He entered the master bedroom, neat and tidy, like Susan. And hard for him to enter. He looked in the closet and found his sister’s jewelry box. Then he found a folder of their financial papers on her husband’s side of the closet, and some cuff links and things in a small leather box. He assumed Toby would one day want them.
“Mr. Anderson?”
Molly appeared in the doorway of the bedroom. “Yes? And please, call me Richard.”
“Am I packing everything Toby has or just enough for the trip?”
“Have you found any luggage?”
“Yes, it’s stored in the third bedroom closet.”
“Then please take everything you can, packing the immediate needs in the smallest bag. I’ll be there to help you in a moment.”
After she left the room, Richard realized how extraordinarily kind she had been to come with him and do the grisly task. It was like sorting through the bones. A very personal experience.
As soon as he’d gathered anything valuable, he carried it all to Toby’s room. It was a perfect bedroom for a little boy.
Susan had loved her child. It showed in so many ways.
He stood there, not wanting to enter. Molly was folding clothes and putting them in the bags. He had to force himself to join her. “I need to put these things in one of the larger bags,” he said, nodding down to the articles he held.
“Of course. If it’s anything valuable, you should put them in a carry-on bag so you can keep them safe.”
He frowned. “I guess you’re right.”
She pointed out a small bag he could use. When he got to the hotel, he could transfer it to his own carry-on bag or his mother’s.
By the time he had those things stowed away, Molly had finished packing Toby’s clothes. Then she packed some books from a nearby shelf.
“The packers will get those things,” Richard said.
“I know, but I thought it would help Toby if he had some things of his own with him.”
Richard agreed. Molly was very thoughtful.
“I can’t thank you enough for coming with me to the house, Molly. It was difficult to—to come here.”
“Yes, I know.”
Molly reached for one more thing. A small framed picture of Toby with his parents. It sat on his bedside table.
He watched her but said nothing.
She was an attractive woman, he suddenly realized. Her reddish-brown hair was shoulder length and simply styled. Her green eyes held so much sympathy, he didn’t like to meet her glance. When she smiled, as she had at Toby, her face lit up a room. No wonder the boy was attached to her. She was like a warm fire on a cold night.
He backed away, recognizing a danger there. And he’d invited her to his home for a month. Was he crazy? No, just desperate. He had to protect his mother. Since his father’s death eighteen months ago the not-yet-sixty-year-old had aged. She leaned on him, so needy in many ways. Now she had to deal with her daughter’s death and the regrets she had.
How could she deal with an eight-year-old boy? And the child was frightened, since he didn’t know them. Molly was the answer to both those problems. He’d made the right move hiring her.
“Uh, I really appreciate your help, Molly,” he said again, preparing to set the tone for her visit.
“It’s all right, Richard. I’m glad I could help.”
“Yes. What I wanted to say is my mother is weak. She won’t be able to deal with Toby. I’ll need you to shield her from the boy’s energy, as well as care for Toby. Will that be a problem?”
She seemed taken aback. But she raised her chin and said coolly, “No, that won’t be a problem.”
He’d upset her. Too bad. He had to protect his own. “Good. I work long hours, so I won’t be there to make sure she’s not disturbed, so I will appreciate your help. If there are problems, bring them to me, not my mother.”
“Certainly,” she said, her voice crisp.
“Are we finished?”
“Yes, of course.”
He picked up the two big bags and she grabbed the overnight bag where she packed Toby’s things for tomorrow. She also picked up the bag that held the valuables.
“I can get that,” he hurriedly said.
The sympathy that had prompted her to come with Richard tonight was drying up. Molly glared at him and set the bag on the floor. Did he think she was going to steal something? “Fine.”
She walked back into the living area of the house. The Christmas tree looked forlorn in the darkened room. Suddenly Molly stopped. “The presents. Should we—”
“We don’t have room,” was his clipped response.
Molly forced herself to keep moving to the front door. Every step she took was a betrayal to Toby. She could feel him protesting. The presents under the tree would be something he needed, not for what was in them, but for the memories associated with them.
“When will their belongings arrive in Dallas?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I’ll have to make arrangements tonight.”
He sounded irritated.
Molly mentally shrugged. She’d done her best for Toby. She couldn’t do any more because the man behind her didn’t want her to.
She’d thought perhaps he was sad and exhausted at the hospital. Now he seemed surly and difficult. And she was going to live with him for a month? She must be crazy. At least he would be at work most of the time.
Poor Toby, in a house with a grandmother who needed to be protected from him, and an uncle who was never there. He’d gone from a loving home to what? A museum? She would only be there a month, but she’d do everything she could to make a warm home for Toby.
She squared her shoulders as she marched out to her car. She wasn’t going to worry about the man behind her, carrying most of the luggage. That was his choice.
After putting the small case in her car, she turned to look at Richard Anderson, who was loading the rest of the luggage in the trunk of his car.
“I’ll see you at the hospital in the morning,” she called.
“At nine o’clock. Please be on time. We don’t want to run late getting to the airport.”
With disdain, she replied, “I’m always on time, Richard.”
Then she went back to her car, got in and drove away, leaving him standing there. So what if he didn’t like her abrupt withdrawal. He shouldn’t have been so snippy.
Immediately she felt remorse for her attitude. The evening had to have been difficult for him, even if he hadn’t seen his sister in a while. And it must’ve been a long day, as she’d guessed at the hospital. She chastised herself for not showing more patience.
But Toby was a little boy. The man and his mother hadn’t shown much compassion to him. Richard’s concern had been for his mother.
The next few days would be difficult for Toby. But at least he would have her so he wouldn’t feel alone. Richard might regret his invitation, but he wasn’t going to get rid of her now, even if he wanted to.
She was going to be there for Toby.
For just a little while, and regardless of the heartache when she had to leave, she and Toby would be a family.
Molly was used to getting up early, but apparently her patient was not. She had to practically dress Toby without any assistance from