Julianne’s first day with the children was a rather uneventful one compared to what she’d expected. The twins stayed close to each other most of the time. She’d had to break up a squabble or two between them before lunchtime, but that wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for four-year-olds, she knew too well. Aunt Maggie stopped in several times during the day to check on her niece and nephew, but they waved at her and went on with their play. The only problem Julianne encountered was nap time which followed the lunch hour. Nora cried when Julianne switched off the lights although the room still had plenty of light from the sun sifting through the polka-dot curtains. Julianne sat down on one of the blue mats next to Nora and put her arm around the little girl. Within two seconds, Todd scooted over by her on the other side and nestled snugly into her other arm. The other children in the room all rested on their mats as was their normal routine during this time of the day. But neither Nora nor Todd slept a wink. They remained cuddled up by Julianne for the entire hour, fighting a gallant and victorious battle against the sandman. The two were quiet most of the time, only occasionally saying something to Julianne, who had asked them not to disturb the other children. When the rest period ended, Nora returned to coloring the picture of kittens she’d been working on earlier, saying to Todd, “I told you she wasn’t going away.”
Julianne went on with story time, having all the children gather around in a circle on the worn braided rug to listen to her read. She couldn’t help but wonder how helpless Nora and Todd must have felt when their mother slipped away from them. Maggie had told Julianne about Kimberly O’Hara and how leukemia had taken her life last year. The Lord had helped Luke and the kids through the tragedy Maggie had explained, although Luke hadn’t seen it that way. He’d given up on his faith entirely after his wife’s death. The only remaining connection between himself and the church was his attempt to get the kids there when he could. Kimberly had asked him to promise to raise the children as Christians. That was one of the reasons he had moved to Fairweather, Minnesota this summer—to be near his sister Maggie and her husband Frank, both dedicated Christians who would help him try to keep his promise to Kimberly. As for himself, Luke didn’t believe in much of anything anymore except hard work and honesty. Admirable qualities, his sister had acknowledged, but hardly sufficient for raising a family. Maggie was quick to point out that Luke needed more. He needed the Lord, he needed to stop letting his work turn him into an “absentee” parent and, Maggie believed, he needed a wife who could help point him in the right direction. And Julianne Quinn would know which direction was right.
When four-thirty finally arrived that first day, Luke returned to the center to pick up his children, and he wasn’t surprised when Nora and Todd came running, shrieking with delight into his arms after a long day apart. Luke wore new blue jeans and a short-sleeved work shirt of light gray, neither of which were dirty since he had done little manual labor in the past eight hours. He had inspected a job site and purchased necessary supplies to begin the project in Minneapolis tomorrow. Then he had discussed his plans with the three college kids his brother-in-law, Frank Wren, had lined up for him as temporary help. They’d each been in the Book-Stop Frank owned and mentioned they were looking for summer work. Frank told them about Luke’s landscaping business and the need for a couple of extra pairs of hands in the coming weeks. The boys were exactly the help Luke was looking for, and they agreed to work for a reasonable sum. With most of his mental to-do list for the day accomplished, he was glad to get back to the twins and find out how Maggie’s day-care center was working out for them. If he couldn’t get the kids settled into some kind of an acceptable routine, Fairweather might not turn out to be much of an improvement over the suburbs of Chicago. Luke had higher hopes than that.
“Well, it looks like they’re glad to see their father,” Julianne remarked as she watched Luke gather both children into his arms for a hearty hug. “They’ve been watching for you from the side window for the past two hours.”
“Did they do okay today?” Luke asked, glancing from his kids into Julianne’s gentle brown eyes. He suddenly thought that she looked like she was meant for this job—spending her days caring for children.
“They did very well,” she answered and reached for the red-striped backpack Maggie had left for them. “We did need Fluffy and Dunkum, from time to time for some comforting. I’m glad you packed their stuffed animals in this bag.” Julianne thought of the crying spell Nora and Todd had both experienced in midafternoon. Too much newness for their four-year-old spirits to absorb. “New home, new place, new teacher. It’s a lot for them to adjust to.”
Luke’s frown was an immediate overreaction. He needed this arrangement to work and any hint that it might not, didn’t sit well with him. “Didn’t Maggie check on them?”
Just then, Maggie entered the door behind her brother and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Yes, I checked on these little characters several times, Luke, and they were absolutely fine. Nothing to worry about at all. Just ask their teacher.”
Julianne nodded in agreement. “They really were okay, Mr. O’Hara. I think they had some fun today. I hope you’ll bring them back tomorrow.”
“He will,” Maggie answered for her brother, which turned his frown into something close to a smile. “He has to because this is where I’ll be.”
“You’re hard to argue with, Maggie.” Luke released the children from a hug, and they immediately began complaining. Their favorite place lately seemed to be in their father’s embrace. “C’mon, kids. Let’s go have supper.” He extended an arm to accept the backpack from Julianne. “Nora and Todd will be here around seven-thirty in the morning. Thanks for taking care of them today.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll look forward to seeing them tomorrow. Bye, Nora. Bye, Todd. See you in the morning.” She looked at Luke with questioning eyes. “And, Fluffy and Dunkum…don’t forget to bring them, too.”
Luke nodded and guided the children and their stuffed animals toward the doorway. “Thank you, Miss Quinn…and Maggie, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?” Maggie offered before the trio disappeared through the door.
“Some other time, thanks. I have some figures to go over tonight while the kids are having their meat loaf and mashed potatoes,” Luke responded, and then they were off, into the truck and on their way to the two-story, older home Luke had purchased not far from Frank and Maggie’s place.
“He can cook meat loaf and mashed potatoes?” Julianne repeated. “Is he serious?”
Maggie remarked. “Yes, he’s serious…as long as the local supermarket carries frozen dinners. I swear, I think that’s about all those children eat anymore.”
Julianne thought of her own freezer stacked full of packaged entrees. “Maybe that’s not so bad, Maggie. At least they’re eating their vegetables in some way other than French fries.”
But Maggie shook her head. “They should have better than that. Luke and I grew up on home-cooked meals.” Then she offered a laugh as she took a quick glance at the extra pounds she’d carried for years that had nothing to do with her progressing pregnancy. “Of course, I guess I look like I’m well fed, don’t I?”
“You look beautiful,” Julianne responded and gave her friend a heartfelt hug. “That’s