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“You’ll get to meet Samuel’s parents. They intend on visiting.”
“So, they’ll stay with you in your new house?”
I hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Now I know why Samuel is rushing into everything. He has an internal ticking time bomb to get his ducks in a line within the next three months to please his parents.”
17
EDEN
Last night I didn’t hear Samuel come to bed.
Rose coos in the other room, so I creep out of bed, grab some clothes, and take them into Rose’s room to dress. He needs rest, so I close all the doors in an endeavor not to wake him. After attending to Rose and changing out of my pajamas, I find Mum and Dad in the kitchen eating breakfast.
“Morning.”
Rose holds her hands out for Dad. Like Samuel, she hadn’t seen him for a few days.
“Good morning, our little angel. Do you want a banana?”
“Na-na,” she repeats. Dad peels the banana, and Rose holds it while taking a little bite.
“How was your dinner last night?” I sit beside Dad and peel a banana for myself.
“Good. Dana and Kerry joined us. They’re now moving before Christmas.”
“What?” My heart sinks. “She said six months.”
Dad inclines his head. “Circumstances have changed. Faith will work two days a week.”
“Faith?” I choke. “At Monte?”
Mum chuckles. “I had the same reaction. It seems she now cares about what happens to the family business, and she’ll be an asset in HR.” Mum is smiling as though it was all her idea. “We discussed one day of child care, and I’ll look after her boys for the other.”
“It’s time for Rose to be in child care, mingling with children her own age.” Here I was thinking about writing a resignation letter.
“Winston and I wanted to discuss this with you, especially about you working part-time.”
“Really?” A weight lifts from my shoulders.
“Eden,” Dad begins. “It’s time. We’ll hire a junior receptionist. If you and Faith work the same two days, it would be better for your mother and the business.”
I’m smiling hard.
“I’ll mind the three kids because they enjoy spending time together. I understand my limitations, and two days is reasonable,” Mum adds. “Faith is insisting on one as she said childcare would be good for the boys.”
“Finally, I get to work alongside Faith.” I wink at Dad. “Could be dangerous.”
He chuckles, and Mum laughs along with him.
Then I think about Dana. “I’ll miss her,” I whisper.
“We all will,” Dad murmurs.
Are his eyes watering?
Mum pats his back. “Dana is excited for a new adventure but sad to leave Monte and us. They were notified yesterday Kerry’s position is now in Cairns, not Brisbane as they assumed.”
“It’s a thousand-mile difference.” I gasp.
