Page 4 of Lee

“Of course. I’m not independently wealthy,” Rori said, then it dawned on her. “Oh, you mean because my mom married into this?”

As Rori waved her hand at the house in general, Essie looked uncomfortable, but still gave a nod.

“My mom hasn’t given me a penny since I turned eighteen.” And for some time before that as well, but Rori didn’t add that. “That wouldn’t change even if I moved here.”

“I’m sorry,” Essie said, her head bent as she spread blueberry cream cheese on the blueberry bagel she’d just pulled out of the toaster.

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Rori told her. “That might be a valid assumption for the rest of my mom’s kids, however.”

“Your mom’s kids?” Essie set the plate with the bagel on it in front of Rori. “Not your siblings?”

Rori realized that perhaps she shouldn’t spill family information in case her mom didn’t want her “hired help” to be in the know. “They’re my half-siblings, and we’re not close.”

“Families can be complicated.”

That was certainly an understatement as far as Rori was concerned, though she’d long ago accepted that her family would never be a place where she felt welcomed and accepted. She didn’t doubt that had any of her other four half-siblings been available to cat-sit, she wouldn’t be there chatting with Essie.

Rori was in no rush to leave the kitchen, and thankfully, Essie didn’t seem to mind the company. As she put together ingredients in a crock pot, the older woman answered Rori’s questions about the area.

The more Essie spoke, the more Rori thought that maybe she’d enjoy living there.

She’d always lived in a big city—well, just one big city—seeking out nature in the parks within walking distance of her small apartment in the basement of an elderly couple’s home. Serenity, on the other hand, seemed to be surrounded by amazing natural beauty, though Rori hadn’t yet taken the opportunity to wander out in it beyond the expansive backyard of the mansion.

“What sort of job would you be interested in?” Essie asked as she refilled Rori’s coffee.

After she thanked her, Rori said, “Office work would be my first choice. I worked as a receptionist at a dental office for the past few years, so that’s what I have the most experience doing. But I’ve also stocked shelves and worked as a cashier. I think I could pick up other jobs fairly quickly, provided there was no specific skill required. It just needs to have enough hours to support me.”

“If you’re serious about this, I can put out some feelers.”

Rori took a moment to consider how she was feeling. She’d never thought she was an impulsive person, but the fact that she was actually thinking about uprooting her life said otherwise.

“I’d need to find a place to live, too.”

“There is a good price range for housing around here, and we don’t have a really bad part of town that you’d want to avoid.”

Rori took a sip of her coffee. “I’m so tempted, especially since I’m between jobs and my housing situation in Denver could be easily resolved.”

Essie smiled, her hazel gaze softening. “Well, I’ll be praying that you’ll know what to do.”

The woman’s words reminded Rori of the dentist she’d worked for. It had been a family business. A Christian family business. The dentist and his wife—who was the office manager—were open about what they believed, and they’d invited Rori to church many times. However, she’d only gone with them on a few occasions.

Knowing that Essie shared a faith with people she’d been close to and who had treated her well endeared the woman to Rori even further.

“Thank you. I appreciate that.”

“Well, I’d best get to my vacuuming,” Essie said. “Lunch will be at twelve-thirty.”

“Is there anywhere around here that I can walk?”

“Sure. Paved lanes run around the property, and there are some hiking trails through the woods as well.”

“And I won’t be in anyone’s way?”

“Not as long as you don’t go into any of the fenced off areas without someone with you.”

“Okay. I think I might go for a bit of a walk later.”

“It’s a good day for it. Cloudy, but not raining.”

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