Page 57 of Architect's Christmas Nanny

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JILLIAN

Jillian sat in the back of a taxi, her pulse pounding as the holiday lights went past her in a blur.

She had been on the way to the airport, her heart stretched taut like a rubber band between Josie and Brad and her own aching chest, when her phone began ringing.

The driver rolled his eyes when she asked him to turn around, but he did as she asked, loudly chewing his gum as he pulled a U-turn and headed back to Trinity Falls without complaint.

I’m doing the right thing,she told herself for the hundredth time as they pulled off Ambler Road and headed toward the little village.I can’t walk away when Josie needs me.

Honestly, she’d been sick about leaving without saying goodbye this morning. But knowing Brad didn’t want her there, and probably hadn’t wanted her following them home in the first place, had left her sleepless,and ultimately made her tuck her tail between her legs and run before the sun came up.

But the idea that Brad had donated those books by accident—well, it hurt her heart. And it reminded her of the hours she and Josie had spent bent over them, distracting the inconsolable little girl when her father was traveling for work. Those had been the times when they had bonded the most, and they made her feel the most ashamed that she had run.

Now that the sun was up, she could see her mistake. And she was glad there was time to try and set things right with Josie before she started her new life.

We’ll find the books somehow, she told herself.If nothing else, that’s something I can do.

It seemed to take forever, but finally the cab was stopping in front of the library.

“Thank you,” she told the driver breathlessly, handing him over two large bills, then grabbing her suitcase and scrambling out of the car.

“Sure, lady,” he called to her. “But don’t you need some change?”

“Keep it,” she yelled over her shoulder as she sprinted awkwardly for the doors with her suitcase. “Merry Christmas.”

She managed to fight her way into the lobby of the building, getting a few odd looks from the people chatting outside the borough office. But when she reached the door to the library, it opened before she even reached it. She looked up to see Brad holding it for her, an indescribable expression of surprise and gratitude on his face.

“Jillian,” he murmured.

“Look,” Josie whispered.

Jillian realized that the two of them were standing by the historical records shelves, gazing toward the front window. They looked like they were wearing…

“Are you in your pajamas?” she whispered.

“Look,” Josie whispered again, grabbing Jillian’s hand and putting a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture.

Jillian followed her gaze to see Caroline reading to a group of young children.

“Come on,” Josie whispered, tugging her hand and dragging her closer.

“So, the astronauts turned off their jet packs,”Caroline read aloud. “And headed home for peanut butter and banana sandwiches.”

That sounded familiar.

Really, really familiar.

Jillian looked more closely and saw that the book Caroline was reading was one of the sketchbooks she and Josie had used for writing their stories.

And she could see one of her simple drawings that Josie had colored in with a fresh set of crayons, back when she was maybe six or seven.

“It’s our book,”Josie whispered.“They’re reading our book.”

Jillian watched in total astonishment. The kids were laughing and clapping a little at the ending. Josie had always liked that ending too.

Caroline looked up at Jillian and winked before picking up a new book.

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