neatly trimmed to his nape. Nor had she mentioned that his eyes were as blue as a cloudless cerulean sky on a crisp October afternoon. Gray streaks of hair glistened above his ears, and his smooth, fair skin was marred only by a deep dimple on his right cheek. The only flaw Alice found in Mark’s appearance was that he was much too thin for such a tall man.
“Did Betty explain our family situation?” Mark asked in a deep and pleasant voice.
“Just the basics—she didn’t give me many details,” Alice said somewhat breathlessly, wishing for a few moments to recover from the shattering blow her heart had suffered. What was there about this man that affected her so strongly? If she came to work here, she couldn’t have her emotions stirred this way.
“My wife, Clarice, died six months ago, leaving me with two children. You met Kristin just now, and Eddie, my five-year-old, is a sickly child. I need someone to care for them while I work. I’ve tried two daytime nannies, but it hasn’t been satisfactory. I’m sometimes late getting home, and often the nanny would be gone several hours, leaving the children without any supervision. Although we’re crowded for space, I asked Betty to recommend a live-in nanny.”
“Don’t you have an older woman living here?”
“Yes—my wife’s grandmother, Gran Watson. Clarice was her nearest relative, and she came to live with us three years ago after she had a stroke that partially paralyzed her. The children need more supervision than she’s able to provide.”
While Mark gave a few more details about his family, Alice recalled what Betty had said about his affairs.
“Mark Tanner,” Betty had said, “has had enough trouble to ruin any man. His son was born with a congenital heart defect, that required a series of expensive operations. Over two years ago, his wife was diagnosed with uterine cancer, and she died in December after a downhill battle all the way. He’s a brilliant man and served as pastor of our church for ten years, but he resigned about a year ago because he couldn’t fulfill his obligations to the church while he looked after his children and nursed his wife. He’d built up a good retirement fund in our church organization, and when he resigned, he withdrew the capital to take care of his living expenses. By the time Clarice died, he was on the verge of financial ruin—he still owed on his son’s medical bills, Clarice’s health needs had been expensive, and when he tried to pay those bills, his other obligations fell behind. After her death, he went to work in a bank, and so far he’s kept his home, but I’ve heard he may lose it. You might be his last hope.”
“That’s preposterous. I’m not a magician. How could I make such a difference?”
“You can take care of his children and make a home for him. If he doesn’t have to worry about the daily care of his children, he can devote more time to his work.”
No wonder he looks tired, Alice thought, but she wished that Betty hadn’t placed such a guilt trip on her. If she didn’t come to work for him, and Mark lost his long fight to remain solvent, would she always blame herself? But her reaction to Mark’s magnetic personality was an immediate red flag, for she was sure a good nanny shouldn’t be personally involved with any member of the household.
“Perhaps you should tell me about yourself, Mrs. Larkin,” Mark said, with a smile that caused her heart to move in a way she hadn’t experienced before. “Where is your home? Do you live in Richmond?”
“No, I’ve lived in Alexandria since my marriage ten years ago. I’m a native Virginian—I was born in Spotsylvania County.”
He smiled again, and the dimple deepened. “I guessed that from your soft accent. How much experience have you had as a nanny?”
Alice laughed lightly. “None! Although I haven’t worked as a nanny, I’m not a novice where children are concerned. I taught for three years in a kindergarten before I married. And prior to his death, I spent several years caring for my ailing husband, so I know quite a lot about children and illness, which seem to be the qualities you need in a nanny.”
“How long have you been a widow?”
“My husband died over a year ago as the result of a rare liver ailment. I’ve thought of teaching again, but while I was here in Richmond visiting Betty, whom I’ve known since my college days, she suggested that I might enjoy being a nanny.”
Actually, Betty’s appraisal had been a bit more blunt.
“You’ll go nuts if you don’t get out of that house and start living. Even if you do have all the money you’ll ever need, you should go to work. John Larkin was a fine man, and although I still can’t imagine why you married a man so much older than you, you’ve done all you can do for him. You need a life of your own.”
“And what do you have in mind?” Alice had answered, with only a hint of pique. She had learned long ago that Betty’s blunt manner hid a heart filled with concern for others.
“I have a client who needs immediate help,” Betty said, “and I’ve checked all my applicants without finding the right person. Let me tell you about Mark Tanner,” Betty said, and her comments had spawned Alice’s interest in the Tanners.
Mark smiled encouragingly, and Alice continued, “Perhaps you should tell me what you expect from a nanny.”
“I suppose it boils down to the fact that I just need a housekeeper.” He waved his hand around the room. “The whole house is a mess, mostly because there’s no organization.” He threaded his thick hair with long, shapely fingers. “There’s no way I can work full-time, be a parent, and take care of this house and property. I’m sure the neighbors are ashamed of the lawn, although they’ve been kind enough not to say so, but I can’t afford to hire a gardener, and I don’t have the time. School closes next week for the summer, and I must have someone to supervise the children. I need so much that I hardly know where to begin. Why don’t you tell me what you’re willing to do?”
Instinctively, Alice wanted to rush to Mark, put her arms around him and tell him that she’d shoulder his whole burden. Careful, Alice! She told herself.
“Mr. Tanner, I believe it’s customary for a nanny to work five days a week and have the weekends free, which might be a satisfactory arrangement for you. Also, Betty says that you and I should agree on my workload, benefits, and salary. Right now, however, I don’t know what any of that should be.”
“I don’t mean to complain because I’ve been in tight spots before and have always managed, but right now, I’m having trouble making ends meet. However, that won’t make any difference in our financial arrangements, for the children are my major priority, and I want to provide the best care possible for them. Betty seems to think that’s you.”
Alice lowered her eyes from his warm gaze and fiddled with the purse in her lap.
“Perhaps I could come to work on a trial basis? I suggest that I come for a month at a nominal salary. I’ll take care of the cooking, housekeeping, and child care. During that time, you can see how I fit in with your family, and I can determine what needs to be done. At the end of the month, we can evaluate the situation—if you’ve found my work satisfactory and I’m contented, then we can talk about contract terms.”
“That sounds like a one-sided agreement, Mrs. Larkin—all in my favor.”
“Perhaps not,” Alice said, with her slow smile. “I may be a lousy cook, for all you know.”
The
