with her hands on her hips, glaring at Hannah with all her might.
Smiling warmly at her opponent, Hannah completely disarmed her. “I know. I use the same tactic with the girls when they’re determined to give me the silent treatment.” She chuckled a little.
The glare momentarily intensified then eased. “So, you’re saying I was being a bit childish?” She scowled. “I guess I can see that.” Feeling somewhat defeated, she slumped onto the couch in the keeping room.
“Hey,” Hannah began gently, “I’m not trying to be insulting.”
Madge looked up at her sadly. “I’ve worked for this family my whole life.” She shook her head. “And all of a sudden he moves you in.”
Sitting across from her, Hannah leaned over the coffee table and tried to make eye contact. “So, are you concerned that I’m trying to take over? What did Gavin tell you?” She prodded gently, hoping to ease Madge’s concerns.
“Mr. Meyers told me nothin’.” She complained. “All of a sudden, he asked me to work on Saturday morning. Just announced he had a woman and her kids moving in.” She fingered her tightly wound gray bun nervously then wiped her hands on the apron she wore over her simple black dress.
“I’m not here to take over, I promise,” Hannah announced in the most soothing voice she could muster. “It was wrong of Gavin to drop this on you so unexpectedly.” She glanced about the room. “I can’t think of a single way I would improve upon the job you do around here. The housekeeping is perfection. Now the décor…” Her voice trailed off.
Madge looked at her, a hint of a smile tugging up the corners of her careworn face. “It’s awful isn’t it?” She leaned in conspiratorially. “The former Mrs. Meyers had lousy taste.” She scowled quickly. “I shouldn’t have said that.” She quickly wiped her hands as though feeling unclean and stood.
Even Hannah was doing a mental head slap. Great. He hadn’t hired a decorator. It had been done by his wife. She sighed. Once again she had stuck her foot in her mouth. Maybe there was something to be said for thinking before speaking. Determined to strike up a friendship with the other woman sharing the house, she also stood. “So, Madge,” she said slowly, “I don’t suppose we can start fresh?”
***
Once again, Gavin had not slept well. All he could think about was Hannah up there alone in his enormous bed. His part of the plan wasn’t working out well at all. He smirked. At least he could count on Madge to make her life hell. He had known the woman all of his life and she could be mighty unpleasant when she had her heart set on it. He had made sure she would be in a foul mood, planting a seed of doubt where Hannah was concerned.
After showering and dressing, Gavin gingerly opened his door, unsure of what to expect. He envisioned flying crockery in the kitchen, or at the very least, the slamming of pots and pans as she demonstrated her displeasure. The closer he came to the kitchen, however, the more worried he became. Well down the hall, the scent of fresh baked goods and cinnamon, in particular, tickled his taste buds. He stood in the doorway and surveyed the sight before him. The girls were sitting on the stools at the island drinking juice and eating fresh baked muffins while Madge stood there smiling at them. Hannah was next to her, chattering like they were old friends. He scowled. Hannah had somehow managed to charm her too. He rolled his eyes to the heavens. If he couldn’t count on Madge and his spirit had already proven to be too weak, his plan was doomed.
“Coffee,” he said curtly at the women as he walked in.
Smirking, Hannah pointed at the carafe on the end of the island. “We’ve got it right there for you, chief.” She saw Madge was ready to walk over and pour it for him, but Hannah stopped her with a quick grab
Smiling warmly at her opponent, Hannah completely disarmed her. “I know. I use the same tactic with the girls when they’re determined to give me the silent treatment.” She chuckled a little.
The glare momentarily intensified then eased. “So, you’re saying I was being a bit childish?” She scowled. “I guess I can see that.” Feeling somewhat defeated, she slumped onto the couch in the keeping room.
“Hey,” Hannah began gently, “I’m not trying to be insulting.”
Madge looked up at her sadly. “I’ve worked for this family my whole life.” She shook her head. “And all of a sudden he moves you in.”
Sitting across from her, Hannah leaned over the coffee table and tried to make eye contact. “So, are you concerned that I’m trying to take over? What did Gavin tell you?” She prodded gently, hoping to ease Madge’s concerns.
“Mr. Meyers told me nothin’.” She complained. “All of a sudden, he asked me to work on Saturday morning. Just announced he had a woman and her kids moving in.” She fingered her tightly wound gray bun nervously then wiped her hands on the apron she wore over her simple black dress.
“I’m not here to take over, I promise,” Hannah announced in the most soothing voice she could muster. “It was wrong of Gavin to drop this on you so unexpectedly.” She glanced about the room. “I can’t think of a single way I would improve upon the job you do around here. The housekeeping is perfection. Now the décor…” Her voice trailed off.
Madge looked at her, a hint of a smile tugging up the corners of her careworn face. “It’s awful isn’t it?” She leaned in conspiratorially. “The former Mrs. Meyers had lousy taste.” She scowled quickly. “I shouldn’t have said that.” She quickly wiped her hands as though feeling unclean and stood.
Even Hannah was doing a mental head slap. Great. He hadn’t hired a decorator. It had been done by his wife. She sighed. Once again she had stuck her foot in her mouth. Maybe there was something to be said for thinking before speaking. Determined to strike up a friendship with the other woman sharing the house, she also stood. “So, Madge,” she said slowly, “I don’t suppose we can start fresh?”
***
Once again, Gavin had not slept well. All he could think about was Hannah up there alone in his enormous bed. His part of the plan wasn’t working out well at all. He smirked. At least he could count on Madge to make her life hell. He had known the woman all of his life and she could be mighty unpleasant when she had her heart set on it. He had made sure she would be in a foul mood, planting a seed of doubt where Hannah was concerned.
After showering and dressing, Gavin gingerly opened his door, unsure of what to expect. He envisioned flying crockery in the kitchen, or at the very least, the slamming of pots and pans as she demonstrated her displeasure. The closer he came to the kitchen, however, the more worried he became. Well down the hall, the scent of fresh baked goods and cinnamon, in particular, tickled his taste buds. He stood in the doorway and surveyed the sight before him. The girls were sitting on the stools at the island drinking juice and eating fresh baked muffins while Madge stood there smiling at them. Hannah was next to her, chattering like they were old friends. He scowled. Hannah had somehow managed to charm her too. He rolled his eyes to the heavens. If he couldn’t count on Madge and his spirit had already proven to be too weak, his plan was doomed.
“Coffee,” he said curtly at the women as he walked in.
Smirking, Hannah pointed at the carafe on the end of the island. “We’ve got it right there for you, chief.” She saw Madge was ready to walk over and pour it for him, but Hannah stopped her with a quick grab
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