did what go?” she asked, being deliberately obtuse because she knew her sisters could be dangerous when they set their minds to something.
Sadie took Dixon, car seat and all, from Hannah’s hands. “The thing with Jake, you idiot.”
“There is no ‘thing’ with me and Jake except an opportunity for me to make money.”
As Hannah said the last, her aunt Sadie came to the doorway where Hannah stood mobbed by her sisters. Tall and slender, dressed in blue jeans and a simple coral-colored blouse, she cut through the half moon made by the three women and effortlessly took Hannah’s hand, turning her away from her sisters and toward herself.
“I’m so sorry that you lost your job.”
Hannah smiled at her aunt. Her dark hair was growing back slowly in curly tufts, and her green eyes had a healthy sparkle that put everybody’s mind at ease. Behind her, the play yards and toy boxes that symbolized Aunt Sadie’s first love rimmed the open area used for games and naps.
“I’m going to be fine, Aunt Sadie. In fact, I have a plan.”
“You do?” all three of her sisters said at once.
“Yes. I might be the baby of the family, but I’m twenty-four years old. An adult. Who can solve her own problems.”
Hannah’s sister Sadie set Dixon’s travel seat on a changing table and began to unfasten the belts that held him secure. “So, what are you going to do?”
“Well, instead of using the money Jake pays me to make my student loan payments—” Hannah began, but Sadie interrupted her.
“Oh, Hannah, I forgot to tell you. On Friday night when Caro mentioned your student loans, Troy told me to tell you to round up your information and he’ll pay them off for you.”
“He doesn’t have to…”
“He knows that. But he’s got more money than he’ll ever use and considers paying tuition and paying college loans as his part to help educate the country. He’s happy to do it. Besides,” Sadie said, laughing as she lifted Dixon out of the seat and gave him a smacking kiss. “If you don’t give him the information, he has ways of getting it. He intends to pay off your college loans. You’re not going to stop him.”
“You know I’d rather try to pay them off myself, but I really appreciate his offer,” Hannah said, realizing her sister was right. If Troy wanted to do this he would. Just as he had provided Aunt Sadie with financial security by giving her the day-care contract for the Sunbright Solutions employees he’d brought from California when he transferred his company to Wil-burn, and just as he was currently building a new facility to accommodate them, Troy appeared to want to give her a start in life too.
“That actually speeds up my plans.”
Caro took the baby from Sadie and nuzzled his neck. “What plans?”
“Jake’s not going to have Dixon forever. So, being his nanny isn’t a permanent job.”
“You can work here,” Aunt Sadie suggested.
Hannah smiled at her. “I know that, but I…”
“But you what?” Maria asked as she took Dixon from Caro.
“I want to leave town.”
All three of her sisters gaped at her. “What?”
“I need to leave town. Look at you guys,” she said, waving her hand in their direction. As comfortable in jeans and soft cotton blouses as they had been in evening gowns, her three sisters had shifted from being glamour girls to being mothers. Maria had her own children. Caro was helping Max raise his eighteen-month-old daughter Bethany. Sadie was mother to Troy’s twins from his first marriage. Hannah could see Max’s Bethany now, in the far corner of the playroom, being entertained by Troy’s two eight-year-old daughters. “I’m not anywhere near like you.”
Sadie gasped. “Of course, you are.”
“No. I’m not. I’ve never been away from home. I want to be away from home.”
Caro stared at her. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“And I agree with her,” Aunt Sadie said, taking Dixon from Maria who had just finished tickling his tummy. “I think if Hannah feels she needs to leave home, then now is the time.”
“Well, now isn’t exactly the time. I still need to get some money together. If Troy’s going to pay off my loans, I’ll save the money Jake pays me and in a few months I’ll have enough to move to whatever town I can find a job in.”
Aunt Sadie smiled. “I think that’s a great idea.”
Marie gave Hannah a concerned look.
Caro bestowed a confused expression.
Sadie Jr. crossed her arms on her chest and studied her.
“Forget about matchmaking me and Jake,” Hannah said, putting an end to this once and for all. “I wasn’t kidding when I said I thought he was too old for me.” Hannah lied because she knew darned well he was perfect for her, she just wasn’t perfect for him. If she admitted either of those things, her sisters wouldn’t stop with their matchmaking efforts. “And I really feel strongly about leaving town so I can get some life experience.”
Aunt Sadie said, “Good for you.” Then, after nuzzling Dixon’s cheek, she handed him to Caro again and left to check on the other children.
The second she was out of earshot, Maria grabbed Hannah’s forearm to get her attention. “I don’t mean to be the party pooper here, but I think your plan is all wrong.”
“Why?”
“Hannah,” Caro said, picking up where Maria left off. “You were the girl who didn’t even leave town to go to college.”
“That’s my point…”
Sadie spun Hannah away from Caro. “But you love it here! And Jake is obviously attracted to you. You can’t say you didn’t notice the way he was looking at you at his birthday party.”
“I didn’t notice.”
“Well, I did!” Maria said.
“So did I,” Caro seconded.
“And I already said I saw it,” Sadie said. “I think the guy is ready to settle down and I think that’s why he kept looking at you Friday night. You’re the kind of woman he could marry.”
“You’re thinking about leaving town because you want another teaching job,” Maria said, taking Dixon from Caro. “But next year when the new budget is passed or when a few of the older teachers retire, you could get your job back. Until then,” she said, placing a soft kiss on Dixon’s cheek, “what if your job is here? What if Dixon is the reason Jake is ready to settle down? What if he’s looking for someone to help him raise his son?”
Looking at adorable
