front of all their friends.
“Mr. Jesperson,” she said. “How surprising to see you.”
He took the hand she offered. “I make a practice of being in God’s house on Sunday.”
Her heart gave an unwelcome flutter at the touch of his warm fingers. What was the matter with her? Bart was just across the yard with his parents. It was most unseemly for her to even notice the broad span of gray wool on Mr. Jesperson’s chest or the curl in his dark brown hair. “I hope you will understand when I say, please don’t make yourself known to my mother. She’s in no condition to deal with Jennie’s presence.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said.
The baby reached for her. Katie took the child and kissed her soft curls. She’d always wanted a baby sister. The child smelled clean and fresh as though she’d just been bathed. “You seem to be having no trouble caring for her. She is quite content.”
“I wish I could say the same for myself. I must find someone to help me.” He scanned the crowd with a hopeful expression. “Is there anyone here you might recommend?”
Katie opened her mouth to tell him she had no idea who he might hire when Addie joined them. “You remember Mr. Jesperson, don’t you, Addie?” Katie said.
Addie offered her hand. “Of course. And little Jennie too.”
Katie ignored the sidelong glance her friend slid her way. She noticed the way Jespserson’s sharp gaze scanned the crowd as though he were looking for someone. Probably still on the hunt for a nanny for the child.
He held out his arms for Jennie, who pointedly turned her head and clung to Katie’s neck. “Na, na,” she said, shaking her head for emphasis.
The child’s small hands clutched at Katie’s neck, and a warm sensation settled in the pit of Katie’s stomach. It felt good to be so wanted. She kissed the soft cheek nestled so close and inhaled the scent of the toddler. What a blessing it would be to care for this little one every day.
“Katie, introduce me to your friend.”
Katie turned to see her mother standing behind her. “Mama,” she faltered. How did she get out of this? An awkward pause ensued.
Her mother extended her hand. “I’m Inez Russell. You must be Mr. Jesperson.”
Katie should have known better than to try to hide anything from her mother. “This is Jennie, Mama.” She turned the baby around to face her mother.
“Hello, sweet pea,” her mother cooed to the baby. “Aren’t you a little bright-eyed girl?” Jennie reached for the older woman and grabbed at a ribbon on her hat. “Will you let me hold you?” The baby held out her arms and Katie transferred her. Her mother’s gaze roamed Jennie’s face.
“Her eyes are quite dark. Much like yours, Mr. Jesperson.”
And Papa’s . Katie didn’t say it but she saw the fear in her mother’s eyes. She wanted to point out the way the baby’s hairline differed from her father’s and how Jennie’s eyes varied too. But she held her tongue.
Her mother liked to come to her own conclusions without coercion.
Jennie reached for Mr. Jesperson and he took her. She laid her head on his shoulder and began to hum to herself. After a moment, she lifted her head and squawked at the man.
“She’s tired and wants me to sing to her,” he said, his voice apologetic. “I should take her home.”
Katie found it impossible to hide her smile. The baby had the man wrapped around her little finger.
“I would welcome a call from you in a few days,” Katie’s mother said. “There is much to discuss.”
Katie’s smile faded. Her mother obviously thought she saw some resemblance between the baby and her ailing husband.
“I should be most pleased to speak with you,” Will said, his eyes flicking between Katie and her mother, clearly understanding the direction of Inez’s thoughts. “Do understand, though, that you have not yet met my brother. If you were to see him, you would know there is no doubt about this child’s parentage.” He
“Mr. Jesperson,” she said. “How surprising to see you.”
He took the hand she offered. “I make a practice of being in God’s house on Sunday.”
Her heart gave an unwelcome flutter at the touch of his warm fingers. What was the matter with her? Bart was just across the yard with his parents. It was most unseemly for her to even notice the broad span of gray wool on Mr. Jesperson’s chest or the curl in his dark brown hair. “I hope you will understand when I say, please don’t make yourself known to my mother. She’s in no condition to deal with Jennie’s presence.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said.
The baby reached for her. Katie took the child and kissed her soft curls. She’d always wanted a baby sister. The child smelled clean and fresh as though she’d just been bathed. “You seem to be having no trouble caring for her. She is quite content.”
“I wish I could say the same for myself. I must find someone to help me.” He scanned the crowd with a hopeful expression. “Is there anyone here you might recommend?”
Katie opened her mouth to tell him she had no idea who he might hire when Addie joined them. “You remember Mr. Jesperson, don’t you, Addie?” Katie said.
Addie offered her hand. “Of course. And little Jennie too.”
Katie ignored the sidelong glance her friend slid her way. She noticed the way Jespserson’s sharp gaze scanned the crowd as though he were looking for someone. Probably still on the hunt for a nanny for the child.
He held out his arms for Jennie, who pointedly turned her head and clung to Katie’s neck. “Na, na,” she said, shaking her head for emphasis.
The child’s small hands clutched at Katie’s neck, and a warm sensation settled in the pit of Katie’s stomach. It felt good to be so wanted. She kissed the soft cheek nestled so close and inhaled the scent of the toddler. What a blessing it would be to care for this little one every day.
“Katie, introduce me to your friend.”
Katie turned to see her mother standing behind her. “Mama,” she faltered. How did she get out of this? An awkward pause ensued.
Her mother extended her hand. “I’m Inez Russell. You must be Mr. Jesperson.”
Katie should have known better than to try to hide anything from her mother. “This is Jennie, Mama.” She turned the baby around to face her mother.
“Hello, sweet pea,” her mother cooed to the baby. “Aren’t you a little bright-eyed girl?” Jennie reached for the older woman and grabbed at a ribbon on her hat. “Will you let me hold you?” The baby held out her arms and Katie transferred her. Her mother’s gaze roamed Jennie’s face.
“Her eyes are quite dark. Much like yours, Mr. Jesperson.”
And Papa’s . Katie didn’t say it but she saw the fear in her mother’s eyes. She wanted to point out the way the baby’s hairline differed from her father’s and how Jennie’s eyes varied too. But she held her tongue.
Her mother liked to come to her own conclusions without coercion.
Jennie reached for Mr. Jesperson and he took her. She laid her head on his shoulder and began to hum to herself. After a moment, she lifted her head and squawked at the man.
“She’s tired and wants me to sing to her,” he said, his voice apologetic. “I should take her home.”
Katie found it impossible to hide her smile. The baby had the man wrapped around her little finger.
“I would welcome a call from you in a few days,” Katie’s mother said. “There is much to discuss.”
Katie’s smile faded. Her mother obviously thought she saw some resemblance between the baby and her ailing husband.
“I should be most pleased to speak with you,” Will said, his eyes flicking between Katie and her mother, clearly understanding the direction of Inez’s thoughts. “Do understand, though, that you have not yet met my brother. If you were to see him, you would know there is no doubt about this child’s parentage.” He
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