Mia Ross - A Place for Family

“She’s the fifth one we’ve interviewed, and none of them could find their way around a kitchen, much less keep up with the kids. The guys will only get busier over the summer, and I’ve got no idea what we’re going to do,” Marianne confided. “Things are getting out of hand around here, and we really need some help.”

“I could do it.” When they all stared at her, Amanda backtracked. “At least until you find somebody permanent.”

Understandably, Marianne looked confused. “I thought you were in advertising and PR.”

“The company I worked for went out of business, and the market out there is terrible, so I’m moving back here.” Because she didn’t want to get into the humiliating details, she decided to skip over the worst of her recent experience. “I’m not finding a lot of advertising or PR jobs here, either. This could be the solution to both our problems.”

The Collinses traded a long, dubious look, and Amanda held her breath. She could almost hear the wheels spinning in John’s head, but he didn’t say a word. Maybe he’d already guessed why she’d returned to Harland, or maybe he didn’t care. Whatever the reason, she knew her respite wouldn’t last.

If she was around the farm every day, eventually he’d ask her why she’d come limping home in a car that was one step from the crusher. But right now, she kept her attention on her prospective new boss, who was studying her pensively.

“Amanda,” Marianne finally said. “Why on earth would someone with an MBA and a promising career in PR want to be a housekeeper?”

Several answers flashed into her head, all of them very grown-up and responsible sounding. But what came out was, “I’m ready for a fresh start, and Harland seems like the right place to do that. I’ve always loved this farm, and it would be great to work here.”

John grunted. “Funny. After we graduated, you couldn’t wait to get away from it.”

Turning to him, she explained. Again. “I was eighteen and had never been farther than Charlotte. When UCLA offered me that scholarship, I decided it was time to get out into the world and see what I could do.”

“And how’s that working out for you?”

His accusing tone sliced through the air with a sharpness that stunned her. It was resentment, she realized with a sinking heart. Resentment she’d caused because in her driving compulsion to leave her roots behind, she’d hurt the sweetest, most solid guy she’d ever known.

“Not very well.” Swallowing a bit of her pride, she included the others in her view. “I’m not exactly Mary Poppins, but I’m a quick learner. If you tell me what you want, I’ll make sure things get done your way. I’ll even work free for a week,” she added to sweeten the deal. She’d picked up that skill during her stint in online PR, and she hoped it would help her now.

Marianne and Ridge exchanged another look, and she could only imagine what they were thinking: Why is she really here?

They didn’t say it out loud, which Amanda really appreciated. As she’d told them, she just wanted a chance to start over. Once she had a steady paycheck, she’d answer all their questions. Even John’s. His wariness toward her wouldn’t make it easy to be around him all the time, but she’d have to cope as best she could. With her nicely toasted car still smoking out on the shoulder, she’d literally reached the end of her road.

The fact that her twisting path had led her back to the Sawyers didn’t escape her. When she was younger, John’s large, loving family had treated Amanda like an extra sibling. Now, Amanda needed Marianne as much as Marianne needed her. If not more.

“We can’t pay much, so we were offering live-in arrangements,” Marianne ventured. “Would you be staying here?”

“Ordinarily I’d say no, but since my car—”

“Broke down out front,” John interjected smoothly. “She’ll have to stay here awhile.”

Amanda snuck a quick glance at him, but couldn’t tell if he liked the idea of her being so close by or not. She didn’t remember his being this difficult to read. Had he changed, or had she lost her touch? Either way, it was a complication she didn’t need, and she resolved to get her own place as quickly as possible.

Cocking an elegant brow, the lady of the house flat-out asked, “John, would Amanda’s working here be a problem for you?”

After enduring so much phoniness in California, Amanda found it refreshing to be around people who came right out and said what was on their minds.

To her relief, he shrugged. “I work all day, then go down to my place, so it wouldn’t matter to me.”

“I won’t be doing much of anything for the next three months,” she reminded him. “That means Amanda would be running the house, including the kitchen. If you want to eat, you’d have to see her at some point.”

“No problem here.” He looked at Amanda. “You?”

“Not for me.” Sensing she was on the verge of getting a “yes,” she pressed. “I could start now, if you want. I’d be happy to do some laundry and cleaning before the kids get home from school.”

“We haven’t discussed your weekly salary.” Ridge named an amount she’d have laughed at six months ago. “Does that work for you?”

“Definitely.” It wasn’t much, but it was significantly more than the $82 currently in her wallet. Besides, Harland was pretty far off the beaten path. Money would stretch a lot farther here than it had in L.A.

After another wordless conference with his wife, Ridge nodded his approval.

“We’ll give it a try,” Marianne announced with a smile.

Amanda wanted to hug her, but with Marianne laid up in bed, she knew that was a bad idea. Instead, she clasped her hands tightly and gave them her warmest smile. “Fabulous. Thank you.”

She wanted to assure Marianne and Ridge they hadn’t made a mistake, that she would do everything in her power not to let their family down. But these were down-to-earth folks, and overblown promises meant nothing to them. She’d show them, though, and make the Collinses glad they’d taken a chance on her.

Chapter Two

Fabulous, John silently echoed Amanda.

That wasn’t quite how he’d describe it, but for Marianne’s sake he kept his opinion to himself. He had a hard time envisioning his old friend in this flashy woman standing in their living room, but she just might be the answer to their prayers. If she was as capable as she claimed to be, hiring her would keep the house running smoothly while the farm spun on its usual seasonal axis.

All his life, John had trusted in God’s wisdom, even when it made absolutely no sense to him. If this was His solution to their problem, John would have to find a way to put aside his wounded pride and make it work.

Standing, Ridge bent down to kiss his wife’s cheek. “Unless there’s another interview, I should get back to cultivating that cornfield.”

“We’re done for today. I’m sorry we wasted so much of your morning,” she added with a scowl of disapproval.

He grinned. “It wasn’t a waste. I got to hang out with you.”

“Maybe tonight you can finish up early enough to have supper with the kids and me.”

“I’ll do my best.” Lifting his hand in a general goodbye, he sauntered out the front door.

“You look tired,” John told Marianne as gently as he could. “Get some rest, and I’ll show Amanda where everything is.”

“Thank you.” Wincing, she placed a hand against her side and leaned back into her pillows. “I think they’re kickboxing in there.”

“You want anything while I’m around?” he asked.

“No, I’m fine.”

“Just yell if you need me,” Amanda piped up. “I won’t be far.”

With a wan smile, Marianne pointed to the cell phone docked on her night table. “Ridge texts me every ten minutes.”