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John watched Fleur extend her pretend wings. “I didn’t know they had owls in the barn where Jesus was born.”
Rachel shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know either. But I don’t think anyone would have minded if one snuck inside. Fleur has a thing for owls. She has the concentration span of a squirrel, so I needed something to keep her focused on what we’re doing.”
Fleur swooped low on the rear end of the donkey and John smiled. “How’s that working out?”
“Pretty good. She’s happy to stay in character for as long as we’re practicing.” Rachel glanced across at the choir. “We’ve divided everyone into groups for this rehearsal. It’s easier to practice when we’re only teaching a dozen children at a time. The songs are a work in progress.”
A boy with bright red hair and neon freckles started to sing. The noise level in the room dropped to a whisper. John tried not to stare, but it wasn’t easy when the notes coming from his mouth were so clear and pure. “He’s really good. Who is he?”
Rachel sighed. “That’s Frankie. He has the most amazing voice I’ve ever heard.”
“How old is he?”
“Ten. He comes to the library each day after school. His dad works long hours so this has become his home away from home. It’s the same with quite a few of the children that come to drama club.”
John listened to the rest of Frankie’s song. After the last note dissolved into the room, the noise level increased. Everyone went back to what they were doing, quickly forgetting what they’d heard.
“What do the kids do at the library if they’re not in drama club?”
Rachel glanced back at the children she’d been teaching. Everyone was moving in the same direction, spinning in time to a Christmas carol they’d started singing. “There are digital classes in the technology room most afternoons and art classes in another area. The children can only do each class once per week. They don’t cost anything, so no one needs to miss out. For the other two days a week, they read books or volunteer as library helpers.”
“Do you get paid to be here?”
Rachel shook her head. “No one does. We beg and borrow costumes for our plays and look for sponsorship for any props we need. Everything we do is on a no frills, shoestring budget.”
She walked across to a bulletin board and showed him the program timetable. “If Bella is interested in other things, they’re all listed here. Most of the time we have a good spread of ages, so there will be someone she can get to know.”
“What classes do you take?”
Rachel’s cheeks turned red. “I do one of each. It keeps me pretty busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Once I’m working full-time, I might not be able to do three classes a week, but I’ll do what I can.”
“How long is each class?”
“Two hours, but you could pick Bella up earlier if that works better. We give the kids something to eat at three-thirty, then go back to our activities until five o’clock.” Rachel looked at him closely. “Why didn’t you bring Bella with you?”
John shifted uncomfortably on his feet. “I didn’t want her to get her hopes up.”
Rachel nodded.
He glanced back at Fleur, the overactive owl. Bella would enjoy mixing with this crazy group of kids. She loved music and loved dancing. She’d fit in well alongside them, maybe even make a friend or two.
But that wasn’t the main reason he’d come to the library. It was time to do something about the real reason he’d come here. He glanced down at his watch. “It’s nearly five o’clock. Do you want to get a cup of coffee with me after you’ve finished here?”
Rachel’s eyes widened.
A blush work its way over his face. “It’s not what you’re thinking. I have something to ask you. A job I’d like you to consider.”
“Is it the teaching position for Bella?”
John’s gaze shot to her face. “How did you know?”
“Most of the town know that you’re looking for a tutor. My answer’s no. I’ll be back to full-time teaching in January. In the meantime, I’m enjoying my work here.”
John didn’t think his list of ideas would work. So instead of blinding her with logic, he named a salary that would make most people’s eyes water.
Rachel blinked, then blinked again. “For six weeks work? Are you mad?”
“It’s eight weeks and I’m perfectly sane. There are a few things you need to be aware of, but we can sort those out later.”
“Such as?”
John wasn’t going to discuss state-of-the-art surveillance systems or bodyguards in the middle of Rachel’s drama club. “I’ll tell you more over a cup of coffee. Are you interested?”
He held his breath while she thought about her answer.
Rachel looked down at her sneakers, then across at the barnyard animals. “If I tell you I’m interested, it doesn’t mean I’m going to say yes.”
John nodded.
“And it doesn’t mean that the money you’re offering has changed my mind.”
“Okay.”
Rachel crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at him. “I guess we’re going out for coffee, then. I’ll be ten minutes.”
It wasn’t the most positive response he’d ever heard, but he’d take it. Whether she knew it or not, Rachel McReedy would become Bella’s tutor.
***
As Rachel paid for her coffee, she watched John hang his jacket over the back of a chair. He glanced at her as he sat down. She didn’t know what he was thinking, but it didn’t look good. His frown was out in force, and even the delicious smell of roasting coffee beans didn’t seem to make a difference.
She was glad they were having coffee close to the library. With the snow falling outside, the Lindley Perk Coffee Shop wasn’t a busy hive of activity. There was less chance of someone seeing them here than in town.
If Tess heard about this meeting, she’d assume Rachel had decided to teach Bella. She’d think she was happy to accept the crazy amount of money that John was willing to pay to educate his daughter.
Rachel wasn’t here because she wanted his money. She was here because she was curious. She sat opposite him and leaned forward, keeping her voice low. “Why do you want to pay Bella’s tutor so much money?”
John’s gaze moved from the front counter to Rachel’s face. He kept his expression neutral, hiding what was going through his head. “You don’t believe in small talk, do you?”
“I thought it was small talk,” Rachel said quickly and without a smile. “If I was being blunt, I would have asked you what Bella’s tutor has to do for that much money.”
John’s lips twitched. “I take it you’re not impressed?”
“Do you know the hourly rate I’m paid at the school?”
John shrugged his shoulders. Rachel guessed that a man who had more money than anyone she knew wouldn’t be too interested in what she earned. “It must be enough to get by, or you wouldn’t do it.”
Rachel snorted. Working part-time barely gave her enough money to pay her bills. She was using her savings, and that wasn’t something she wanted to keep doing.
“So apart from being allergic to my money, what is it about the job that you don’t like?”
Rachel narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t say I was allergic to your money. It’s the person that’s prepared to spend that much money that worries me.”
John didn’t say anything.
The waitress brought their drinks across to the table. “One grande latte and one half-strength hot chocolate. Can I get you anything else?”
Rachel shook her head. “Not for me, thanks.”
John said the same thing, then went back to staring silently at her.
Rachel sipped her hot chocolate, savoring the heat of the mug between her hands. “You said there were other things potential teachers would need to be aware of. Do you want to tell me what they are?”
John looked down at his coffee. She could almost see the cogs of his brain churning through a ton of information, sifting what he needed to tell her against what he could. “Having a lot of money isn’t always a good thing. People can take advantage of you, deceive you in ways that you never thought they would. Or they can do worse. My company looks after extremely wealthy clients and their property. We know things about people that would be dangerous in the wrong hands.”
John looked at the empty tables around them. “I get emails from people who make me extremely cautious about Bella’s safety.”
“They send you threats?” Rachel put her hot chocolate on the table. “Why would they do that?”
“They want something to bargain with. I’ve kept a low profile in the media. No one knows much about me except that I have a daughter. And no one, not even the most persuasive person, gets close to Bella.”
“Is that why Tank goes with her to the mall?”
“If I’m not with Bella, Tank or Tanner go with her. Mrs. Daniels wouldn’t be able to keep her safe if someone tried to kidnap her.”
Rachel’s eyes widened. “You can’t be serious?”
