I recall his stunned expression and giggle along with her. “The reinforcements were a nice touch.”
“You’re going to be great. He just needs a little nudge. Once he sees how good you are with Nellie, his worries will vanish.”
“Let’s hope so.”
A knock rattles the storm door.
“I have a visitor. I should let you go and see who it is.”
“All right. Call me later. If you need any help unpacking, I’m not far away.”
The truth in those words injects me with a peace I haven’t felt in a very long time.
“I didn’t bring much, but if anything comes up, you’ll be my first call.”
“’Kay. Love you, bye!”
“Love you too, Whit. Bye.”
I shove my cell into the pocket of my shorts as the call drops. For one heartbeat, my nerves spike about who might be on the other side of this door. That’s all I allow before I swing it open to find out.
“Hi,” I greet curiously.
An older woman stands on the other side, holding a silver pan. I estimate her to be about mid-fifties. Brown strands of hair blow gently across her lightly wrinkled forehead in the warm breeze.
“Hi! I’m Francine. I saw you moving in last night and thought I’d come by to welcome you to the neighborhood. These are for you!” She thrusts a pan of what looks like frosted brownies into my hands.
I blink at the unexpected gesture.
“Hi,” I say again. “This is really kind. I’d invite you in, but there’s not a lot going on in there, though I can dig out my coffee pot if you’d like to have a cup.” I glance over my shoulder and back with a grin.
She wipes her hands on the frilly pink apron tied around her waist and crosses her arms. “Bah. That’s not necessary. I don’t want to intrude. It’s just the houses are sparse on this side of town, and it can feel lonely, so I wanted you to know you aren’t, well, alone. Unless of course you want to be alone! Oh goodness, don’t mind me. If you need some quiet, just say so, and I’ll stay over in my own front yard.”
My grin grows wider at her long-winded monologue. “It’s nice to meet you, Francine. I’m Alice. And this is a welcome intrusion. I’d like to be friends.”
“Great! If you need anything, my house is the tan one to the left, just down the sidewalk there. My husband passed a few years ago, so it’s just me and my cat, Percy. You’re welcome by any time.”
“I’m sure I’ll take you up on that.”
She rocks up on her toes on my front steps as if she’s trying to be discreet about peering around me. “Is it just you then?”
My chin flicks in confirmation. “Just me.”
“I thought I only saw you moving those boxes last night, and I thought to myself,‘Where is her man?’”
“I don’t have one.”
I swear her eyes sparkle. “My sons are all married, but if you need any help, I’m happy to?—”
The rumble of an engine rolling down the empty street turns both our heads. Curiosity takes the place of our conversation, stretching into a comfortable silence. Her line of questioning amused me more than anything, but I’m not upset about the momentary reprieve.
Any question about who is coming this way disappears as the black truck pulls to a smooth stop outside my new rental and the stern face of Sutton Stone emerges.
Or should I say, my new boss.
He’s not in uniform, which is a good sign. I wouldn’t put it past him to find a fresh reason to arrest me in order to keep me from showing up early Monday morning as his new nanny.
“Good morning, ladies,” he says on approach in that faux-friendly, authoritative tone he’s perfected for his career.
