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Minerva’s heart went out to him. He acted and sounded so adult. His mother’s desertion had clearly robbed him of at least a portion of his childhood.
“We’ll do just fine on our own,” Lucy said. “You run along to school. And we’ll see you at two-thirty.”
As he and his father exited the kitchen, Minerva saw John glance back at her. There was worry and distrust in his eyes. “He seems to be afraid I’m some kind of monster,” she said in lowered tones to Lucy. “Did they have a nanny who was cruel to them?”
“No.” Lucy smiled. “He’s just a bit overly protective of his brother and sisters. How about if we get these three cleaned up, and then I’ll show you your room.”
Or maybe both she and Lucy were reading the boy wrong, Minerva mused. Maybe the worry and distrust had nothing to do with the triplets. Maybe he wanted his mother back and saw every new nanny as an interloper whose presence was a reminder that his mother wasn’t coming back.
Chapter Two
Minerva had never been so exhausted. Every muscle screamed at the thought of getting up out of the chair in the living room into which she’d collapsed after getting the triplets down for their afternoon rest. All morning she’d chased after them, played with them, soothed them and read to them. After lunch, she played with them some more, then everyone, including Lucy, had walked to the local elementary school where John attended kindergarten to meet him and walk him home.
Now he was playing within her view with his trucks on the wide slate area fronting the house. Seeing him glance toward the living-room window, she recalled how he’d hovered behind her the whole time she was putting the triplets down for their nap. It was clear to her now that the anxiousness she’d read on his face had been for his brother and sisters. His overt guardianship of them had begun when they’d met him at school.
“Did you have a good morning?” he’d asked them immediately.
They’d all giggled and nodded.
Certain she detected a sense of relief in him, Minerva again considered the possibility that one of the nannies had not been as kind to the children as the housekeeper had thought. Hoping to reassure him that she was to be trusted, she’d given him a friendly smile.
He had not returned her smile, letting her know she was still on trial.
Deciding that only time would convince the eldest of Judd Graham’s sons that she was safe to have around, Minerva forced her tired body out of the chair. This might be the only chance before dark that she would have to unload her car.
Still parked in front of the house, she decided to leave it where it was while she retrieved her things. That way she would be passing John constantly, thus allowing her to keep track of him. Several times today, the housekeeper had told her how responsible John was—“More like a little adult than a child” had been Lucy’s words. But Minerva didn’t want to take any chances. It was always possible that he might suddenly revert to childlike behavior and wander off.
Pausing beside him, she said, “I’m going to unpack my things. I’d like your word that you won’t go anywhere without telling me first.”
He looked up at her. “I won’t.”
She smiled her approval and continued to her car.
When she returned for a second load, she found him standing waiting for her. “Can I help?” he offered, brushing off his hands on his jeans to rid them of excess dirt.
The look on his face suggested he wasn’t certain he wanted her there but as long as she was, he would try to make the best of it. Or maybe he wanted to keep a closer eye on her. She was well aware that he seemed constantly to be covertly watching her. “Sure.”
He was too small to carry any of the boxes of books but there were some single miscellaneous items she hadn’t boxed. Picking up her desk lamp, she handed it to him. He waited until she’d picked up a box, then followed along behind.
“Where did you live before you came here?” he asked, setting the lamp on the desk in her room.
“At home with my father.”
“Where was your mother?”
She noted that he’d been quick to pick up her not mentioning her mother. “She died a long time ago.”
He merely nodded acknowledgment of her statement, showing no reaction.
Her own curiosity strong about her young charges, she asked, “Do you miss your mother?”
“No.” The word issued firmly. Then turning on his heels, he headed back to the car.
His mother’s desertion obviously hurt him so badly, he’s repressing it, Minerva reasoned. Pity for the child swept through her.
Following him to the car, she found him in the back seat, staring at her much-loved, much-worn teddy bear.
“You have a stuffed bear,” he said, looking at her as if to say he thought that was extremely childish of her.
“His name is Travis,” she replied, showing no reaction to his air of disapproval. “My grandmother gave him to me.”
“He looks old,” he noted.
“He is. I was just a year old when I got him.”
He regarded her with a patronizing frown. “Don’t you think you’re a little too old to be playing with stuffed animals?”
“I don’t play with him. I talk to him.”
His gaze narrowed as if he wasn’t quite certain she was sane. “You talk to him?”
“I tell him my problems and he listens and helps me figure out what to do.”
His expression became impatient. “He can’t help you figure out anything. He has stuffing for brains.”
Not wanting him to think she was truly a flake, she elaborated. “Well, he doesn’t talk back and that lets me work through my problem. I figure talking to a bear is better than taking to thin air.”
For a long moment, he considered this explanation, then nodded. “You’re right. You would look silly talking to nothing.” Obviously satisfied she wasn’t entirely loony, he picked up Travis and carried him into the house.
They were returning to her car when Judd Graham arrived home. Instead of pulling around her and continuing on to the garage area, he parked a little behind her.
Seeing his father, John’s face lit up with greeting. “Dad,” he yelled and ran to greet the man.
Minerva saw the answering greeting on Judd’s face. There was no doubt in her mind that this man truly loved his son. He lifted up the boy high above him. Then lowering him to give him a hug, he asked, “So how has the new nanny been working out?”
“She talks to a stuffed bear,” John replied.
Apparently her explanation hadn’t entirely appeased the boy, Minerva mused, feeling a flush of embarrassment building from her neck upward. Judd Graham, she guessed, was not the kind of man who would understand a grown woman’s attachment to her stuffed pal.
An uneasiness curled through Judd. Not wanting the boy to know he was concerned, he forced a hint of mischief into his voice. “Does she claim the bear talks back to her?”
The boy frowned at his father. “No, of course not. He’s stuffed.”
Judd breathed a mental sigh of relief. “Then it’s okay. It’s only if the bear talked back to her that we should worry.” But beneath his playfulness, he was beginning to have his doubts about Minerva Brodwick being the right person to help guide his children through their formative years.
Minerva could hardly believe her ears. She’d expected sarcasm from her employer or even being fired for being too immature.
John smiled back at his father with relief. Clearly, if her talking to a bear was okay with his father, then that made it all right with him. “I was helping her unpack.”
“We’ll both help.” Judd set the boy down and crossed the short distance to Minerva’s car. “What can I carry?”
“Anything that suits you,” she replied, quickly picking up a box and heading inside. She was now totally confused. Yes, Judd Graham had been intimidating when she’d first arrived. But just now he’d displayed tolerance and a sense of humor regarding her and her bear.
An uncomfortable prickling on the back of her neck caused her to glance over her shoulder. John was following a few feet behind her and Judd behind him. It was Judd’s gaze she had felt. With his son’s attention no longer on him, his expression had lost its softness and his eyes were cold.
She quickly turned her face forward. Now she understood. The only reason she was still here was that he was desperate. His show of good humor was merely for his son’s sake. He would, no doubt, be on the phone in the next few minutes calling Wanda and demanding she send someone more mature as soon as possible.
Father and son were close behind her when she entered her room.
As Judd set down the suitcase he was carrying, then straightened, his gaze came to rest on the worn bear on the bed. The more he thought about her talking to it, the more his doubts about her being mature enough to help raise his children grew stronger.
“His name is Travis,” John said, following his father’s line of vision.
Pride refused to allow Minerva to let Judd Graham continue to believe she was childish or even a little eccentric. With calm dignity, she leveled her gaze on him. “Some people silently think their way through their problems. I find I can sort mine out easier if I talk them out. But I’m a very private person. I find spilling my guts, so to speak, to other people difficult. And I feel ridiculous talking to thin air. Travis is perfect. He’s always available, he doesn’t interrupt, he doesn’t trivialise my concerns and he lets me work my way to a solution on my own.”
Judd had to admit that there was no hint of immaturity in Miss Brodwick’s manner. Even more, her explanation was reasonable. “I have spent time muttering at blueprints about changes the owners want made after the job is started,” he conceded.
Shrieks of “Daddy” coming from across the hall suddenly filled the air. The triplets had heard their father and decided that naptime was over. Hurrying into the hall, Minerva found the girls standing politely behind the safety gate confining them to their room while Henry was pushing on his, trying to break free.
“I’ll take care of them for now,” Judd said passing her and freeing Henry first. “You finish your unpacking.”
Minerva knew when she’d been given an order and she’d been given an order. She supposed she should be relieved that he said to unpack and not pack and get out, she thought dryly as she obeyed.
Carrying in the last load from her car, she wondered if Judd Graham came home early as a rule. She hoped not. His presence was a strain on her nerves. Passing by the girls’ room, she heard Lucy in there with him.
“Every time you called I told you that Minerva was doing just fine,” the housekeeper was saying in hushed tones. “There was no reason for you to come home early.”
“I wanted to see for myself,” he growled back. “I was in a rush and didn’t go over all the rules with her this morning.”
“Then I’d suggest you go over them with her now,” the housekeeper returned. “And then go into your study and work and quit glowering at her as if you expect her to sprout a second head or something.”
“She may have made it through the first day but she’s a stranger to us. I will not take chances with my children.”
“Both John and I are keeping an eye on her,” Lucy reminded him curtly.
Minerva ducked into her room before either saw her. She couldn’t fault Lucy or Judd for being cautious where the welfare of the children was concerned. And she found it rather heartwarming the way John protected his brother and sisters. Still, it was unnerving knowing she was constantly being watched. And Mr. Graham’s cold scrutiny was extremely irritating. She could easily understand why the three who hadn’t been fired had left so quickly of their own volition.
Her gaze traveled around her surroundings. Too bad, she thought, that she would be following in her predecessors’ footsteps. She liked the children, but she did not like their overbearing father. She would try to stick it out until Wanda found her another position, but not a moment longer.
Setting the last box on the floor, she wondered what the “rules” were that he hadn’t mentioned. Guess I’m going to find out, she thought, hearing footsteps behind her. Straightening and turning, she confirmed her suspicion as to who had entered her room.
Judd closed the door behind him. “We did not have an opportunity to go over all of the details of your employment this morning,” he said.
Suddenly her room seemed less than half its size. She wasn’t frightened, just extremely aware of the man in front of her... the width of his shoulders... the sturdiness of his build...his virility. It was a weird, unsettling reaction, like nothing she’d ever experienced before. Attributing it to her dislike of the man, she mentally shook it off and faced him.
“You will never strike or shake one of my children,” he said curtly.
“I had no intention of doing either,” she assured him.
“I’m glad to hear that.” His expression remaining terse, he continued, “When you do have to discipline one of them, you can have him or her sit quietly for a designated amount of time or you may take away a privilege for a designated amount of time. If neither of those methods work, you will speak to me and I will handle the situation.”
“Yes, of course.” The suspicion that one of the nannies had mistreated the children again loomed strong in her mind. Sympathy for them swept through her. She even found herself willing to forgive Judd Graham’s harshness.
“As I told you before, you will have Sundays off,” Judd said, again drawing her mind back to their immediate conversation. “I will, however, attempt to be flexible on this point.”
“Flexible” was not a word she would have associated with him, Minerva thought dryly, then returned to concentrating on what he was saying.
“If you need other time off, it will have to be arranged in advance. I assume you were informed that I run my own business.” Judd paused for an answer.
“Yes.”
“Because of that, my hours are uncertain. There will be times when I will have to work on Saturdays and late into the night on weekdays. When I am at home, I make it a rule to devote time to my children. However, when I am not with them, they will be your responsibility.”
“I understood that,” she confirmed.
He acknowledged her words with a nod. “As for boyfriends, I do not expect you to bring them to my house without my permission and there will no sleep-overs.”
Her eyes rounded with indignation. “I am not that kind of woman.”
Judd’s gaze raked over her. She did look like the oldfashioned type and her indignation appeared genuine. That he would not find himself breaking up embarrassingly intimate clinches was a relief. “Good.”
He’d accepted her at her word. She should be pleased and she was. Still, there was a tiny sting. Recalling the many times her father had pointed out that she was no beauty, she was certain Judd Graham simply assumed she was too plain to attract men’s lusty attention. Ninety-nine percent of the time he’d be right and the remaining one percent had never stirred her beyond a flicker of an ember.
“And now that that’s settled, I’d better relieve Lucy from watching the children so that she can get back to her kitchen.” Striding out of the room, he closed the door behind him.
Minerva scowled at the vacant spot where he had stood and wondered how long she could endure Mr. Graham’s cool, brusque and impersonal manner. He’d shown no concern that she might suddenly decide he was too strict or the job was too tough and leave. Clearly things had to be his way with no compromise.
Her gaze shifted to the phone on her bedside table. Wanda had said to call.
As soon as Minerva identified herself, Wanda said cheerfully, “I’ll take this as a good sign. The others all called within an hour of their first encounter with Mr. Graham.”
“This is simply my first opportunity,” Minerva returned. “Tell me that you are trying very hard to find me a different position.”
“Of course. Didn’t I promise I would? And I am a woman of my word.” Wanda paused, then a plea entered her voice. “But promise me that you’ll stay there until I do. Honestly, people who know the man tell me that he can be quite nice and actually charming once you get to know him. He’s just a little overprotective where his children are concerned.”
“Nice” and “charming” were another two words Minerva found hard to equate with Judd Graham. “As long as I have your word that you are looking for a different job for me, I’ll stay. But please don’t take forever.”
“I promise, I’ll find something soon,” Wanda assured her.
Hanging up, Minerva wasn’t so certain Wanda would keep her word. The woman was clearly desperate for someone to fill this position. Picking up Travis, she held him out in front of her. “I like the children and the pay is good,” she informed her teddy bear. “I should be able to save quite a bit fairly quickly... before I get fired or I can no longer endure Mr. Judd Graham.”
Then setting Travis aside, she decided to only unpack the essentials. The rest of her stuff she would leave boxed for a quick departure.
Chapter Three
Dinner, like breakfast and lunch, was eaten at the table in the huge kitchen. And, like the other meals, it was a lively affair. John’s manners were quite good, but the young triplets required attention. In spite of Judd Graham’s presence, Minerva enjoyed being there in the midst of the activity. It was a great deal more interesting than the silent meals spent with her father.
About halfway through the meal, she was reminded of something she had noticed during the morning. Henry babbled a mouthful of unrecognizable sounds and the two girls laughed. Continuing to politely ignore Judd, she said to Lucy, “I would swear that the girls understood what Henry was saying. It’s as if the three of them have a language all their own.”
