Nephew's Wife, The (2 page)

“Yes.  Do you know of something?”

“Grace called me this morning. You remember me telling you about her employment agency, don’t you?”

“She’s the one who matches clients with health-care workers, right?”  Ellen perked up.  Maybe she wouldn’t have to wait too long for a good position.

“I thought of you immediately.  The job sounds too good to be true.”

“That usually means it is.”

“Grace only gave me the low-down because we’ve known each other since high school. The client is Rand Powers.”  Ida spoke his name as if he was somebody.

“Rand who?”

“Oh, of course, you wouldn’t know him.  I’m sorry, Ellen.  You’ve had your mind on other things for years.  Rand Powers is one of Florida’s most eligible bachelors.  He’s wealthy, runs his own company, and is good-looking.  He’s also a Christian.”

“So why’s he single?”  Ellen asked, curiously.

“Well, he had been engaged a few years ago to some society girl.  Apparently she dumped him a couple weeks before the wedding after he was diagnosed with cancer.  It was all over the papers thanks to the girl’s chatty friends.  Their mouths ran like faucets.  It was pretty sad and embarrassing for Rand.  I have friends who attend the same church he does.  They always talk highly of him.  He does a lot of charity work and mentoring to new Christians.”

“What is he looking for?” Ellen was intrigued.

“A companion for his great-aunt.  She suffered a stroke a year ago and is confined to the house.”

“Why hasn’t he hired someone before now?”

“He has, three times.  None ever made it through the three-month trial period.”

Ellen frowned.  “Why not?”

“Well, according to Grace, and please don’t repeat this, they were too focused on him and not his aunt.  In other words, they were flirty, which he didn’t approve of.  Grace says he’s looking for someone who will help his aunt come out of the depression she’s been in.  The salary package includes room and board, your own suite, and plenty of perks, like use of a car and the gym, library, and pool.  Are you interested?  If so, I can have Grace set up an appointment for you with Mr. Powers as soon as tomorrow morning.”

              Ellen didn’t have to think twice.  “Sure, I’m interested.  And thanks Ida!”

              “You’re welcome, Ellen. You deserve a break after all you’ve been through.  I just hope it all works out for you so you can move on.”

              Later that afternoon, Grace called.  Ellen had an appointment with Rand Powers at eight the next morning.  A car would be sent for her.

“Bring your resume and good luck.”  Grace said, cheerfully.

              Ellen didn’t count on luck.  That night she prayed for a blessing, one that would finally free her.  Her faith had bounced up and down over the past nine years, but she still believed God was the only one who could help her find the peace she needed so desperately.

Chapter 2

Rand Powers studied the name on his appointment calendar. 
Ellen Todd. 
It sounded familiar. He rolled the name around in his head and took a sip of his strong coffee, hoping the hot liquid would jar his memory.  She was due in less than an hour, and he wanted to be prepared.  So far, he’d interviewed five ladies, all qualified, but none approved by his Aunt Dolly.

“Celeste, can you step in here, please,” Rand called to his housekeeper who happened to be passing in front of his office on her way to the kitchen.  “Does the name Ellen Todd ring a bell?” He asked when she entered.

“She’s known as the suffering fiancée, sir.  The one who remained with her fiancé after his tragic accident.  He passed away last week.”

“Ahhh, that’s right.”  The story came back to Rand.  “I remember reading about her.  She stayed with him nine years or so.  Umph! I couldn’t get Lana to stay with me five minutes after she found out I had cancer.”

Celeste scrunched her face with annoyance.  “I’ve told you, Mr. Powers. God didn’t want you to marry that girl.  He’s got someone else in mind.  You just haven’t met her yet.”

“Thanks for reminding me, Celeste.” Rand smiled.  “But, I’m not looking for Mrs. Right anymore.  I’ve learned to be happy being single.  I’m not giving my heart away to anyone anymore.”

Celeste marched over to Rand’s cherry-wood desk and tapped her index finger on its highly polished surface.  “Look here, buster.  I don’t want you talking like that and certainly not around your great-aunt.  Your
singlehood
is upsetting her.  She wants you married with a family.  When she goes, you’re going to be all alone.  Is that what you really want?”

“You know I don’t want Aunt Dolly worried about me, but—I can’t go through that kind of hurt again, Celeste.  Nor the humiliation.  Everyone in town knew I’d been dumped.”

“Lana is a spoiled brat, and you know it!  You thought the world of her before God revealed her true nature.  But, every girl you meet is not going to be like her.  You’re a catch in this town.  Plenty of women would love to go out with you.  How are you going to find the right girl if you don’t get out of that cocoon you’ve wrapped yourself in and investigate the prospects.”

Rand chuckled.  “Investigate the prospects?  You have a way of putting things, Celeste.”

“You know what I mean.” She shook her finger at him.  “I’m talking about dating and not these silly, gold-digging types you’ve hired to keep Dolly company.” 

“I’ll think about it, Celeste.”  He swallowed the rest of his coffee and stood.  “I better check on Aunt Dolly before Miss Todd gets here.  Grace spoke highly of her.  At least she’s shown patience and loyalty, two important qualifications I’m looking for.”

Celeste took Rand’s cup to the kitchen with her while he jogged up the stairs.  Dolly Powers’ suite was at the end of the hallway.  Rand tapped on the door and walked in as he did every morning.

“Good morning, beautiful!”

Dolly glanced up from her bed where she sat propped against two layers of frilly- covered pillows.  Annoyance stretched the wrinkles on her face.

“Celeste says you’re interviewing someone today!”  She pressed her lips into a pout.  “I told you, I don’t need a com-pan-ion!”  She exaggerated the word for emphasis.  “I don’t need some silly girl, sashaying all around me in order to get your attention.  I can do things for myself.”

“I know you’re getting better and stronger, Aunt Dolly.”  Rand stepped over and sat on the edge of her bed.  “I just want you to have someone to keep you company during the day, that’s all.  I don’t want you left alone.”

“What if I prefer being alone?”

“Then you tell the lady that, and she can leave you alone for a while.”  He patted her hand.  “Look, this isn’t meant to take away your freedom or independence.  I know you’re working to get your old life back.  I’m not stopping you.  But, while you’re recuperating, I would feel better if you had some company during the day.”

“I don’t like the women you choose,” she snapped.  “None of them have worked out.  They hovered over me like I was about to die.  I can’t stand that.  And they looked bored all the time until you walked in the room.” 

“I’m sorry, Aunt Dolly,” he said.  “I’m going to make sure the next one has your absolute seal of approval before I hire her.”  He glanced at his watch.  “Time to get going.  My first appointment will be interesting.  She’s Ellen Todd, the woman who—”

“You don’t have to tell me about her,” Dolly cut in.  “I’ve read about her.  Sounds like a sad-sack to me.  I don’t want anybody sad and grieving around me.  I do enough of that myself.”

“Okay, Aunt Dolly, but let’s give her a try, shall we?”  He leaned over and kissed her forehead.  “Now, finish your breakfast.”

“I don’t want anymore.  I’m not hungry.”

Rand frowned.  “You haven’t been eating well lately.  Should I call your doctor?”

“You do and I’ll disinherit you!”  Dolly quipped.  “Can’t an old woman decide when she wants to eat or not? Skedaddle to your appointment.” 

“Things will get better, Aunt Dolly. You’ll be back to your old happy self soon.” 

“Umph! The only thing that will make me happy is to see you married with some children running around here.”

Rand rolled his eyes.  Not a day went by he didn’t hear the lecture about settling down and having a family.

“You work too much, just like your uncle and your father.  They both died early so what good did it do them?”  Dolly added when she saw his bored expression.

“It provided a good life for their families.”

“What families? It’s just us two now, Randolph.”  Her eyes watered.  “I want more for you, dear.  I don’t want to leave this earth knowing you’re all alone.  I’ll die with a broken heart.”

“Don’t talk that way, Aunt Dolly.” 

“Then find a good, Christian woman and marry her before you’re too old and ugly for anyone to want you.”

Rand chuckled as he stood.  “I promise you, I’ll think about it.”

Dolly’s eyes twinkled with hope.

“I said I’ll think about it,” Rand stressed when he saw his aunt’s face light up.

Back downstairs, Rand checked his time.  He had fifteen minutes, enough time to speak a prayer for the interview.  Somewhere out there was a companion for his aunt.  He visualized someone quiet and refined, but fun and good-natured.  Someone with patience and a good heart, who would help his aunt adjust to her new limitations.  It seemed so simple, but so far, he’d not been successful. 
Maybe today,
he thought. 

He’d just finished his prayer when the doorbell rang.  He heard Celeste’s pumps tapping against the marble floor in the entrance hall as she headed to the front door.  Rand’s nerves unraveled.  His palms dampened, and his pulse spiked.

What?
He was boggled and confused by the onslaught of jitters.  Surely it wasn’t because of Ellen Todd.  He didn’t know her, and what he remembered of her hadn’t impressed him to the point of this.

“Miss Todd is here, sir.”  Celeste stood at the office door.

“Please, show her in,” Rand said, collecting himself.

Ellen stepped from behind Celeste and thanked the housekeeper then entered Rand’s office.  Celeste closed the door behind her.

“Good morning, Miss Todd, I’m Rand Powers.”  Rand walked around his desk.  He stood at least eight inches taller than the demure woman.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Powers.”  Ellen stretched out her hand.

Rand shook it gently. It felt so fragile inside his, he was afraid he’d crush it.

“Please, have a seat.” He gestured to the two chairs in front of his desk. 

Ellen eased down on the plush cushion of one and put her knees together then wiggled her skirt over them.  “Here’s my resume.”  She handed Rand a folder.

Rand half way studied it.  The other half of his attention was on Ellen.  She was nothing like the other ladies he’d interview.  There wasn’t a single thing glamorous or phony about her.  It was hard for him to concentrate on the information she’d given him.  His glance kept sliding over to her.  Thankfully, she was too busy studying the room to notice.  Sadness ringed her dark eyes.  This must be tough for her, he thought.  There was a quiet, gentleness about her, and he wondered if she’d be able to work with his feisty aunt. 

Her face was pretty with delicate features.  Nothing stood out, though.  She wore no makeup, and her brown hair, held back by a headband, hung in neat waves to her lower back.  Her bland- colored skirt and blouse washed away her olive-toned skin, and her flat shoes were worn and out-of-date.  His heart went out to her.  The last nine years, most of her twenties, had been spent holding vigil beside the broken man she’d loved.

“Tell me about yourself.” Rand abruptly closed the folder and laid it on his desk.

Ellen jumped.  She’d been admiring the architect in the spacious room and the view of Tampa Bay from the window. 

“Uh—I—everything is in my resume.”  Ellen straightened her posture.  She hated talking about herself.

“I want to hear it from you.”

“Where would you like me to begin?” 

“Wherever you’d like, whatever’s comfortable for you.”  Rand swiveled in his chair with his elbows resting on the arms and his hands entwined.

Ellen glanced around as if her words were written on the walls of his office. Not wanting to waste time, she provided information meant to enhance her qualifications. 

“Well, my father died when I was ten. My mother and I moved in with my grandmother.  When I was fifteen, my mother got cancer.  I helped take care of her then when my grandmother became ill, I helped her, too.”  Ellen fidgeted with the tips of her fingers. She shook her head. “You must be the only one who hasn’t heard of me. My life story has been well documented in magazines and newspapers.”

              “I’ve heard of you, Miss Todd.”  Rand found her bashfulness appealing.  “I just don’t believe everything I read in the press.  Sometimes, simple things can be exaggerated. I much prefer to hear your version.”

Ellen didn’t know whether to be relieved or not.  Her version included a secret she didn’t want to tell.  She’d have to skip over it.

Rand lifted a brow at her hesitation.  “What about your education?”  He prodded.

“I dropped out of high school to help my grandmother.  After her death, I went to night school, got my GED then took some secretarial courses.”

“Did you have a career plan?”

“I wanted to go to college and become a librarian,”  Ellen answered with a ho-hum.  “That was years ago. Before my mother became ill.”

“You can still do that.”

“One day maybe.”  Ellen turned sullen.  Her dreams seemed so frivolous.  Paul had had bigger dreams.  She had selfishly dashed them. Living hers out didn’t seem fair.

“So, you’ve pretty much taken care of people most of your life. God must have felt you were better suited in the health profession.”

“I suppose.”

Her bland tone baffled Rand.  According to her resume, Ellen was a Christian. 

“You don’t sound too convinced. God does have a way of moving us in the direction He wants us to go.  Do you not believe that?”