Sara sank into her own chair, shifting Kaylee onto her lap. I was so sure that job would work out for you. Youre exactly what Max needs. Are you positive theres no chance?
Max wouldnt hire me if hell froze over. She paused, then said something shed only toyed with before today. Ill have to sell the boat.
Oh, no. You love the Princess II.
Its an extravagance, and I cant even sail it without help. If I sold it, I would have enough money to tide me over until I get on my feet.
Janes cell phone rang and she immediately perked up, hoping it might be another job lead. Shed dropped résumés all over town, and even a few in Corpus Christi, though the larger city was almost an hours drive from Port Clara.
Jane Selwyn.
Jane, its Max Remington. The job is yours if you want it.
Chapter Two
By eleven oclock on Janes first day of work at the Remington Agency, she was terrified Max would fire her before lunch.
She hadnt been all that strong in computer skills at school, and what little shed learned was woefully out-of-date. Her first assignment was to lay out a simple ad for a new restaurant. Max had given her everything she needed-copy, photo and graphics. She could see the ad in her mind. But getting the computer program to do her bidding was an effort in frustration. So far shed spent more time reading the manual than actually getting anything done.
She had finally figured out how to size her photo and adjust the color balance when Max tapped on her partially open office door and stuck his head in.
Is the ad done yet?
Um, no, not quite yet. When do you need it?
Five oclock today.
Okay.
Want me to pick up lunch for you?
Sure, that would be wonderful. It was a cinch she wouldnt have time to go out to eat. She would be lucky to get this sucker done before she had to leave at 2:45 to pick up Kaylee from preschool.
She had arranged for an after-school babysitter, but Mrs. Billingsly couldnt start until next week. Jane had explained about her shortened workdays to Max, who hadnt taken the news with a smile. He probably already regretted hiring her.
Jane reached for her purse in her desk drawer, intending to give Max some money, but he waved it away. Ill take care of it. But you will get the ad done, wont you?
Im doing my best.
Max flashed a strained smile. Great.
Jane returned her attention to the screen and yelped in surprise. Her photo had turned green. The people looked like Martians. She must have hit the Okay button by mistake when she was adjusting the color balance.
She held her breath and hit Control-Z, the panacea for undoing mistakes, and thankfully the photo turned back to its normal colors.
Jane worked steadily, making slow progress and glancing worriedly at the clock.
By 2:45 she had everything roughed in like she wanted it-but she needed to make some refinements. Now that she was getting the hang of it, she found the graphics program to be incredibly powerful. She could certainly be finished by five-if she didnt have to pick up Kaylee.
She grabbed her purse and attempted to slip out of the office unnoticed, but as luck would have it, Max came into the hallway just as she did.
Oh, Jane. Are you done with the ad?
Um, almost. I have to pick up Kaylee. But Im coming back, and Ill finish up before five, for sure. She turned away from him and headed for the exit.
Wait. Youre bringing your daughter here?
Jane turned back slowly. That was the plan.
Jane, this is a place of business. Its not a day-care center.
This is an unusual situation. Once I have my babysitter, this wont be a problem. I did explain that to you, right?
Yes, but that was before I knew you would take all day to do an ad that should have taken you a couple of hours.
I havent been wasting time, really. Most of today was spent learning the program. Anyway, I only need a few more minutes to finish up, and Kaylee wont cause any problems, I promise. She mentally crossed her fingers. Kaylee was very well behaved most of the time. But every so often she still threw a hideous tantrum, a holdover from the Terrible Twos. Just please, dont let it be today.
He tried again. The office isnt a safe place for a child.
Shell be fine. Ill keep her with me in my office. You wont know shes here.
Max clearly wasnt happy about the arrangements, but he didnt argue further. The ad will be done by five? And youll e-mail it to me?
Absolutely.
Finally he relaxed his stance. All right.
I really have to go or Ill be late. They charge extra if Im late picking up, and I cant afford it.
Do you need an advance on your salary? he asked suddenly. Cause if you need money for food or something-
Thats not necessary, she said quickly. Im okay. She hurried away, pondering the Jekyll-and-Hyde routine. First Max was Simon Legree, then he was Mother Teresa.
She was a bit surprised at his hard-nosed attitude regarding children. The corporation where Scott worked as a marketing manager featured its own day-care center and liberal policies for working parents. She knew Maxs company was tiny by comparison, but his attitude seemed antiquated.
Well, some people were simply uncomfortable around children, she reasoned. That was something to keep firmly in mind whenever her heart did its annoying little pitter-pat in his presence.
Yes, hed done her a huge favor by hiring her. But that was no reason to feel anything but professional toward him.
Kaylee was cranky when Jane picked her up from the private Montessori school, which Janes mother had offered to pay for. Her mother had warned her that if she divorced Scott, she shouldnt expect to move back home and live off her parents largesse, not that Jane would have considered that. But when Jane had told her mother about her new job, Wanda Selwyn had tut-tutted about young children needing their mothers, then had offered to pay tuition if Jane would enroll Kaylee in the best preschool available.
Just because youve made some foolish decisions, thats no reason your child should suffer, Wanda had proclaimed. Wanda wasnt so much upset about the divorce as she was about the settlement her daughter had accepted. Jane hadnt confided her reasons for bowing to Scotts unreasonable demands.
Jane had been willing to listen to a sermon or two if it solved some of her child-care problems. Though Max hadnt taken her up on her offer to work for free, her starting salary wasnt much more than she could have earned as a waitress. But hed promised her raises would be forthcoming once she proved herself.
I dont like that place, Kaylee proclaimed as Jane buckled her into her car seat.
Really? What dont you like?
Icky food.
Maybe youll like tomorrows lunch better. Is that all?
Billy took my bunny. Hes mean.
Oh. Jane slid behind the steering wheel, wondering what the appropriate advice was. Should she encourage Kaylee to share? Or was this mean boy a bully, someone Kaylee should stand up to? Lord knew she wanted to teach her daughter to be independent and learn to solve her own problems.
Janes parents had not raised her to be independent. They had raised her to be a rich mans wife. Looking back at her marriage with some hindsight, she now knew she had been drawn to the security Scott offered her. She had convinced herself she was in love with the handsome but overbearing man, and she had mistaken Scotts possessiveness for love.
Truth was, she didnt really know what love was, only that her and Scotts relationship had been unhealthy from the start. But she had been too scared to leave him, too scared to try to make it on her own. It was only when his behavior began to border on abusive that shed filed for divorce-before he could carry out any of his threats.
Macaroni for dinner, Mommy? Kaylee asked, the bunny incident apparently forgotten.
Absolutely. But first I have to finish some work at my new job.
Whats a job?
You know. Like Daddy goes to work every day to his job. Now I have a job. Idraw pictures, and I get paid money for them.
Kaylee frowned. Her fathers long working hours had been a continual source of friction in their family. Maybe Kaylee believed her mother would stay away all the time, too. No doubt about it, Janes job would require a lot of adjustments. Kaylee was used to having almost constant access to her mother.
Ill be going to my job every day to work, Jane said. But Ill be home every night for dinner. Well still play together and Ill tuck you in and read you a story every night.
Kaylee still looked worried. She was growing so fast, getting more complex every day. Jane usually had no idea what was going on behind her daughters bright blue eyes. The child had taken her parents breakup reasonably well. Not having her father around wasnt much different than before the divorce, as Scott had spent very little time at home. He had either been working, playing golf or dragging Jane around to this party or that while Kaylee stayed home with a sitter.
Ill be going to my job every day to work, Jane said. But Ill be home every night for dinner. Well still play together and Ill tuck you in and read you a story every night.
Kaylee still looked worried. She was growing so fast, getting more complex every day. Jane usually had no idea what was going on behind her daughters bright blue eyes. The child had taken her parents breakup reasonably well. Not having her father around wasnt much different than before the divorce, as Scott had spent very little time at home. He had either been working, playing golf or dragging Jane around to this party or that while Kaylee stayed home with a sitter.
Once parked at the office building, Jane grabbed a tote bag filled with favored toys, unbuckled Kaylee from her car seat and walked with her inside the cool lobby.
Carol looked surprised to see the child, but then her face melted into a smile. What an adorable little girl!
This is my daughter, Kaylee, Jane said. Kaylee, this is Ms. Washington.
Kaylee held out her favorite yellow baby blanket, now tattered and faded. This is my blankie.
And a very nice blankie it is, too, Carol said.
My after-school child care doesnt start until next week, Jane said, then lowered her voice. Is Mr. Remington here?