“Let’s not be hasty. Frankly, not only is Louisa the best person for this job, but she’s the only person remotely qualified. We’d have to advertise across the province to find someone else, and let’s be reasonable. How many applicants would we get for a two-month job that’s only four hours a day?”
“Probably lots of unemployed teachers looking for work,” Emmet muttered.
“I expect that’s so. But I would think you’d want references. All that takes time.” Adele let her comments hang in the air. “Emmet, what do you want for Ellie?”
“That’s easy. I want her to be happy.”
“Right. Is she happy with things the way they are?”
“I suppose not. She’s restless, wishing she didn’t have to be confined to bed in a body cast.”
“So perhaps school lessons might prove a welcome distraction?”
“I had hoped so.”
“Good.” She turned to Louisa. “What do you want here?”
“To do the job I was hired to do. To help Ellie keep up.”
“Why?”
Adele’s question opened a whole vista of truth to Louisa. It was more than the money. She’d always felt a spectator on life. Never very useful. This was her chance to prove to her mother and sisters…and herself…that she could do something, make a difference. “I believe I can do this. I can help Ellie. I want to because I know how difficult it is to fall behind your classmates, to struggle to catch up and keep up. And because I firmly believe learning can and should be fun.”
Adele’s eyes gleamed with pleasure at Louisa’s confession. “Mr. Hamilton, do you have any objections to Louisa’s goals for your daughter?”
Louisa and Emmet studied each other. Wary adversaries? Or something more? Something that went beyond teaching, beyond Ellie’s needs. She sensed in him a deep hurt that echoed her own. Of course he had pain—he’d lost his wife, and before that his parents, and now his child was injured. Perhaps by helping Ellie, she could help him. Ease some of his concerns. She’d told God she would serve Him in whatever job He provided. This was a job. Nothing more.
But she could not deny she hadn’t expected a job to dig deep into her heart and open up longings she knew she must deny. Somewhere in the past two days, despite Ellie’s cantankerous ways, Louisa had crossed a line. She’d begun to care about the Hamiltons. She wanted to help Ellie because she cared. She wanted to help Ellie because it mattered to her that Emmet, although he loved his daughter deeply, was allowing her to rule his life.
Adele broke into her thoughts, still addressing Emmet. “Do these goals contradict yours in any way?”
“I suppose not.” His gaze held Louisa’s, searching for what, she did not know. But she let him probe deep past the surface of their words and association until she felt as if his thoughts had reached deep into hers, found an anchor pin and secured a hook to it.
“Perhaps there is another way to address the problem. A compromise?”
Louisa forced her gaze toward Adele. Would it include her keeping the job? She darted a glance at Emmet. Did he look even vaguely interested?
He caught her looking and shrugged. “What do we have to lose?”
She turned back to Adele. “What do you suggest?”
“I think you two should become partners in this venture.”
“Partners?” Louisa and Emmet echoed the word in unison. How could they possibly work together? Even being here and discussing Ellie’s need had opened a window in Louisa’s heart, revealed a hunger she must deny. She looked it squarely in the face. Yes, she longed to earn the love of a man such as Emmet—strong, committed, loving—but her barrenness made it impossible. Even if he knew…even if he said it didn’t matter. It would be unfair to burden a man with the same limitations she must accept.
Her best plan would be to avoid him as much as possible. Whatever Adele meant by partnership, Louisa hoped it meant a simple shake of hands in shared concern.
Adele took their silence for agreement. “I think Ellie is feeling you two are in opposition. Either it threatens her, or she’s taking advantage of it. Perhaps even both. I think by presenting a unified front, she will realize she has no alternative but to do the assigned work. She’ll soon learn that lesson time can be fun and help her pass the long days. I have laid out the lesson plans and will continue to do so. I suggest the two of you work out how to deliver them. You’re welcome to use any of the material I have.” She waved a hand to indicate the books and objects in the shelves around the room.
Work together. Plan together. Louisa choked back a protest. How was she to stay professional when every time she turned around, she encountered feelings that were decidedly not professional? And now to consider spending more time in his presence…how was she ever going to keep her feelings locked away?
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