Free Small-Town Nanny by Lee Tobin McClain

by the pool. But after a couple minutes, Helen came back in. “I didn’t want you to put things away in the wrong place,” she said.
    â€œOh...thanks.” That was a backhanded offer of help if Susan had ever heard one.
    â€œMarie always had this kitchen organized so perfectly, but every time I come it’s more messed up.”
    Susan’s hands tightened on the platter she was washing. “I’m sure it’s hard for Sam to manage the house along with his business.”
    â€œIt’s not Sam’s job to manage.” The remark sounded pointed.
    Susan lifted her eyebrows at the woman, wondering where this was going. “If not Sam’s, then whose?”
    â€œWell, I just hope you’re not thinking it’s your job.”
    â€œOf course not!” Susan burst out. Where did Helen get off, coming over and criticizing the help? She wasn’t Susan’s boss!
    She glanced over at the older woman and noticed that her eyes were shiny with tears, and everything started to make sense. Helen didn’t want the kitchen arrangements to change, because she was trying to preserve her daughter’s memory. But inevitably, things would get moved around, and sentimental treasures misplaced. Life had to go on, but for a grieving mother, every change must feel like losing another piece of her daughter. “Look, I’m sorry,” she said, drying her hands and walking over to give the woman she barely knew a clumsy little pat on the arm. “It’s a loss I can’t even imagine.”
    â€œIt’s just hard to see another woman in her place,” Helen said in a wobbly voice.
    â€œI’m not trying to take her place,” Susan said, feeling her way. “No one can do that, but especially not me. I’m just here for the summer.”
    â€œYou’re just not the kind of woman Sam and Mindy need.”
    Susan blew out a breath and plunked the platter down on the counter. Grief was one thing, but outright rudeness was another. “Did you...did you want to talk, or would you rather be alone?”
    â€œAlone,” Helen croaked out, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
    â€œSure. You go ahead and put stuff away wherever you want. I’ve got some reading to do.” Half-guiltily, she fled the kitchen and made her way to her apartment via the front door, the better to avoid Sam and Mindy and Ralph.
    Helen was right. Susan wasn’t the kind of woman Sam and Mindy needed. But why that truth felt so hurtful, she didn’t have a clue.

Chapter Five
    S am pulled into his driveway the next Friday afternoon, right after lunchtime. It would be good to get out of this monkey suit and work the rest of the rainy afternoon at home. He had a little planning to do on the summer picnic he put on for his employees, but it was all fairly low-key; Mindy could interrupt without bothering him.
    And he had to admit to himself that seeing Susan was part of what had drawn him home. Not really seeing her, he told himself, but rather, seeing how she was interacting with Mindy.
    He’d been so busy the past week, catching up on all the work he’d put off during the no-nanny period, that he hadn’t spent a lot of time at home. Mindy seemed happy and Susan had said things were going well. He knew they’d visited the library and gone to the park with a couple of other kids. One day, Mindy had had her friend Mercedes over to play.
    Sam was feeling pleased with the solution he’d come up with for Mindy’s summer. She seemed to be thriving under the supervision of an active and engaged nanny.
    Susan herself seemed guarded, but he had to assume she’d get more comfortable as the summer went on. That Sunday dinner with Ralph and Helen had been awkward, but that was because they hadn’t understood that Susan was only a temporary fixture in the home. Next time would surely be better.
    When he got inside, the sound of a busy, humming household met