Carol Steward - There Comes A Season

“What? Oh, schedule. I believe in letting babies set their own, within reason.”

“ No schedule? At all?”

Relieved to be discussing children again, Laura relaxed. “Babies normally settle into their own routine within a few weeks. Then again, just as they do, they hit a growing spurt or teething, and it changes. Flexibility helps.”

“I guess I didn’t do so bad this week after all, then. How many children do you watch?” Bryan’s tension escalated as Jacob grew more fussy.

“Six preschoolers and my own three-when they aren’t in school. It sounds like a lot, but the limits really are reasonable.” The baby wailed, and Laura put her hands in front of her. “Could I hold Jacob for you?”

“My pleasure. Since his mother died, I’ve had a lot to learn about babies. Talk about a cram course on parenting.”

She felt as if someone had just punched her in the stomach. That would explain why Vicky didn’t say anything. She wanted them to find that common ground. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize,” she managed to reply.

His jaw worked back and forth. “I thought Vicky would have explained that when she called. Work’s piling up at the office, and Mr. Mom I’m not. The nanny and I didn’t get along, so I let her go. I’ve gotten myself in quite a mess.”

“Excuse me, Bryan…”

“Jacob’s constant screaming convinced me that I needed to make some changes. Even as inexperienced as I am, I know when a baby needs something. Problem is, at the rate I’m going, I’ll figure out what it is by the time the kid can talk.”

Bryan regarded the gentle way she held Jacob. In a matter of minutes, she’d calmed him down. She rubbed the baby’s back as Jacob’s big brown eyes searched her face. Bryan looked to Laura’s left hand for a wedding ring, chastising himself for his interest, and surprised by his disappointment when he saw one.

He could almost feel Jacob’s small body go limp in her embrace, and wondered if the baby had ever been held with such tenderness by his own mother. He doubted it. Bryan couldn’t believe how wonderful it felt watching this woman cuddle his son.

The son Andrea had kept from him.

“Bryan, I know what you’re going through…” Laura said.

Startling Bryan out of a bitter recollection of his wife, Bryan felt the muscles in his entire body tense. “You couldn’t begin to imagine…” He stopped, realizing he almost dumped his resentment on this woman who seemed nothing like a stranger.

He looked up at her, feeling an unexplainable peace for the first time in days.

There was no doubt that he liked her. But was it the confident way she presented herself, her gentleness or the crystal blue eyes that invited him to open his heart? He gazed at her wavy hair, wondering if it was as touchable as it appeared.

What am I thinking? She’s happily married. Get your mind back on business, Beaumont! What’s wrong with you? Reprimanding himself, Bryan blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Can he start right away?”

Laura seemed startled, hesitating before she answered. “The opening is available as of Monday, however…”

“Have you interviewed a lot of families for this position? It seems infant openings are in great demand.”

Laura lifted her gaze to his, irritated at this man’s presumptuousness. “I haven’t advertised the opening yet.” Truth be known, she’d been picking up the phone to do so when he’d called.

She looked back at the baby in her arms. As much as her heart ached for these two and the pain they were feeling, she couldn’t do it.

Laura considered how to tell Bryan that she wasn’t up to taking on a child who would need an extra dose of mothering.

“Mr. Beaumont, I think you’d be better off looking for another live-in nanny under the circumstances.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I didn’t realize the situation. I think a nanny might fit your needs better. I’m sorry I wasted your time.”

“Just a minute, Mrs. Bates. I’m staying with a friend—until my house sells. The last thing we need is some woman…I mean, a nanny’s not a possibility. You came very highly recommended, and I need someone to care for Jacob.”

Laura looked into Bryan’s eyes, then at his son. Questions raced through her mind. She heard a little voice reminding her of the pastor’s sermon the previous week: “Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” But God, I have my own pain to deal with. I haven’t the strength to help a single father who obviously has no idea what to do with his baby.

Her personal struggle with this was far from over. She couldn’t say yes to Bryan Beaumont. This time, God was expecting too much. Meeting her own family’s needs was more than enough to handle.

Running her child care business, baking cakes, shuffling children between school and extracurricular activities would have been enough. But now Laura was responsible for her own duties in addition to those Todd had handled prior to his death. There simply was no extra time or energy for counseling anyone, let alone a chauvinistic executive who was willing to exchange his paternal duties for his own career.

Before her emotions took over, she backed away, using her firmest business voice. “Before either of us make any decision, I recommend you review this packet. I also require that one parent visit during business hours before enrolling your child so you can see firsthand how I run my business. This also allows you to meet the other children that I care for. Enclosed in the packet is a copy of my policies, a letter outlining my child care philosophy, as well as a sample contract. Please read everything thoroughly.” Laura motioned to the manila envelope on the table next to him.

The very way he handled himself told her that he was a man accustomed to success. If she was right, once the virile Bryan Beaumont experienced six preschoolers in action, he’d be out of her house quicker than a firecracker on the Fourth of July.

Bryan picked up the envelope, stood and walked over to her. “Thanks for reconsidering, Laura. I’ll see you in the morning.” He took the baby, and walked to an expensive foreign-made car.

“I have not reconsidered,” she muttered as the door closed behind him.

Bryan pulled to a stop at the red light, then brushed Jacob’s dark fuzzy hair to one side with his hand. “How can one baby turn a man’s life upside down?”

Jacob pursed his lips and grasped the finger Bryan offered, holding it tight until Bryan pulled to a stop in front of Kevin’s house. Bryan took Jacob from the car seat, then shouldered the strap of the diaper bag and grabbed his briefcase.

After changing clothes and feeding Jacob his bottle, Bryan turned to Kevin. “I could use a run. You mind watching Jacob for an hour?”

“Mind? The kid and I have some football plays to discuss.”

“I have my pager, if you need anything.”

“Get out of here. We’ll be fine. It’s you I’m worried about. Take it easy today, you’re not as young as you used to be.” Kevin picked up the baby, then tucked the diaper bag under his arm and pretended to be charging through the offensive line on his way out the door.

Not for the first time in the last week, Bryan watched Kevin with envy, wondering how a dedicated bachelor had developed such a way with babies. Kids had always intrigued Bryan, but when his bride had announced that a baby would ruin her petite figure and her career, he’d eventually given up trying to change her mind. He’d directed his energy into his career, setting aside all hopes of a family. It was evident now that he wasn’t father material.