Page 18 of A New Year In The Presidential Suite

“I’ll try, but I won’t be able to get it all off.” Griff untied the back of the gown and lifted what he could out of the way, taking care not to disrupt the tubes still attached to his grandfather’s hand and arms. Then, Griff helped him get his pants and shoes on. The stroke had made it difficult to deal with Grandad’s changed behavior. He’d always been a bit gruff on the outside, but Griff had yet to see that soft interior.

Grandad’s movements had slowed, but he was able to help get his pants on. His shirt lay on the bed, waiting for him to get unhooked from the machinery.

Afterward, Grandad sat on the edge of the bed, checking the clock mounted on the wall.

“When the doctor comes, he’ll have a list of instructions for you to follow. It will be my job to see that you follow them,” said Griff. Before his grandfather could react, Griff raised his hand to stop any disagreement. “I’m doing this for you.”

Grandad’s shoulders collapsed. “I can see the end coming. You’re going to be busy. Maybe losing Cassandra wasn’t bad after all. She was never going to be content at the vineyard. It wasn’t her style.”

Griff shrugged. “Maybe.”

“While you were gone, I hired someone as our new oenologist. She got her associates degree in winemaking a few years ago and comes highly recommended. I worked with her, testing her ability and talking to her about our wines. She’s smart and has a naturally superior palate, too.”

“Yeah? Who is it?”

“Someone here in Napa. I just happened to catch her between jobs. She’s a looker, too.”

Griff groaned. “Her appearance is the last thing we need to worry about. Replacing Enrico is our number one concern. Pete and I can handle the office and the vineyard and the winery.” Even as he said it, Griff knew that was a stretch. “Do you think I should meet her before hiring her?”

“I’m still in charge,” said Grandad. “It’s already done. She’s joining us in a few days. She can stay in one of the cabins on the property. The one Enrico used. Sarita will get it ready.”

Dr. Elliott arrived, and Griff’s attention was diverted to listening to the doctor tell Grandad what he could and couldn’t do. “Don’t worry, Sam,” said the doctor. “It’ll all be written down. Griff has already promised to see that you follow my orders.”

Grandad looked like an obedient little boy as he sat on the bed and looked up at Dr. Elliott. But Griff knew it was an act. Nobody told Samuel Sawyer what to do.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

LORI

The moment Lori walked into the daycare center and saw the smiles of “her” children and how they reached out to her, Lori knew she was truly home. Her family’s delight over her gifts and the hugs they gave her as they welcomed her back couldn’t compare to this. She knew now this job was where she was meant to be.

Janie Sherwood, the older woman who owned the day care and preschool center, gave her a warm hug. “I heard you went to Florida for our break. You look fabulous. Healthy and rested, which is good because I’ve allowed one more child to enter our program. That, and a new part-time person.”

“Oh, that’s smart. As the kids grow, they need more attention, more teaching,” said Lori. “I can’t believe how much bigger some of them seem to me.”

Janie laughed. “The center has been closed only ten days during the holidays. But having enough caretakers is important to me. We’ll now have a total of ten staff members, including two part-time people.” Bright Beginnings was expensive, but the cost was worth what the children’s families could afford to pay. There would never be a question about how safe and happy their children would be.

“When do we meet the new person?” Lori asked.

“She’ll come in later this morning,” said Janie. “I wanted to give us time to get back into a normal routine.”

“She’s welcome anytime,” said Lori. “I’ll try to help her settle in.”

“Thanks, “ said Janie. “You’re my number one employee.”

Lori had enough education and training to open her own place, but she could never compete with Bright Beginnings and didn’t want to.

After stowing her coat and purse in her locker, she put the leftovers she’d brought for lunch in the refrigerator in the kitchen.

Rubbing her hands together to warm them, Lori walked into the nursery and checked on the little ones to see who was awake. One of her favorites, a little girl six months old named Kyle, looked up at her and showed a toothless grin.

Lori swept her up in her arms and took a moment to cuddle her before changing Kyle’s diapers.

The baby reached up and grabbed Lori’s nose.

Laughing, Lori laid the little girl on the changing table and made silly noises while changing her. Then she carried Kyle into the kitchen and warmed a bottle of milk her mother had brought from home.

She took Kyle and the bottle into a nook off the nursery and settled into one of the rocking chairs. Kyle was drinking contentedly when a pretty young woman with light-tan skin and long, dark, straight hair entered the room.