“That’s why I didn’t hesitate to give Cami the go ahead to ask you to come help out. I figured if anyone could handle what we have here, it would be you.”
“I hope your confidence in me isn’t misplaced. This is only day two,” she reminded him.
“Well, just to put your mind at ease a little., Jessa and I decided this morning to honor all current bookings at the manor, but to not take any further reservations until after the baby is here, and they’ve both had a chance to adjust.”
“So you won’t need me the whole summer?” Amy asked, strangely disappointed by the thought.
“Well, we have reservations scattered throughout the summer, so I’d like you to stay on as originally planned. Plus,I can always use some help with Julia, and I think Jessa enjoys the company when I’m not here.”
Lance’s phone rang, and as he answered it, he walked from the kitchen. Amy finished cleaning up the remainder of the dishes then went upstairs to check on Jessa. She found Julia curled up on the bed with her reading books. Deciding not to interrupt, she went on to her room and settled down with her laptop. She kept the walkie-talkie close as she wrote emails and chatted online with a couple of her friends. It wasdefinitelya slower pace in Collingsworth than what she was used to in Dallas, but she figured she could handle it for a couple of months.
The next morning, Amy went to church with Lance and Julia. Jessa had insisted they all go after promising to not try to get out of bed at all while they were gone. Still, Lance made sure they sat at the back of the sanctuary, and she noticed he kept his phone in his hand. She enjoyed the service which was much like the ones at her church in Dallas, a nice blend of contemporary and traditional. Once it was over, Lance left to get Julia while Amy waited by the front door for him.
She spotted Laurel and Rose headed in her direction and waved.
“We’re just swinging by the house to pick up a few things before we come to the manor,” Laurel said once they were close. “Vi and Dean ended up going into the city to see his folks, so they won’t be joining us.”
Amy had just opened her mouth to reply which she was tackled around the hips in a tight hug. Having experience with those types of hugs, she quickly regained her balance and looked down. She smiled at the beautiful little face staring up at her. Running a hand over the girl’s glossy hair, she said, “Well, if it isn’t Miss Isabella. How are you today, sweetie?”
“I’m good!”
The girl seemed reluctant to release her, so Amy wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Were you in junior church?”
“Yep. We learned about David and Goliath. Except I already knew that story.”
“Well, there are some stories you just can’t hear too often,” Amy assured her with a smile.
“Isabella.”
Amy looked up to see Will approaching them. The man looked worn out and stressed. Dark circles lay beneath his eyes, and he appeared even more tense than he had two days earlier. “Hey, Will. Did you lose something?”
His gaze met hers briefly before dropping to the girl still attached to her hip. “I think you can let go of Amy now, Isabella. We’re going to the manor for lunch, so you’re going to see her again in a little while.”
“We are?” Isabella loosened her grip and turned to look at him. “You didn’t tell me that. You should’ve told me.”
Amy could hear the reproof in the little girl’s voice and nearly smiled. But didn’t.
Will put his hands on his hips, and almost instantly Isabella assumed the same position. Though Isabella faced away from her, Amy could imagine the look on the little girl’s face. She glanced at Laurel who just shrugged.
“Frankly, after the hassles you gave me this morning and yesterday, I wasn’t sure you deserved to go.” Will let out a sigh. “And if you don’t check that attitude, we’re going home.”
Immediately Isabella dropped her hands from her hips but her head and shoulders remained lifted. “Sorry, Daddy.”
Amy knew manipulation when she saw it. She had no doubt the little girl’s apology lacked sincerity, but Isabella was smart enough to know she wasn’t going to get her way without it. Amy felt sorry for Will, but, unfortunately, he’d kind of created this situation.
As she expected, Will gave a nod and said, “Okay, but no more attitude today, please.”
Though Amy knew she had no right, she really wished she could give Will some advice. She wasn’t a mother, but she did have experience with the age, and none of the children that came through her classes were perfect angels. She had run into a few children like Isabella, and though they had been a challenge for her, she’d loved them and found that by the end of the year, with some gentle guidance, their interactions with her had improved.
“Ready to go, Amy?”
She turned to see Lance approach with Julia in tow.
“Yep.” She gave Isabella a smile. “See you guys shortly.”
Once back at the manor, she helped Lance get things together for the barbeque. Jessa was planning to come down and join them for a bit. Lance and Jessa haddecided that as long as she didn’t do anything else while she was downstairs, it would be okay. Amy agreed, figuring that being out in the fresh air with her family would do Jessa a world of good.
Lance got the barbeque fired up and was just putting the meat on when the others arrived. All the younger children ran off to the large play structure. Jessa had come down and was settled on a lounge chair that allowed her to keep her feet up.
