“That’sexactlywhat I was hoping you’d say.Bella and Miles live just down the street, and Bella approached me because although she wants to start this babysitter’s club, she doesn’t have any experience with children.I think she feels a little insecure about it.”
“That’s so sweet,” Annie said.“I loved babysitting when I was a kid.”
“Would you be willing to take her on as a mother’s helper, perhaps, to teach her some of the basics?”
Annie’s chest filled with air and a smile forced its way onto her face.“I would love that.It would be my honor.”
Margie clapped her hands together.“Wonderful.I’ll tell her to come over while Miles starts on some of the work.Do you have a list of what needs to be done?”
“I do,” Annie said, reaching into her pocket.“This is what my mom’s physical therapist recommended.It’s a lot.Maybe we can just do the basics.”
Miles accepted the list, his eyes scanning.
Margie went on.“I brought dinner.Another baked ziti!It’s enough for everyone.”
“It’s one of the twins’ favorites.”Annie smiled and glanced at Miles.He was carefully looking over her list, brow furrowed.Or he was ignoring her.
“You need a handrail for outside?”Miles asked, looking up at her.
“Yes,” she said.
He didn’t seem annoyed, just serious.Maybe she’d misread him.She’d be sure not to do anything else annoying.
“I’m not sure which one to buy or how much it’ll cost,” she added.
He waved a hand.“We’ve got a fund for that sort of thing at the fire station.”
“Really?”Annie felt a weight off her chest.“I’m happy to pay you for your time, too.”
Miles shook his head.“No need.Consider me an extension of the fire department.We’re happy to help the community.”
Annie smiled.“Thank you.I really, really appreciate it.”
Now wasn’t that something?She didn’t have four grandparents, but she had Margie.And she was part of this community.
Helping Bella start her babysitters club would be something, too.She could finally feel like she was contributing instead of taking.
Annie took the pan from Margie’s hands.“I’ll get this into the oven.”
“Then you can show me some of these other areas that need changes,” Miles said.
“Sure.”
Margie was already down on the floor playing with the twins.
Annie took a breath.It was going to be okay.Her mom would come home, and the house would be safe for her.They wouldn’t have to move out.
Then she could try her hand at being a happy mom, too.
Seven
Another billboard chaser, and this one right down the road.Bella’s email had been flooded with them.Hundreds of emails.
How, Miles had no idea.The ads were only up for a week and a half.Maybe it ended up online somehow, because despite taking everything down, they were still getting emails with pictures and pitches with long, sad stories.Bella was particularly enchanted by a pediatrician who lived in Seattle – or at least, that’s who she claimed to be.
“There’s no way to tell if these women are telling the truth,” Miles told Bella.She’d spent the entirety of dinner one night reading him email after email and showing him pictures.
“Why can’t you just find out for yourself?”Bella argued.
