Amos told her she could have a job, but that he’d pay her. She tried to protest but he wouldn’t relent. Months later, she was still here, giving him shit.
The girl frowned at the footprints. “Sometimes I think you do it on purpose,” she grumbled and approached him with the mop in her hands. A smacking sound filled the air as the ropes of the mop head slapped against his boots. “Take them off, or I’m hitting you in the gut next.”
Amos laughed and jumped away from her with his hands up. “Easy. I’ll take them off.” He balanced on each foot to remove his boots and held them up proudly. “No more violence needed.”
Would he and Amelia have had a relationship like this? Or would they have been rivals? Or partners in crime driving their mother crazy? His chest pinched at the thought of his mother.
Lucy rolled her eyes and smiled. “Set them on the boot mat in your sitting room this time so I don’t have to re-mop all of your rooms too.”
He reached out and ruffled her hair. She might be a year older, but Amos already stood nearly a foot taller than her five-foot-one frame. The girl swatted at his arm. “Go away. I’m trying to work.”
He chuckled and sauntered away. Nothing could kill his mood today.
He’d spoken too soon. After donning a clean pair of boots from his closet, an insistent knock on his bedroom door made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. A panicked Alice burst into his sitting room without waiting for him to answer.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded, ushering her into his bedroom for more privacy.
“Your father is here,” she whispered. “He’s brought Jennifer.”
All the blood drained from Amos’ face. “Why are they here?”
No.This could not be happening. Dread burned through him, and it wasn’t long before Clover’s worry ricocheted back to him. He closed his eyes, willing himself to calm down. A puff of air burst out of him. “Fuck.”
Alice’s eyes bulged. Amos never cursed in front of her, but she sensed his mood and didn’t scold him.
Think, Amos.
“He’ll send for me soon, and afterward I’ll go to Clover’s and explain the situation.” Telling Clover about Jennifer was not what he wanted to do as soon as he saw her. How mad would she be?
Alice ruefully held out a letter. He recognized Clover’s handwriting and tore it open.
Amos,
We were delayed because of an issue at the bakery. The person who was going to cover for Nathaniel and Franny is sick. We’ll come as soon as they hear back from another employee about filling in for the week.
We won’t arrive until tomorrow or the day after.
I can’t wait to see you.
Clover
Amos breathed a sigh of relief. His father rarely stayed long, and this gave him time to contact the Ambroses tomorrow and tell them what happened. He didn’t want Clover around his father, even without the Jennifer issue.
Amos carefully folded the letter. “They’ve been delayed. Do you have any idea why my father is here?”
“No.” Alice looked Amos over. “Change into a nicer shirt and greet him. Don’t wait for him to send for you. The sooner we know why he’s here and how long he plans to stay, the better.”
Amos frowned and looked at his shirt. He’d thought it was nice.
Another thought occurred to him. “Lucy. She needs to leave and lay low until he leaves.”
Alice patted his arm. “I already told her.”
Amos knocked on his father’s study door and waited to be granted entry.
Lester answered the door with an apologetic look as if to say,I didn’t know.
He stepped around the man and scanned the room.No Jennifer.“Sit down,” the king commanded. “We have things to discuss.”
