Page 24 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
There were so many stories around nowadays about guys hitting on older women, but her fears faded completely when her mom and dad both sang his praises and told her how hard he worked and how thankful they were that he was in Angie’s life, helping to take care of her.
She stopped worrying after that and time moved on. Still… not yet having met the guy, and wanting to be safe, she’d had her aunt send a photo. From the image she’d received, she needed to keep her face straight and not let her sympathy show.
The poor man had a terrible skin condition, was bald and quite overweight, with bulging eyes that protruded like she’d remembered noticing on an old Pekingese dog.
But he was willing to help. They’d talked over the phone, and he’d been full of information about packing and getting herself coordinated. Now he was arriving to drive her and Maisie to Maricopa to move in with her aunt.
Taking a breath, arranging her features into a pleasant smile, she swung open the door and felt her mouth drop and her eyes widen.
Oh my God! Angie, you’re such a devil.
The man leaning in the doorway was a gorgeous male specimen with bulging muscles, tawny golden hair worn in thick waves all over his head and elongated eyes flashing with blue streaks of merriment. “Mia Sloan? I’m Jack Markham. You look surprised. Angie said she’d sent you my photo, so you’d recognize me. Can’t be too careful nowadays.”
“She did, but you’ve drastically changed.” Laughing at her aunt’s idea of a joke, Mia motioned for him to step inside.
“You’ll have to show me which image she sent. While I was building her fountain, she’d just bought a new phone and was flashing photos by the thousands. I have no doubt she caught me in a few of those pictures. So, are you all packed and ready to move?”
“Not quite. The rental moving van is almost full and parked in the lot behind the building. But I kept Maisie’s play area here because she was getting into everything. I hoped you wouldn’t mind helping me disassemble it and take it downstairs. Other than that, there’s the mattress we slept on last night, plus a few dishes and incidentals we needed. My friends helped me load the rest yesterday.” If the truth were known, most did more visiting and partying than helping.
“Ahh… an organized person. Wonderful. You wouldn’t believe how some people deal with moves. We do a lot of renos all over the area and so often when we tell the customer they have to clear the space they want modernized; we arrive to find them in a huge mess.”
Mia felt a large mass in her throat and a wave of fear swept over her. She’d meant to get herself up early today and gather the rest of her stuff together, but Maisie had sensed disorder and became unbearably naughty, crying and whining, in constant need of attention.
Last night, sleeping with her on the mattress, Maisie had decided it was play time and wouldn’t settle down.
Finally, after Mia tried to force the issue, a long crying jag followed where the crafty little beggar asked for Jassie and that, of course, ended Mia’s control.
Dealing with these antics for attention, Mia had given up trying to get anything done and had just cuddled the child until exhaustion kicked in and they both dropped off.
Of course, this morning hadn’t been much better. As hard as it was on an adult to move, the stress on a child was equally brutal. Again, Maisie became distraught and unbearably naughty, unlike her usual cheery attitude toward life. Always happy, a smiler who greeted the day with joy, seeing her so miserable broke Mia’s heart, and she just didn’t have it in her to discipline the naughty toddler.
Now she had to face the results. Jack Markham would not be impressed.
“Maybe it would be better if you came back after lunch. I do have a few more things to finish. Yes, that’s a great idea. Maybe around one p.m. Then we can drive to Maricopa and be there early evening in time for me to still visit my aunt. The drive only takes around six and a half hours, right?”
She stood with her fingers in a prayer position held in front of her lips, a habit she had when she forced tears to stop and her throat muscles to work.
At first, Jack looked stunned at her quick turnaround, but the sudden loud screeches from the kitchen clued him in to the problem. “Are you having trouble getting anything done with the baby underfoot?”
Mia looked towards the room where Maisie was performing and nodded. “She’s been that way since we got the news about Jassie. And, it’s gotten worse once I started disassembling her world. She doesn’t understand what’s happening. She’s afraid.”
Jack bent down so he could look into Mia’s eyes. “Honey, I’m pretty sure it’s you who’s upset and afraid. She’s just picking up your vibes. Look, why don’t you get her ready, and I’ll take her to the playground I noticed around the corner? She can get some fresh air, and you can do what needs to be done here.”
The tone in his gentle voice worked magic, as did his welcoming words.
“You’d be an angel to take her for an hour, but I don’t know if she’ll let you. She never used to be afraid of strangers, but these last few weeks have been traumatic for both of us.”
“Don’t worry yourself; I have a way with most females. She’ll be fine.”
I just bet you do! The words popped into Mia’s head, so she bent over to pick up a piece of wrapping paper that had dropped during one of her packing bouts and made sure he didn’t see the mocking expression she wore.
“Okay, then. If she’ll go with you, having space to finish here would be a Godsend. I can do wonders in an hour.”
“Why don’t you take two? I’ll keep her amused at the park, then take her for lunch after she gets tired of playing. We’ll be fine. We’ll even go for a walk and tire her out, so she’ll sleep on the drive back to Maricopa.”
Blinking back the waterfall that had been constant lately, Mia clapped her hands softly. “See, my aunt was totally joking about you. You’re not at all a spoiled handyman who needs to be kept in line.”
Grinning, Jack shook his head. “Angie said that?”
