Page 99 of Bringing Emma Home

He grimaced as he leaned forward resting his elbows on his thighs. “Lisa’s not going to be here much longer.”

“Why?” Grace asked, curious as to why the nanny would be leaving before Aidan had everything in place. But maybe he had found a pediatrician and a dentist and all the other things Emma would need to be healthy and happy. Maybe the kindergarten was the last piece. Her feelings of being outside the circle saddened her. She wanted to be part of that, part of putting Emma’s life together here in her home.

The urge surprised her a little. Yes, she’d wanted to be involved, but her motivation now had less to do with her role in her marriage and more to do with wanting what was best for Emma.

“Lisa has a job near where her mother lives. I hate to let her go, but feel I have no choice. It’s been difficult even with her here—I have no clue how I’ll manage when she’s gone.”

“And there is a problem over the kindergarten?”

“More like several problems. No kindergarten arranged yet. I haven’t been able to spend the time to get Emma settled the way I’d planned, what with work commitments. Worst of all, I have to tell Emma that Lisa is leaving. I don’t know how to do it, and I’m afraid that she will be so unhappy without Lisa…”

He needed her support, her understanding. Forgetting her own concerns, she said, “Emma will be upset. You can’t avoid that. She’s a strong little girl, but to be losing the one person who has been with her, who was there from the beginning, will be very painful.”

“Lisa and I are going to talk to her about all this tomorrow morning. I’m worried about her reaction. Lisa is upset over leaving Emma but feels that she has to take this job offer. I don’t know what I’ll do if Emma becomes inconsolable.”

“That’s awful,” Grace said, imagining how hard it might be for Emma to get over Lisa’s departure.

Aidan nodded. “I’m sure Lisa won’t want to give up her new job and I can’t, in clear conscience, ask her to do that simply because Emma is upset. So I guess I have to find someone to replace Lisa. But there won’t be any time of adjustment. I don’t see where I can have someone hired in enough time to work with Lisa before she leaves. I mean, I can’t be careless with this decision. The nanny has to be someone who is right for Emma.”

“What do you believe is the best answer for Emma?” Grace asked, seeing the defeated look in her husband’s eyes.

Aidan took her hand. “I wish I could answer that without making it sound as if I called you here because I am desperate and you’re the only person I can trust. Although that is the truth. There is no one I can call on to help me but you.” He got up, his body tense as he clenched his hands and paced the room.

She rose and stood beside him, in the middle of the hall, in their home, hearing Aidan’s words while her heart melted at the pain in his eyes. She’d been so absorbed in her own problems, her own feelings of loss and anxiety, she’d failed to realize that Aidan was struggling, too. Only he had a child to care for, regardless of how he was feeling. “What is it you want from me?”

“Grace, I have no right to ask this. You have had a real hard time because of me. But I’m desperate to make Emma happy. Yet I’m worried about her ability to cope with another loss in her life.”

His hand moved up her back, around her shoulders, pulling her into the safety of his arms as they stood together at the entrance to the living room, the room where they’d started to create their home, their new life together.

The memory of those early days of love and caring, and their dream of children filling every room, made her loss even stronger. Overcome with emotion she turned to face him, and the love in his eyes stole her thoughts.

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