Page 43 of Architect's Christmas Nanny

“What is it?” Jillian whispered worriedly.

“Come look,” Brad whispered back, turning back to pat the dog. “It’s okay, boy.”

“Oh, wow,” Jillian murmured, moving closer. “They’re beautiful.”

“Dad?” Josie asked sleepily from the top of the steps. “Jillian?”

“Come on down, Junebug,” Brad told her. “There are deer on the lawn. I guess Moose isn’t used to that.”

“Whoa,” Josie said, scampering down the steps a little faster than Brad would have liked.

She joined him, kneeling on the sofa to look out into the yard, an expression of wonder on her sweet face.

This is why we’re moving here,he reminded himself.We need more of these moments.

He couldn’t help glancing over Josie’s head to where Jillian still stood by the window. Her eyes were on Josie, and she gazed at his daughter with the same joyful wonder Josie wore as she looked out at the deer.

She might actually stay here with us if I asked her to.

But would she stay because she wants to stay, or just because I asked?

14

JILLIAN

Jillian climbed the steps of the Trinity Falls Community Center the next morning, with Josie in tow.

The sky was bright and clear, but still cold enough that their breath puffed out in front of them.

“Are you sure this is the right place?” Josie asked.

“I think so,” Jillian told her. “Why?”

“Did they carry the books up all the steps already?” Josie asked.

“I guess they did,” Jillian said, uncertain why Josie would be worried about that.

When they reached the top, she opened the door, releasing a burst of warmth.

“Oh, it feels good in here,” she said, ushering Josie in and closing the door behind her.

She turned back to take in the large, bright space and immediately understood why Josie had asked about the books.

Jillian had expected to find a table with two or three boxes of books on it, and a couple of ladies sipping coffee and gossiping as they sorted them.

Instead, they were in a massive space with a high ceiling and huge windows on both side walls with views over the community college fields on one side and the church on the other. A dozen or so folding tables had been set up in the light-filled space, and each had a huge stack of book boxes beside it. Volunteers chatted happily while pouring themselves coffees from an urn that was set up on one end of the big space.

“Welcome, welcome,” Brad’s mom called out to them as she hurried over, flinging her arms out for a hug.

“Grandma,” Josie said happily, letting herself be swept up into a big embrace.

“I can’t wait to introduce you two to everyone,” Annabelle said when Josie stepped back. “I get to tell themmy granddaughteris volunteering this year. And Jillian, we are truly grateful for your help. It’s so kind of you to come here and roll up your sleeves.”

She wrapped an arm around Jillian and gave her a big smile and a little squeeze.

It would be so nice to be part of this family.

But that was just wishful thinking, and she knew it.

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