Page 18 of Architect's Christmas Nanny

“So would you want to make a lot of changes to the space?” Amanda asked as they crossed Park and headed down Columbia to the Co-op.

Reggie Webb was standing outside with a woman, undoubtedly talking her ear off. His eyebrows went up when he caught sight of Brad and Amanda.

Brad felt a pang of annoyance. Reggie loved to gossip. By the end of the day, the whole town would have Brad and Amanda picking out wedding china.

Would it be so bad to date someone? It’s been so long. And maybe it would help get my mind off Jillian…

“I know it’s a lot to think about,” Amanda said apologetically.

He realized that he hadn’t answered her question.

“Sorry,” he told her. “I was lost in thought there. I don’t think I’d want to make a lot of changes, no.”

“Well that’s great,” she said as they climbed the steps up to the Co-op Grocer’s. “The last person who looked at it wanted to put in a kitchen. Thankfully, Sloane talked me out of even looking into it. She said the space is bestfor a professional—not a big apartment or a take-out place.”

“I think she’s definitely right,” Brad told her. “The space is really nice to meet clients in, and for me to sit and draft too, with that big window.”

They stepped into the Co-op and Brad took in all the changes with appreciation. When he was a boy, it hadn’t been a big, bright space like this with a deli and seating and nearly anything a person might want to buy.

Sometimes change is a good thing.

They got in line at the deli counter and put in their orders. He got a War and Peace-strami bagel and Amanda asked for a One Fish, Tuna Fish salad.

“I still love the names,” Amanda said. “They’re so cheesy, but I don’t care.”

“Always makes me feel like I’m home,” Brad said with a smile.

They headed over to the seating area with their drinks to wait, and Brad couldn’t help noticing that Amanda chose a café table right in the front window.

I guess she’s not worried about the rumor mill either…

“So, what did you want to ask me about?” he asked when they were both seated.

Amanda leaned in, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

6

JILLIAN

Jillian walked down Park Avenue, soaking in the sights of the little town preparing for the holidays.

The Victorian dollhouse in the real estate office window was set on a bed of snow made from cotton batting. And the owner ofLocally Madewas setting Christmas mugs in the front display of the shop. Brad had explained once that most of the pottery in the shop was made with clay from a nearby river, and Jillian thought it was a neat idea that even the cup for your morning coffee could literally be a part of the town.

In the cute shopping bag she carried was a gift that she’d already picked up for Josie and was pretty happy about. Josie was at a tough age, where it was so easy for little kids toys to seem too babyish for her, or the things meant for teens too mature. Jillian had purchased a few smaller gifts in the city. And she had been on the fence about a few possibilities for a larger present, but as soon as she’d explained what she wanted to Lily over at the toy store, the woman had known instantly that a set ofbeautiful wooden blocks complete with turret pieces, bridges, and other details would be perfect for Josie. And Jillian agreed that any kid would love to build castles and villages, and the pieces in the set would be safe for the younger cousins she would be playing with now on the homestead.

With the gift sorted, Jillian just wanted to grab a few things from the grocery store before heading over to the café for coffee with Brad’s mom and her friends. Josie normally liked a snack of cheese and crackers with fruit after school, and Jillian wanted to make the cottage feel as much like home as possible for her right now.

“Hey there, how can I help you?” a young woman with a tag that saidLucyasked as she walked into the welcome warmth of the big shop.

“Oh, I’m just wanting cheese and crackers and fruit,” Jillian told her. “Nothing fancy. I think I’m okay on my own.”

“We have a new cheddar in from a local dairy farm that’samazing,” Lucy said happily. “They let the staff do a taste test, and we all ended up buying some to take home.”

“That sounds great,” Jillian said.

Lucy set off to the dairy aisle and Jillian followed, nearly bumping into the other woman when she stopped suddenly.

“Oh, my word,” Lucy whispered, her eyes on the tables at the front window.

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