Promise me tomorrow (23 page)

Since Chase had prepared himself to be disappointed, Paddy surprised him. For a moment he just sat there. "Thank you," he said at last. "When would be a good time to talk with her?"

"This afternoon—she's on duty until 5:00. I can tell her that you would like to speak with her when she's through."

"Okay."

"Do you want me to tell her the reason you're here, or will you explain that she's released from her duties for as long as you need her?"

Chase frowned in concentration. He didn't like the sound of that. "I don't want Katherine to think that she doesn't have a choice. I wouldn't want her to come if she didn't want to."

You have no idea how she feels about your son, Chase. She'll come. She wont be able to say no,
Paddy was thinking. What he said out loud was far different. "I'll talk to her. I won't try to speak for you, but I'll explain to her that the choice is completely up to her."

"Thank you, Paddy."

"You're welcome," he said warmly. "Will you be in town long enough to have a tour of the orphanage tomorrow?"

"Yes, that was my plan. I told my housekeeper I wouldn't be returning until Monday or Tuesday."

"Good. Can you plan on having dinner with us tomorrow night?"

"I would enjoy that."

Paddy stood. "I'll tell Sammy. She'll be pleased."

The men parted company then, and Paddy tracked down his wife. She was certain to be pleased about seeing Chase, but as for the chance of Rusty's leaving, she was not going to be overjoyed.

***

"Oh, Uncle Paddy" was all Rusty could say for several seconds.

"You don't have to do this, Rusty."

"That's just it, Paddy. I would love to, but I can't imagine not being here with you all summer. And ..." she paused and sat there.

"And?"

"I don't know how I would do in that house."

"The house? I don't understand."

"I'm not sure I can explain, but neither do I think I'm the person he's really looking for."

Paddy nodded. "Are you even interested in hearing what Chase has to say?"

"Yes. I think if he's come all this way I should at least hear him out."

"All right. Do you understand where Sammy and I stand on this?"

"I think so. What did Sammy say?"

"That she'll miss you, but she understands."

"You talk as though it's all set."

Paddy cocked his head to the side, his expression gentle. "We both know the way you feel about Quintin McCandles, Rusty. Sometimes I think your tender heart is going to be the death of you."

Rusty's smile was lopsided. "You're probably right about that."

Paddy stood. "I'll tell Chase that you're ready to see him."

"All right. Does he expect an answer right away?"

"I don't know. That's something you'll have to ask him."

Rusty nodded and tried not to let her mind drift too far, but she wasn't very successful. Her thoughts were miles away when Chase stepped into Paddy's office. He stood for a moment and watched her, knowing she was unaware of his presence. He cleared his throat quietly and watched her start.

"Oh, you're here. I didn't see you."

"You looked lost in thought."

"I guess I was."

Rusty stayed in the seat in front of Paddy's desk and watched as he took the chair next to hers. She shifted slightly until they almost faced each other.

"Did Paddy fill you in?"

"Just a little. I take it Mrs. Harding is ill."

"Not at all. Her sister is to be married next month, and she would like to attend the wedding. She's wanted some time off for several months, and now this has given her the impetus to make the trip back East."

"How long does she plan to be gone?"

"She'd like to leave in early June and be away until the beginning of September."

Her face thoughtful, Rusty nodded but did not speak again.

"You must have questions," Chase began. "I'd be happy to explain anything you wish to know."

Rusty's head went to one side. "As a matter of fact, Mr. Mc Candles, my hesitation is not over questions I'd like to ask of you. I'm asking myself if I could actually be a servant in your home."

The word "servant" caused Chase's blood to run cold. That was
not
the way he viewed Rusty Taggart and never would be.

"I don't know if I'm comfortable with the word 'servant,'" Chase said, keeping his voice even. "Or even 'nanny' I guess I would look at you as Quintin's companion. You would certainly be welcome at all meals and family functions." If pressed, Chase couldn't have named any actual family functions, but he had to make his point. He noted, however, that Rusty still did not look at ease.

"Was there anything else I could tell you?"

"No," she said. "I'm not worried about what I know, Mr. McCandles, so much as what you
don't
know." Concerning?

"Concerning me and my style of doing things."

His expression told her she had lost him. Her voice was very gentle when she continued. "Here at the orphanage we have to have rules, but you live in a home, Mr. McCandles. I would want to act in your home the way I do in my own."

"Why do you think I would object to that?"

Rusty barely kept the shock from her face.
Why do I think you'd object? Because I've been there. I've seen the structured way Quintin is being raised. It's not for me, and it shouldn't be for your son either.

"You want to say something, but you're hesitating."

Rusty hadn't realized how closely he'd been watching her.

"Yes, I do," she admitted. "I'm not doing a good job of explaining this. I'm sorry."

"It's all right, Katherine. You can tell me."

She sighed, knowing in an instant that she must leave Quintin out of this. "It's nothing personal, Mr. McCandles, but I can't work under the kind of structure you have in your home. As I said, here at the orphanage we have to have rules to survive, but I would be miserable with those kind of limitations in your home—in any home. I know I would."

Chase nodded. "Now it is my turn to apologize. I'm not asking you to come and be Mrs. Harding. I want you to come with your own style and ideas."

Rusty was shaking her head. "You don't know what you're saying, Mr. McCandles."

"Yes, I do," he said firmly.

"Hide and seek all over the house," she tested him.

"That's fine."

"Forts under the dining room table," she tried again.

"Fine."

"Towers made from books in the library. No particular schedule or focus."

"All right."

Rusty eyed him. Did he really mean it? Had she really made herself clear? This was the way she had grown up. It had been wonderful, but it was not the sedate environment to which he had become accustomed.

"It won't always be quiet," she felt a need to remind him.

"No one is going to complain. I know better than to worry that you would let anything happen to Quintin, and nothing else concerns me. The house is yours to do with as you like."

Rusty licked her lips. Could he mean it? If she could do with Quintin all summer what they'd been able to do in one day, it would be one of the greatest summers of her life. She reminded Mr. McCandles of that day.

"Do you recall the day Quintin and I had together?"

"Very well."

"It could very well be like that day
every
day, Mr. McCandles. Muddy boots and late to lunch."

Chase shrugged. "So far, Katherine, you haven't said anything I can't live with. Not to mention knowing that Quintin will love it."

If you know Quintin will love it, why hasn't he had that all along?
The question came out of nowhere, and Rusty knew she was going to have to watch her thoughts. He was asking her to come and be with his son, not give a critique on his past performance.

"When do you need your answer, Mr. McCandles?"

"I'm leaving here Tuesday afternoon, but I don't want you to feel pressured. If you still don't know what you want to do when I'm ready to leave, you can get word to me later. If that's the case, I'll begin interviewing nannies when I arrive home, but you're my first choice, so I won't hire anyone until I hear from you. "

Rusty nodded. "And if I took the job, when would you need me?"

"Mrs. Harding would like to leave as early as possible. The first of June is this Tuesday, so I think anytime the following week would work for her."

"Does Quintin know you've asked me?"

"No, he knows nothing of our plans. Mrs. Harding and I decided that she would tell him when things were a little more settled."

Rusty's mind wandered to the little boy in question. She could still see him at the front door of Briarly. Had he thought of her after that or had he gone back to his own world without a qualm? Rusty knew better than to ask. The answer might tempt her to handle her decision on emotions, and she couldn't do that. She needed to do some level-headed thinking right now.

"I don't think it fair that I leave you hanging on this subject, Mr. McCandles." Her voice was all business. "I'll have your answer by the time you leave Tuesday. Is there somewhere I can reach you?"

"I'll be here for dinner tomorrow night, and beyond that I'm staying at the Jarvis House. If you'd like, I'll stop back here on my way to the train station."

"Very well. I'll plan on that, thank you."

"Was there anything else you wished to know?"

Rusty shook her head. "I don't think so, although . . ." Rusty had a thought. "Your staff is very warm and kind, but when I was last there, I was a guest. "Will they welcome someone new working in your home?"

"They were very impressed with you. I have no doubt that you'll all get along splendidly."

Again Rusty nodded, but another thought had come to mind. "I just remembered, two of my friends are getting mar- ried this summer. If I come to Briarly, would I be able to take time off to return here to Manitou and Boulder?"

"Absolutely. Just let me know your plans as soon as you know them."

"And my family. Where in Colorado Springs would my parents stay if they wanted to visit me?"

He blinked in surprise. "They would stay at Briarly for as long as they'd like."

"Oh." Rusty felt slightly taken aback at his matter-of-fact tone. Again her head cocked to one side. "I would be working for you, wouldn't I, Mr. McCandles? Right now I'm beginning to think I'd be a glorified houseguest."

"You would have a salary, Katherine, and days off to do with as you choose. I would naturally depend on you to take care of Quintin, but if you come, I would want you to see Briarly as your home for the summer. If there is anything we can do to make you more comfortable, or if Quintin needs something, you have only to ask. If you don't like the way the furniture is arranged in your room, you can change it. If your friends or family want to visit, they will be more than welcome. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes. Thank you."

Rusty had a lot to think about indeed. The job sounded like a dream come true, but knowing very well how things were between Quintin and his father, she needed to be cautious about dreaming. That alone was enough to make her pause over getting involved. She would seek counsel with Paddy and Sammy, and she would pray.

Watching her face, Chase knew that she needed to be alone. It had been foolish of him to believe that if Paddy could spare her, Rusty would automatically agree to come. He could tell she wanted to, but there was also something holding her back. By the time he and Rusty parted, Chase assumed he would indeed be headed home to interview nannies.

27

"Do you wish someone would just tell you what to do?" Sammy asked of Rusty much later that day. Rusty smiled.

"No, I guess not. I keep asking myself, what's the worst thing that can happen?"

"And what do you come up with?"

Rusty shrugged. "That I'll be miserable and have to tell Mr. McCandles that I can't stay."

"Said like that, it doesn't sound bad at all," Paddy put in, "but it might be harder than you think."

"In that case," Rusty replied logically, "I'd have to ask myself what would be harder: staying on or telling Mr. McCandles that I have to leave. I'm not being naive—saying goodbye to Quintin would be horrible—but I've tried to view all the options to see if I can make this work."

Paddy nodded. For having had only about three hours to think it over, Rusty had certainly come up with many possibilities.

"I am worried about one thing, Rusty."

Rusty had been looking at nothing in particular. She now centered on her aunt.

"You can't go in there with a mind to 'fix' things between Chase and Quintin." Sammy's voice was gentle but to the point. "As much as the relationship bothers you, you can't have that attitude or plan."

"I honestly wasn't planning to do that, Sammy, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't have come to mind. Thank you."

The three of them fell silent, but the silence didn't last. Rusty had made up her mind.

"I'm going to go," she said softly. "I'll miss everyone here, but I think I should do this. Thank you, Uncle Paddy, for giving me this opportunity."

"You're welcome. We'll miss you too. Our loss is Quintin McCandles' gain."

Rusty smiled at the compliment. "Mr. McCandles told me he'll be coming to dinner tomorrow night."

Sammy nodded in affirmation. "Six o'clock."

"In that case, I'll tell him then." She fell silent again and just thought about Quintin. She wanted to see him again and was certain they would have a wonderful time together.

"What will you do about the children's church schedule?" Paddy asked.

"I'll talk with Pastor tomorrow. That will still give me time to reconsider if it puts him in a spot. I know Tibby is going to faint."

"What day will you leave?" Sammy asked.

Rusty looked at her uncle. "What works for you?"

"Did he say anytime during the week of the seventh?"

"Yes."

"I think later would be better than earlier. Maybe Thursday or even Friday."

"Okay."

No one spoke for several minutes. Rusty was praying, still thanking God for this opportunity and asking for His help to do the job and be the person Quintin needed. At one point she glanced up to find Sammy's eyes on her.