Truly, Madly, Deeply

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The ringing of the front doorbell sounded above the children’s breakfast clatter.

“This appears to be our morning for early callers,” Lucy said, already pushing her chair back. “I’ll get it.” Taking the long way around the table, she paused beside Minerva’s chair and gave Minerva’s shoulders a squeeze. “I’m glad you’re staying, too,” she said, then hurried on her way as the bell rang again.

Calm was reigning at the table when Lucy returned. “You have a visitor, Minerva,” she announced.

Looking past the housekeeper, Minerva was surprised to see her father following Lucy into the kitchen.

“Thought I would stop by on my way to work and see how your new job is coming along,” Peter said.

Judd rose and extended his hand to the newcomer. “Judd Graham,” he introduced himself.

“Peter Brodwick,” Minerva’s father returned, accepting the handshake.

Judd made a quick introduction of the children and Lucy, then offered Peter a cup of coffee.

“No, thanks,” Peter said in refusal. “I just came by to check on my daughter. Looks like she’s got her hands full.”

“She’s managing very well,” Judd assured him.

Minerva recognized the polite mask on her father’s face. Beneath it, she knew he was finding fault with everything he saw.

“I was wondering if it would be possible for me to speak to Minerva privately,” Peter requested.

Realizing that she had not missed her father... that she had been enjoying life without his constantly finding fault with her or trying to manipulate her into doing his bidding, she had no desire to talk privately with him. “I’m really very busy,” she protested.

Clearly not wanting her to feel she could not take a few minutes out of her duties for her family, Judd said, “Lucy and I will take over for a while.”

Knowing it would look impolite and possibly raise questions if she refused, Minerva thanked him and led her father back through the house to the living room. Once there, she braced herself. “So to what do I owe this visit?”

“Honey, I love you. And as your father, I felt I should check up on you and make certain you were okay.”

His voice was soft, warm and fatherly. How many times had she allowed herself to believe he really cared for her when he’d talked to her that way only to have him undermine some plan she’d made for her future that didn’t serve him? “I’m doing very well, thank you,” she assured him.

“Looks to me like they’re working you ragged.” He placed an arm around her shoulders. “I just want you to know that you’re welcome to come home anytime you want.”

She worked her way free. “I’m really very happy here.”

“You’re still angry with me for marrying Julianna.” He sighed. “Your mother’s been gone a long time. Surely you didn’t want me to spend the rest of my life mourning her.”

“I am not angry with you for marrying Julianna. In fact, I’m pleased. Now I can have a life of my own.”

He frowned patronizingly. “I wouldn’t call this much of a life.”

“It suits me,” she replied curtly.

He patted her on the shoulder. “I didn’t come here to make you angry.”

Minerva smiled dryly. She knew this ploy. When she was much younger, he’d used it often. He’d provoke her into losing her temper then suggest that she was too immature to do whatever she’d been planning to do, thus providing him with an excuse to refuse to allow her to proceed and in many cases weakening her selfconfidence. “I’m not angry. But I am busy.”

His fatherly, coaxing smile returned. “Then I won’t keep you from your charges. I just wanted to let you know that both Julianna and I will welcome you home anytime you get tired of nursemaiding someone else’s children.”

The unspoken insinuation that she should be concentrating on looking for a husband so that she could have a family of her own almost caused her to laugh. How many times had he subtly let her know that he expected her to die an old maid? “I appreciate the offer but it won’t be necessary.” As she spoke, she led him toward the front door.

“Just remember our home is your home, too,” he said, dropping a light kiss on her cheek before exiting.

Watching his departing back, Minerva knew she would never take him up on that offer. She could finally call her life her own and she liked it.

“Is there a problem at home? Do you need some time off today?” Judd Graham’s voice broke into her thoughts.

“No.” She turned to find him standing a few feet behind her. “No problem.”

“Your father seemed a little on edge.”

“His eggs probably weren’t done to his liking this morning,” she replied, wondering if he’d had to cook them himself or if Julianna had succumbed to his wishes and was getting up to fix his breakfast.

“Sounds like a very demanding man.”

“Living with him made adjusting to you a cinch.” Minerva flushed when she realized what she’d said.

Judd raised an eyebrow as if to say he felt he’d been unfairly maligned. John had joined his father and was regarding her questioningly as if he didn’t understand her complaint.

Minerva was feeling empowered. She’d faced her father and had not been tempted to give in to his manipulations. Admittedly Judd Graham was more intimidating than Peter Brodwick but he, too, was just a man. Her shoulders squared as, after two weeks of keeping silent about their scrutiny, she prepared to speak her mind. “It hasn’t been easy having you and John both constantly watching me. I feel as if I should have a permanent burn scar in the middle of my shoulder blades.”

Judd reached down and placed a hand on the shoulder of his eldest son. “I suppose we are a bit overly protective. But I won’t apologize for that.”

Minerva noted that the set of both of their jaws was identical. John was definitely a miniature of his father. “I don’t expect you to. I was merely pointing out that it was because I lived so many years under my father’s critical gaze that I could handle the two of you. However, I suspect your watchfulness was one of the reasons you haven’t been able to keep a nanny for any length of time.”

“A couple did mention that our hovering got on their nerves,” Judd conceded.

Surprised by this admission, Minerva’s gaze levelled on him. There was a sheepishness about his expression that softened his usually hard featured face. At that moment, he looked rather appealing. And for the second time this morning, he stirred a warmth within her.

“We’re going to be late,” John reminded him.

The sheepishness disappeared and Judd Graham was once again her cool, authoritarian boss. “If you’re certain you don’t need some time off, John and I’ll be on our way.”

“I’m certain I don’t need any time off,” she reconfirmed, shaken by these new reactions to the man. Relieved that he was leaving, she smiled down at John. “Have a good day and I’ll see you at...” The sentence died on her lips as she squatted down for a closer look at the area behind his ears and down onto his neck. Half a dozen red splotches with small white heads in the center had emerged. “Looks like chicken pox,” she announced.

“Chicken pox,” both males echoed in unison.

“Chicken pox,” Minerva repeated. “I taught at a preschool before I took this job. I’ve seen them before.” She looked worriedly at Judd. “I had them as a kid so I’m immune. Please tell me you did too. They’re uncomfortable when you’re a child but they’re really dangerous if you get them as an adult.”

“I had them,” Judd assured her.

Minerva breathed a sigh of relief. “If you’ll put John to bed, I’ll go check with Lucy and make sure she’s had them, then I’ll call your pediatrician.”

Judd nodded and headed down the hall with John.

In the kitchen, again to her relief, Minerva discovered that Lucy had not only had the chicken pox but had nursed her children through them.

A short while later, John was back in bed. Judd was on his way to the drugstore to pick up the antihistamine and calamine lotion that the doctor had prescribed to help alleviate the itching that was bound to begin soon, and more children’s strength acetaminophen for the fever.

The triplets had been ordered to leave John alone...an order that only made them want to hang around him more.

“Shouldn’t we let them be exposed so they’ll get it and get it over with?” Lucy asked, when Minerva shooed the triplets out of the room and closed the gate.

“They’ve already been exposed. A lot will only cause their cases to be worse.” Minerva repeated what one of the mothers had told her that her doctor had told her.

Lucy didn’t look convinced.

“And I’m sure they’ll get plenty more exposure,” Minerva continued, noting the way all three were remaining at the closed gate, staring in at their brother.

Judd arrived back at the house about half an hour later. Going in to see John, he frowned anxiously. “I have to go out to one of my sites for a short while. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Minerva, who had followed him in to give John a dose of the antihistamine, smiled reassuringly. “He’ll be just fine. I’ll give him some acetaminophen for his fever and he should sleep for a while.”

Both looked at her and she read the uncertainty in their eyes. “You two are the most distrusting men I’ve ever known,” she grumbled. Her gaze flashed between the two of them. “I may not have actually taken care of a child with the chicken pox but I know what to do.” Her attention turned fully on Judd. “You had the doctor give me specific instructions and Lucy has nursed her two children through them. If I have any questions, I’ll ask her.”

Still not looking totally convinced, Judd waited until his son closed his eyes, then bid him goodbye, again promising to return as soon as possible.