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Hannah waited until her daughter retreated to her bedroom, then decided to bite the bullet and go through the bills. If she paid everything, she would have just enough left for a bit of gas.
What was she going to do?
She watched the gauge with despair as her old sedan guzzled up the last of the fuel in the tank on the way to the farm. She might just make it back to the apartment on fumes.
When she pulled up to the French Farm, they were greeted by the dogs rushing out of the barn. Emma hardly waited for Hannah to come to a full stop before jumping out.
“I want to see the baby!” She barely slowed down to greet the dogs, then ran inside.
Hannah looked out the windshield at the farm. The old place meant more to her than any other place in the world. So did the people in it. The Boudreau family had welcomed her in her greatest time of need, when her father turned his back on her. Eight months pregnant, she’d stayed with them until she and Troy got married, then they lived in the apartment above the barn.
It had been both the best and worst time of her life. There she was, a new mother, surrounded by this matriarchal family who took care of one another, who loved one another. Yet, being a young mother and having no family of her own had made life very hard.
If she could have stayed there forever she would have, but when Georgie got married to Sam and moved away and her kids left for college, she felt it was time for her to go, too. She had depended enough on this family’s generosity.
The Boudreaus didn’t forget about her, though. They always included her, making her a regular part of holidays and Sunday dinners. Now Olivia and Jesse lived at the farm, and they were always doing something with Emma. They took her on long horseback rides, even got her into 4H, with a darned chicken of all things. They even took her to the State Fair when Hannah had to work.
“Hey, ladies!” Olivia bounced baby Mae on her hip.
“Oh my gosh, those cheeks!” Hannah swept Mae out of Olivia’s arms and into her own. Emma stood on her toes to get closer to the baby.
“You’re just so cute!” she squealed.
Mae reached for Emma’s nose. “You got my nose?”
Mae giggled, and a tug in Hannah’s belly made her wish she had enjoyed more of this stage. She had been so young, scared, and confused about life in general when Emma was this little.
“How was school?” Olivia asked Emma, handing over a pacifier to Mae.
“Good, we’re learning about glaciers, and why we have such fertile soil on the prairies.” Emma took baby Mae’s hand and kissed it. “Can I play with her?”
“Sure, I have all her toys on the blanket in the living room.” Olivia grabbed a burpee towel and handed it to Emma.
Emma’s afterschool program included a babysitting course, and Emma was obsessed. She’d read the whole Babysitter’s Club series, watched the television version, and created a Pinterest account filled with fun children’s activities. It had taught Emma to be responsible and confident. A confidence Hannah had never possessed.
Mae reached out her arms and went happily into Emma’s. Olivia grabbed paper plates and napkins and put them on a tray. “I’m so glad you could make it for dinner. It’s just so nice out today, we thought we’d invite people over.”
“I’m glad you did.” Then she thought about being grateful that it was a free meal, and wished she could just one time return the favor.
“I went to the grocery store today, I must’ve just missed you,” Olivia said as she opened the refrigerator.
“I must’ve been on break,” Hannah lied. She knew if she told Olivia about what had happened, she’d parade over there and cause a stink, which definitely wouldn’t get her job back. Then she’d tell the rest of the family, and they’d just start worrying.
She’d talk to Lloyd again, maybe swing by Judy’s station. She’d worked there as long as Hannah, and knew how loyal she had been over the years. Always working overtime, never questioning the extra hours, late nights, extra duties tagged on with only very minimal raises.
“I was going to ask Timmy Hooley where you were, but I didn’t want to get stuck talking to him.” She made a face and started setting the table.
Hannah laughed, glad to have Olivia back in Prairie Valley. Even though they were complete opposites, the two had become as close as sisters when she’d lived at the farm as a new mother.
Olivia lived a life most would only dream about. She was beautiful, and even now, with a baby, she looked like she had just stepped off a private jet from Washington. She could rope a two-ton bull wearing a suit and heels. She rubbed elbows with some of the most important people in the world, had a daddy who had been a well-respected Governor of their home state of Minnesota, and married one of the most down-to-earth cowboys. But that’s what she loved about Olivia. She lived life to the fullest.
Hannah just tried to survive.
“Hey, I was wondering if you guys would do us a favor?” Olivia asked.
Hannah grabbed the silverware from the drawer, curious. Maybe she could help after all. “What do you need?”
“A babysitter.” She thumped a big bowl of salad onto the table. “Jesse and I need to get out, and Maggie helps a lot, but I don’t want to always bother her and my mom.”
