LITMIR.BIZ

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      “Suzanne, this is Mabel Baxter. Congratulations, I’m so happy for the two of you.”

      Suzanne thought the woman was a bit effusive given the circumstances, but she was glad they’d worked things out, too. “Well, thank you, Mabel. Yes, I’m pleased.”

      “You’ll need to get the license right away, you know.”

      “Yes, that’s what Mr. Walker said.”

      There was a distinct pause. “You call him Mr. Walker?”

      “I guess I could call him Ryan, but I don’t want to be too forward.”

      It sounded like the woman was choking.

      “Mabel, are you all right?”

      “Yes, of course, dear. I just wanted you to know that we’ll help. We’re quite experienced in these things.”

      “Well, that’s very nice of you. An extra cake, or a pie occasionally would be greatly appreciated.”

      Another small silence. Finally, Mabel said, “We’ll talk later dear, when you’re more organized.”

      After saying goodbye, Mabel hung up the phone and Suzanne stared at her receiver. Finally she hung it up, too. Why had Mabel sounded so strange? She liked her. She’d visited her this week, along with Edith, one of the other ladies Mr. Walker had mentioned.

      Would he want her to call him Ryan? In Dallas, most housekeepers called their employers by their last names. She didn’t want to appear too familiar. She’d best stick to Mr. Walker.

      That settled, she continued with her planning.

      IT WAS TEN AFTER THREE when Ryan finally woke up. He’d been wakened several times by Beth. He’d gotten up to fix her lunch, and another time to pour her a glass of water, but mostly he’d dozed. He felt much older than his thirty years when he forced himself awake as Beth shook his shoulder. “Daddy?”

      “What, sugar?” he asked, slowly sitting up.

      “I need a snack. Millie gives me cookies or something.”

      “Uh, okay, sugar, I’ll find something for a snack.” He rolled out of bed, feeling a little more human than the last time he’d been disturbed.

      Before he could reach their pantry, the phone rang. Beth screamed, “I’ll get it!”

      He vaguely remembered a phone call when he’d just gotten back from the city lady’s place. Damn! He’d agreed to marry her! What was wrong with him? He decided he’d best answer the phone. “I’ve got it, Beth.”

      “Hello?”

      “It’s Mabel Baxter, Ryan. Remember you said you’d get the license today so we could hold the wedding Sunday?”

      “Vaguely,” He muttered.

      “Well, it’s already three-thirty and the county office closes at five. And I’m not sure the bride-to-be understands what’s going on. What did you tell her?”

      “Mabel, I was up all night without any sleep. I may not have made myself clear.”

      “You’d better have. We’re having a wedding Sunday afternoon. The whole town is pitching in.”

      “Mabel, damn it! I told you not to make a big deal out of it.” In fact, he’d hoped to marry without anyone noticing.

      “It may be your second time down the aisle, Ryan, but for that young lady it’s her first and only time. We want her to enjoy it.”

      “Yeah, but I’ve got to go if I’m going to get the license in time.”

      “I know. But don’t forget you’ll need her along with you,” Mabel warned him as he hung up the phone. He stood there for a minute. Then he dialed the number for Suzanne McCoy. When she answered, he didn’t even tell her who it was. “I’ll be there in ten minutes to take you to get a license.”

      “But Ryan—I mean Mr. Walker—I called. There is no license needed for a housekeeper. But I promise I’m qualified.”

      “We’re getting a license to get married. Be ready!” And he hung up the phone.

      SUZANNE MCCOY was still holding the phone to her ear, arguing with a dial tone.

      “Susie, is something wrong?” Josh asked.

      “Uh, I don’t know. A misunderstanding, I think.” She hoped that’s what it was. Marry the man? He was crazy. And it wasn’t necessary. Her plan would work.

      She’d been giving the house a spring-cleaning all day. She wouldn’t have much time for cleaning it when she worked all day with the three children at his house. Someone knocked on the front door and she stared at her watch. It couldn’t be Mr. Walker. It had only been five minutes.

      She hurried to the door and discovered it had been longer than she thought. There he stood, an impatient look on his face. He had Beth in his arms. She pushed open the screen door. “Come in.”

      He came in and set Beth down on her feet. “Are you ready?”

      “No, I’m not. I think you’ve got things all wrong. I didn’t agree to marry you. I agreed to be your housekeeper. I’ll come every day and leave after you get in for dinner.”

      “No. We’re getting married.”

      “How can you say that?”

      “I can say that because half the town will be at our wedding on Sunday. Can Al take care of the kids for a couple of hours?”

      She took a step back, frowning. “No. He’s out with Doug and Hinney. So I can’t leave.”

      “I’ll go get him. In the meantime, you get ready. Oh, and Beth is hoping you have a snack for her. Our pantry was bare.”

      She stared in exasperation when he turned on his heel and walked out. Her gaze encountered Beth’s hopeful blue eyes, so like her father’s.

      Suzanne sighed. “Come on, Beth. The kids are having their snack now. We’ll join them.”

      “What are they having?”

      “Ice cream with fresh strawberries and a little whipped cream on it.”

      Beth’s eyes widened in excitement. “Oh, boy! I think I’ll like that!” She skipped along beside Suzanne.

      In the kitchen, there was a fast introduction to the other children while Suzanne made the treat for Beth. Then she turned the television on to Sesame Street. “I may have to go out, but if I do, Al will be here. But I want you to watch Sesame Street until it’s finished. Okay?”

      All three children nodded, their eyes already glued to the television. Suzanne continued her job of rubbing down the cabinets. She was sure she’d be able to convince Ryan he’d misunderstood. She certainly had.

      Ryan was feeling a little better about his forthcoming marriage. After only seeing Suzanne in suits, he’d now seen her when she first woke up in her nightgown and robe, her hair flowing free, and he’d seen her in jeans. She looked damn good in jeans. Maybe the side benefits would make this marriage tolerable.

      But there seemed to be some confusion in her mind. She thought she could sashay around his house every day as a housekeeper, and everything would be all right? What would happen when other men saw her in jeans? He’d have visitors tramping through his house all day. She’d get marriage proposals, and if she accepted one, he’d have to start all over again. But if he married her, she’d have to only flirt with him. Only be married to him.

      He liked that idea.

      He found the men and told Al to get in the truck, because he needed him to baby-sit. His men were doing okay, so he didn’t bother to explain anything. There wasn’t time.

      “I’m happy to

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