian’s drowsy declaration that she’d been offered another job and now dreaded the day Jillian would tell her she had accepted the job and was leaving. Wil had never felt the aching tenderness that had swept over her while Jillian had rested with her head pillowed in Wil’s lap. She had fled as soon as she was certain Jillian was sleeping deeply enough not to notice. In the three days since then, they’d gone back to polite reserve while Wil tried to convince herself that nothing had changed.
Bud seemed to be considering her proposal, but he shook his head. “Three of you need to go to the school. Either you or Andy can stay on at Miss Sealy’s. That’s the best I can do.”
“There’s no way one of us can get everything done.”
“I’m sorry, Wil. But the job for the school district is important. There’s a rumor they’re going to overhaul the county courthouse next year, and I’m hoping to get that job. But if we can’t make this deadline we don’t have a prayer.”
“Dad—”
“It’s done.” He cut her protest off with a raised palm.
Jillian was going to be livid. One of them needed to stay and do what they could at Mary’s in order to soften the blow, but she couldn’t leave the task to Andy. The only way she would feel confident that the work was going as smoothly and quickly as possible was to do it herself. Besides, she needed to see Jillian. She’d go crazy working with Alton and thinking about Jillian.
“I’ll send the three of them to the school in the morning,” she said.
“Good. Tell them to report to Alton. Do you want me to call Miss Sealy and explain?”
“No. I’ll tell her.”
Chapter Nine
“Hey, Miss Sealy,” Bill called from the doorway of the hardware store. He flipped the Open sign hanging in the window.
Jillian smiled and waved, but didn’t detour from her path. Accustomed to waking early, she’d been taking regular walks around town, often setting out while the clouds were still painted pink. It hadn’t rained in weeks and this morning promised another scorcher. The air was already warm and humid, and the sun hadn’t even cut through the haze yet.
She passed the post office just as one of the carriers stepped outside with an overflowing mailbag slung over his shoulder. Next door a firefighter raised Old Glory on the flagpole in front of the fire station. Only a few other people walked along the sidewalk, none in a hurry to reach their destination. Jillian reached the corner and waited just a second for a car to pass, then crossed and turned north toward home.
The easy pace of this small town as it began gearing up for the day was so different from the driving rhythm of the city, with its congested traffic and the fast click of expensively shod feet on the sidewalks. Jillian certainly didn’t miss being jostled along by a crowd as she made her way to her office.
The diner was already full of patrons eating breakfast and lingering over coffee. As Jillian passed it, her body clamored for caffeine but she kept her pace, knowing that by the time she got home a fresh pot would be brewing. As soon as the kitchen was functional, Wil had begun to make coffee when she arrived, and by the time Jillian returned from her walk the crew was ready to take a break and they all shared a cup together.
Since she’d been sick, they hadn’t had much interaction aside from this morning ritual. After the compassion with which Wil had treated her that day, Jillian had expected more familiarity between them, but Wil seemed to prefer even more distance now. When her crew was around, she treated Jillian with
Their truce had been tentative at best, and Wil readily admitted it was her fault. But she was still shaken by the feelings caring for Jillian while she was ill had stirred. And she couldn’t stop replaying Jillian’s drowsy declaration that she’d been offered another job and now dreaded the day Jillian would tell her she had accepted the job and was leaving. Wil had never felt the aching tenderness that had swept over her while Jillian had rested with her head pillowed in Wil’s lap. She had fled as soon as she was certain Jillian was sleeping deeply enough not to notice. In the three days since then, they’d gone back to polite reserve while Wil tried to convince herself that nothing had changed.
Bud seemed to be considering her proposal, but he shook his head. “Three of you need to go to the school. Either you or Andy can stay on at Miss Sealy’s. That’s the best I can do.”
“There’s no way one of us can get everything done.”
“I’m sorry, Wil. But the job for the school district is important. There’s a rumor they’re going to overhaul the county courthouse next year, and I’m hoping to get that job. But if we can’t make this deadline we don’t have a prayer.”
“Dad—”
“It’s done.” He cut her protest off with a raised palm.
Jillian was going to be livid. One of them needed to stay and do what they could at Mary’s in order to soften the blow, but she couldn’t leave the task to Andy. The only way she would feel confident that the work was going as smoothly and quickly as possible was to do it herself. Besides, she needed to see Jillian. She’d go crazy working with Alton and thinking about Jillian.
“I’ll send the three of them to the school in the morning,” she said.
“Good. Tell them to report to Alton. Do you want me to call Miss Sealy and explain?”
“No. I’ll tell her.”
Chapter Nine
“Hey, Miss Sealy,” Bill called from the doorway of the hardware store. He flipped the Open sign hanging in the window.
Jillian smiled and waved, but didn’t detour from her path. Accustomed to waking early, she’d been taking regular walks around town, often setting out while the clouds were still painted pink. It hadn’t rained in weeks and this morning promised another scorcher. The air was already warm and humid, and the sun hadn’t even cut through the haze yet.
She passed the post office just as one of the carriers stepped outside with an overflowing mailbag slung over his shoulder. Next door a firefighter raised Old Glory on the flagpole in front of the fire station. Only a few other people walked along the sidewalk, none in a hurry to reach their destination. Jillian reached the corner and waited just a second for a car to pass, then crossed and turned north toward home.
The easy pace of this small town as it began gearing up for the day was so different from the driving rhythm of the city, with its congested traffic and the fast click of expensively shod feet on the sidewalks. Jillian certainly didn’t miss being jostled along by a crowd as she made her way to her office.
The diner was already full of patrons eating breakfast and lingering over coffee. As Jillian passed it, her body clamored for caffeine but she kept her pace, knowing that by the time she got home a fresh pot would be brewing. As soon as the kitchen was functional, Wil had begun to make coffee when she arrived, and by the time Jillian returned from her walk the crew was ready to take a break and they all shared a cup together.
Since she’d been sick, they hadn’t had much interaction aside from this morning ritual. After the compassion with which Wil had treated her that day, Jillian had expected more familiarity between them, but Wil seemed to prefer even more distance now. When her crew was around, she treated Jillian with
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