Page 5 of Breathe Me: Smith & Belle

“It’s so loud out there,” I said as she bent to take a seat opposite us, smoothing her black pencil skirt down. “We should be the ones apologizing. I’m Belle. This is my husband, Smith.”

“Nora,” she offered, glancing around the room. “Your house is beautiful. At least, the bits that are done anyway.”

“Thank you,” Smith said with a laugh.

“Will it be done before the baby comes?” she asked, eying my stomach.

“I hope so,” I admitted, even though I’d pretty much given up that dream. She could arrive any day and there was still the wine cellar to complete, painting to be done, and a dozen other small projects. “I’m not certain construction and infants go hand in hand.”

“Babies can sleep through anything,” she said with a wave of her hand, showcasing neatly trimmed and polished nails. “Of course, I’m sure you two are ready to be done with it. I imagine it’s not terribly peaceful to feel as though you’re on the verge of invasion all the time.”

“No, it’s not,” Smith said. “So, why are you interested in the job?”

“It’s going to sound cliché.” She rolled her eyes. “But I love kids. I was studying to be a primary school teacher, but, money is tight and I thought maybe I’d take a little time off, save up, and go back part-time in the spring.”

“So, you’re in school?” I asked.

“Yes. Well, no. Not at the moment, I mean,” she said, looking flustered for the first time since arriving. “I do want to finish, and I will. It is a part-time position, right?”

“Is that okay?” I asked, waiting for the disappointment I’d come to expect.

“Yes,” she said brightly. “I’ll be available a lot for those early months, when you might need me more, but I’ll be able to go back in the spring, too. The timing is perfect.”

Even I had to admit it was.

“Tell us more about yourself,” Smith said. “Your application doesn’t have a lot of history.”

“I grew up in the North. I watched kids a lot when I was younger, but it seems strange to tell prospective employers to ring up your neighbor down the street. I could get some names and numbers, though, if you’d like.”

“That won’t be necessary,” I jumped in, knowing my husband would say yes. I knew he’d run a background check on her, if he hadn’t already.

“Also, I have to confess, I googled you,” she said.

“Oh.” I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

“And I just love the idea of Bless! It’s such a good idea. I know I can’t afford to buy half the outfits I fall in love with at the shops. You’re a genius.”

“No, not really.” I shook my head, feeling put on the spot, but Smith didn’t let it slide.

“She’s modest. She is a genius.” Smith’s eyes met mine and for a moment, we were the only ones in the room. When I finally broke the spell, I discovered her watching us with a dreamy smile.

“You two are just…” She pressed a hand to her chest. Then she shook her head a little before reaching into her bag. “Oh, I guess I should give you these. I’ve been certified in CPR as well as—”

A sharp knock on the door interrupted her.

“Sorry,” Smith said, swiveling around. “Yes?”

The door opened to reveal Benjamin, our foreman, wearing a yellow hard hat and a grim face. “Sorry to interrupt, but we have a situation.”

“A situation?” Smith repeated, already on his feet.

“You might want to come down to the wine cellar.”

Smith followed him out the door, and I found myself rising, torn between going after them and propriety. I glanced at Nora, who was still holding her paperwork.

“I had no idea remodeling was so exciting,” I admitted to her. “Shall we go see what new headache they’ve encountered?”

“I’m game.” Nora dropped the papers on the table with a grin.