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“Yes, honey.”
“Okay, then. I like being a Duckling. Miss Caitlin is the nicest teacher ever. Can I have more soup, please?”
With that, the dreaded conversation appeared to be done with only minor drama and zero trauma. If only the rest of the day could progress that easily.
Genevieve arrived shortly after they finished lunch and took the news about their pending change of address with aplomb. “That is interesting. So, does this change our plans? Do you still want me to babysit this afternoon? How can I be of the most help to you?”
“I think the children will be fine meeting AJ when he arrives. If you want to stay and help keep them entertained, I’ll continue packing. I did a bit already this morning. Being vagabonds, we don’t have much, thank goodness.”
Almost all of the kitchen supplies, the bedding, and the furnishings belonged to Raindrop Lodge. Their personal items amounted to their clothing, toiletries, toys, books, a few electronics, and the contents of their pantry and refrigerator. Considering that they’d lived in this cabin since January, Willow wasn’t sure whether she should feel good or ashamed about being so footloose at this point in their lives.
“We probably have time to take one load over to Noah’s before your guest is due to arrive,” Genevieve pointed out.
“I don’t think that’s necessary. If you wouldn’t mind taking a few boxes in your car, I think we can get everything in one load, Mom.”
“I’m happy to load up my car. I’m sure Helen will have room in hers, too, if there’s anything you and I can’t fit.”
“Auntie?”
“You didn’t think she’d miss this event, did you?”
“Now that you mention it, no.”
At a quarter to two, the nanny sent Willow a text saying they were about an hour away. With the packing completed, Genevieve took the children to the lake to fish while Willow retrieved the housekeeping cart from the storage building and tackled the cleaning of Cabin 17. The physical work helped settle her nerves, and she’d just finished the task and was tugging off a pair of yellow rubber gloves when a knock sounded on the door. Willow glanced up to see Noah standing on the threshold and offered him a genuine smile. “And what brings you here?”
“I thought you might need help moving boxes.”
“Thank you, but we’re already loaded up. We didn’t have all that much to move.”
“In that case.” He tugged a flask from his pocket and held it up. “Need a little liquid courage?”
“I don’t,” she said with a laugh, “but you might ask my mother. She’s strung pretty tight today. She and the kids went over to the lake to fish.”
“Getting a line wet is a good way to relax. It wouldn’t surprise me if all that fishing Gage did last week didn’t help save his life.”
“How is he doing? Have you heard anything?”
“I have. He called me this morning. Zach came by to talk.” Noah gave his head a little bewildered shake as he added, “Gage offered me a job.”
“Oh? Doing what?”
“Things Zach should be doing, if you ask me. They wantme to step in and take some of the workload off of Gage’s shoulders.”
“I thought the foreman had taken over all the day-to-day work of the Triple T Ranch. That’s what Mom told me Gage told her, anyway.”
“I think that’s right. But in addition to the Triple T Ranch, Gage also owns other real estate in the area and pieces of local businesses. That’s all held under the umbrella of an entity called Throckmorton Enterprises. Plus, he has the charitable foundation.”
Willow nodded. “Mom’s partnership with Gage in The Emily is organized under the Throckmorton Foundation.”
“He wants to stay involved with the charity, but he wants me to do his work for the Enterprises organization.”
Willow could tell from his tone that he had reservations. “You’re not interested in the job?”
“I told Gage no, which was why Zach came to talk to me.” Noah gestured toward the housekeeping cart and asked, “Are you done with this? Want me to take it back where it belongs?”
“Sure. I’ll show you where it goes. I’m done here. The cabin will only need linens and a fresh dusting to spruce it up when the lodge gets a rental. So, back to this job. Why does it sound like your no didn’t mean no?”
“Because Gage wouldn’t accept it,” Noah replied, exasperation in his tone. “I told him I’m not qualified for that sort of job, but he says he can teach me everything I need to know. Then he sent Zach to tag team me and play on my sympathies.” The cart’s wheels rattled on the stone path as Noah pushed the housekeeping cart back toward the storage shed. “I guess it worked. I told him I’d help out temporarily. Just until they can make permanent arrangements.”
