Winnie Griggs - A Tailor-Made Husband

Hazel’s expression regained some of that familiar softness as she met his gaze again. “She could certainly do a lot worse.”

Her answer surprised him given what had happened to Bethany. But Hazel had always been a look-on-the-bright-side kind of person.

“You seemed to have managed all right last night,” she added, as if that settled matters.

“I wasn’t on my own. Reverend Mills, the preacher over at Kittering, offered us a room at his place for the night and Mrs. Mills took care of Meg.”

Hazel nodded slowly, nibbling on her lower lip as if trying to puzzle something out. What was going on in that rather unorthodox mind of hers?

Then she seemed to come to a decision. “If it’ll help you, I’ll be glad to watch Meg for a few weeks, but first there’s something you need to know.”

Relieved that he’d gotten a commitment of sorts from her, Ward smiled. A few weeks should be sufficient time for him to figure things out with Meg. But why had she put a time limit on it? Had she started some new project while he was away—it seemed Hazel always had a project or cause to champion.

He spread his hands, inviting her to continue, confident it was something he could deal with.

She lifted her chin, giving him an almost defiant look. Why was she being so melodramatic? Surely, whatever it was wasn’t so—

“I’m leaving Turnabout in a few weeks and moving to New York,” she finally blurted.

Chapter Four

Ward felt everything inside himself suddenly go still. Surely Hazel hadn’t meant that the way it sounded? “You mean you’re taking your annual trip early?” Her mother had come from New York and Hazel still had family there that she visited regularly.

“No.” She tucked a stray tendril behind her ear. “I mean I’m moving to New York permanently.”

Turnabout without Hazel’s vibrant presence? It was unthinkable. Trying to keep his demeanor matter-of-fact while he absorbed the impact of what she was saying, he raised a brow. “This seems a bit sudden.”

She studied her hands on the table. “Not really. Aunt Opal has asked me a number of times over the years to work in her fashion design business. I’ve finally decided to accept her offer, is all.”

“I see.” Except he didn’t. Why would she do such a thing? And why now? She’d always said on her return from her trips back east that it felt really good to be home again. “Exactly how soon do you plan to make this move?”

“I haven’t set an exact date, but soon. I talked it over with Verity before she and her family headed out on their vacation and I promised her I wouldn’t leave until she returns.” Hazel shrugged. “They’re due back in about three weeks.”

So soon! The sick feeling in the pit of his stomach deepened. And if she’d been planning this since before the Coopers left, why was he just now hearing of it? “I see,” he said again, not that he did.

Why had her decision unsettled him so much? “And you’ve made up your mind?”

She nodded, looking down as she brushed at her skirt. “So you see, I can only help you with Meg for that long.”

This was so much bigger than not helping with Meg. How could she just leave like this? How long had she been contemplating this move? Was she so unhappy with her life here, or was there something in New York drawing her there? Could she have met someone on her last trip? Was—

Hazel reached across the table and touched his wrist, bringing his thoughts back to the here and now.

“But for the next three weeks,” she said, “I’ll do whatever I can to help with Meg.”

He forced a smile. It was the second time today she’d touched him that way. He found he liked it. Perhaps a bit too much. He had to remind himself to keep things on a just-friends basis. But it didn’t sound like he’d have to bother with that for much longer.

“I appreciate that,” he said, responding to her offer. “And we’ll just have to hope I have some answers about Half-pint by then.”

He glanced toward the library area, forcibly shoving aside his feelings about Hazel’s defection to deal with later. Right now he’d have to figure out how to best let Half-pint know she wouldn’t be staying with him after all.

As if understanding what he was feeling, Hazel followed his gaze. “She probably won’t understand why you need to hand her off to me.”

“I’m not exactly handing her off,” he protested.

She gave him a stern look. “That’s not how she’ll see it.” Then she glanced Meg’s way. “The news would be best coming from you, I believe.”

Ward nodded and caught Abigail’s eye, signaling that she should bring Meg back to the table.

Meg skipped back to them, a large book clutched in her hands. “Miss Abigail said I can borrow this one,” she told Ward proudly. “We can read it together.”

The trusting way she looked at him made Ward feel even more guilty for what he was about to do. But it was for the best. He lifted her up on his lap. “That sounds nice. But I have some good news for you. Miss Hazel has said you can stay with her at her place for now.”

The little girl frowned. “But you said I could stay with you.”

He kept his smile firmly in place. “I know, but being sheriff means I sometimes have to work long hours. Besides, Miss Hazel’s place is bigger and much nicer. And I promise I’ll visit with you every day.”

Meg’s lips trembled slightly. “Don’t you want me to stay with you?” She tightened her hold on her doll. “I promise I’ll be good,” she said desperately. “Freddie says I’m a lot of trouble but I promise I won’t be if you give me a chance.”

The child’s pleas touched Ward’s heart and he again wanted to strangle Freddie. He brushed the hair from Meg’s forehead. “I don’t think you’re any trouble at all, Half-pint. In fact, I think you’re a bright little ray of sunshine. But I don’t have a lot of room at my place and you’ll be much more comfortable at Miss Hazel’s.”

She gave him a wobbly smile. “I don’t take up much room.”

He had to work to keep his encouraging smile in place. “True, but it’s not just the space. I also have to work, and I’m afraid I can’t take you with me when I do.”

“I can stay at your house while you work. I’m big enough to stay by myself—Freddie said so. And I can clean things for you while you’re gone. Freddie taught me how to sweep and dust, at least the things I can reach. Please.” Her lower lip trembled as if tears were imminent.

Ward’s chest tightened. He wouldn’t be able to bear it if she started crying. Her words, as well as her desperation not to be handed off again, spoke of what her life must have been like under her brother’s care.

How could he tell her no? Yet how could he not?

Almost without conscious thought, he turned to Hazel for help.

* * *

Hazel wasn’t certain how she’d expected Ward to react to the news that she was leaving Turnabout, but she definitely felt let down. Not that she’d expected him to beg her to stay, not exactly anyway. But she’d certainly expected more from him than the mild curiosity he’d displayed.

She supposed his reaction, and her disappointment over it, was just one more indication that it was indeed time for her to move on.

But there would be time to mull that over later. Right now there were more important matters to attend to. Responding to Ward’s what-do-I-do-now look, Hazel refrained from saying I told you so. Instead, she reached over and lightly touched Meg’s wrist. “I have a very nice guest room at my place and would love to have you stay there with me. My very best friend, the lady who usually works at the dress shop with me, is out of town for the next several weeks and it would be nice to have you to keep me company.”