Loving Miss Libby by Rosemarie Naramore Page B

of them having to acclimate to a new babysitter,
particularly when they absolutely adore you.”
    “I love them too,” she said, smiling softly.
    “Will you be able to…”  Her words trailed off
hopefully.
    “Well, if Dan is agreeable, then yes, I’ll continue
watching the kids.  But it’s really up to him.”
    “Oh, he’ll be great with you watching the children. 
He thinks you’re wonderful.”
    “Well, that’s nice to hear,” she said, struggling to
keep any hopeful inflection from her voice. 
    She had spent the last week attempting to steer
clear of her handsome neighbor.  The instant he’d arrived home from work each
evening, she’d practically bolted from the house.  Often, he invited her to
join them for dinner, and as much as she enjoyed spending the time with the
entire family, she feared she might be drawn into an illusion—one in which she
saw herself becoming a member of the family.  Of becoming Dan’s wife.
    The truth was, being around Dan and his children
made her yearn for a family of her own.  But they didn’t belong to her and
never would.  It was imperative she keep her boundaries sharp and decisive,
never wavering.  If she allowed her romantic musings to get away from her, she
knew it would signal it was time for her to stop babysitting for Dan’s kids and
get on with her own life.
    “Libby, are you still there?” Mary asked. 
    “I’m sorry.  Yes.  I’m here.  Mary, please give your
husband my best.  I promise to keep you all in my prayers.”
    “Thank you.  I’m grateful for that.”
    Libby hung up the phone and immediately heard the
beeping of a call waiting.  She gasped.  She had forgotten her mother.  She
clicked over.  “Mom, I’m so sorry!”
    “…Forgot your own mother,” she teased.
    “I didn’t…  Okay, I did.  That was Dan’s mom.  I’m
afraid her husband is having a surgery early next week and she asked if I could
continue watching the kids.”
    “Do you want to?”
    “I do enjoy watching them.  They’re both great
kids.”
    “You’ll be able to postpone the work search for
awhile.  So…  Regarding what we were talking about before the interruption, can
you come…?”
    Once again, Libby heard the sound indicating a call
was waiting.  “Mom, forgive me.  Can you hold a minute?”
    “Sure,” she said, laughing lightly.
    “Hello.”
    “Libby, it’s Dan.  I’m so sorry, but…”  She heard
him sigh defeatedly.
    “What is it, Dan?”
    “Libby, I was just called into work.  I was on the
phone with my mom, and she was telling me about my dad’s upcoming surgery,
and…”
    “Work called, and you need a sitter.”
    “Yes.”
    Libby could sense the frustration in his voice.  She
sensed he was worried about his father.  She understood he was in a difficult
position.  He had a demanding job and had counted on his folks but they were no
longer in a position to help. 
    “Libby, never mind.  You’ve done enough.  I’ll…”
    “No, no, that’s okay.  Why don’t you send the kids
over?  I’m not going anywhere.”
    The instant she said the words, she remembered her
mother on the other line.  “Dan, I have to let you go.  My mom is on the other
line…”
    “Oh, okay.  I’m sorry.  But Libby, thank you.  I owe
you.”
    She clicked over.  “Mom, I’m so sorry…”
    “Uh huh,” she said dubiously, but then laughed. 
“That’s all right.  But back to what we were discussing…”
    “Oh, Mom.  I’m sorry.  I just agreed to babysit my
neighbor’s children.  He’s bringing them right over.”
    “Well, I guess we’ll have to plan a girls’ getaway
for another time.”
    “I’m really sorry,” she said.  “I was going to say
‘yes,’ of course, but then Dan called, and…”
    “You forgot all about your poor ol’ mother.”
    “No, I mean, yes!”  Her eyes widened.  “I mean, no !”
    Her mother laughed delightedly.  “Libby, it’s okay. 
We’ll get together another time