Hank was caught off guard by the soft warmth of the schoolteacher’s touch. There had been very few tender, feminine influences in his life these past seven years. He’d forgotten just how pleasant it could be.
When she jerked her hand away, he realized his silence had unnerved her. And this time she hadn’t misinterpreted his reaction.
Best to get the discussion back on track. “So I’ll try to keep an eye on Alex. How soon do you think he’ll be ready to return to school?”
There was still a touch of uncertainty in her expression, but the pink in her cheeks was subsiding.
“I’m hoping by Wednesday.” Miss Whitman nodded. “Since your aunt has been delayed, I’ll make plans for someone else to take over for me in the classroom Monday and Tuesday, just in case her delay is extended.”
He seemed to be getting deeper into her debt. “But what about your students?”
“Since you don’t have children—” she shot him an apologetic look “—or at least didn’t before now, you may not know that just this year the town hired Patience Bruder to help me and Mr. Parker in our classrooms. She spends an hour with me in the mornings and an hour helping Mr. Parker in the afternoon.”
Hank wasn’t surprised. The town was growing and so was the number of children attending school. Just last year Simon Tucker had moved into town with no fewer than ten children in his care.
“Anyway,” she continued, “Patience has been helping out when needed since school opened in September. I can ask her to fill in full-time for a day or two. Besides, I’ve only missed two days of teaching since I started here, so I think the town council won’t complain if I take a few days off.”
He rubbed his jaw. “Miss Whitman, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, because, believe me, I’m more grateful than I can say for all of your help so far and all you’ve offered to do in the days to come. But I have to ask, why are you doing this? I mean, what you’re offering here is going way above what one would normally expect.”
“When this happened to my sister, we didn’t have any idea what to do or how to handle things. As a result, Lizzie withdrew from everything and everyone. If there’s a chance I can spare Chloe at least some small part of that, I have a duty to try.”
So this was all just out of some sense of duty on her part?
“Besides,” she continued with a smile, “I can use the time to work with you all on your sign-language skills.”
He had to admit, it would certainly simplify his life to have her here the next few days.
“By the way, I saw Mr. Dempsey earlier today and asked him to deliver a half-dozen eggs here in the morning. I baked an extra loaf of bread tonight so there will be some for breakfast tomorrow. And there’s a jar of blackberry jam in your pantry, so you should be able to provide a basic breakfast for the three of you.”
Seemed she’d done a better job of thinking ahead than he had.
“After the church service, I’d like to come back here and fix a simple lunch, then sit down with the children and explain to them about our plans for you all to learn sign language. We can even start with a few easy lessons.”
Apparently she did have it all planned out.
Something of his thoughts must have shown in his face, because she sat up straighter and folded her hands primly. “Mr. Chandler, I hope you don’t think I’m being too forward with all of this. But I assure you I’m only trying to help.”
“I know you are.” Then he mentally grimaced. Had he even thanked her yet for all she was doing?
This time he moderated his tone. “I certainly appreciate your taking such an interest in Chloe’s welfare.”
“There’s no need for thanks.” She touched the lace at her throat diffidently. “I know this might sound a bit conceited, but I feel perhaps this is one reason God put me here in Turnabout, so there would be someone here with the skills needed to help Chloe when the time came.”
There was a curious air of vulnerability about her as she said that, the first such hint he’d seen in the starchy schoolteacher. And it made him feel suddenly protective. This time it was he who touched her hand. “That doesn’t sound conceited at all.”
The smile she responded with was sweet enough to make him blink. Then it was gone and she gently withdrew her hand. “I do have one more suggestion.”
Of course she did. “I’m listening.”
“Just as you don’t want to push her too hard, you don’t want to mollycoddle her, either. It’s a fine line to walk, I know, but if we act as if we think she is totally helpless, she’ll begin to believe that as well.”
So he was supposed to both give her time to adjust and nudge her to take some responsibilities? Nothing to it.
He met her gaze and saw the soft concern in her eyes. He decided there was no time like the present. “No matter how this turns out,” he told her, “I want you to know that I appreciate your efforts to help us.”
Her face pinkened prettily. “Thank you, Mr. Chandler. It’s always nice to know one’s efforts are being appreciated.”
Hank decided that he really did like her smile.
Then he drew himself up short. That was not the direction he intended this to take. It was going to be strictly business.
That was the only way he could face such an arrangement.
Hank cleared his throat. “As you can no doubt imagine, I’ve had to face some rather stark realities since Enid and Joe died.”
Her expression softened further. “I know. And from what I’ve observed, you are handling the situation quite well.”
“Thank you. But there’s still another challenge to be faced. Aunt Rowena coming here to help out is only a short-term solution. I need to look for another, more permanent arrangement.”
She nodded. “I agree.”
“I need to find a wife.” He stood and paced to the counter, leaning back against it. Saying the words aloud made it feel more real somehow.
She didn’t seem surprised. “I see.” Her dry tone made him feel defensive.
“You disapprove?”
“It is not my place to approve or disapprove. May I ask if you have already engaged the affections of a young lady here in Turnabout?”
“No, nor do I intend to.” He crossed back to the table, though he didn’t sit. “I’m looking to get married because the children need a mother, not because I need or want a wife. And before you voice any objections, I intend to be honest about that with whatever woman I propose to.”
Again, she didn’t seem particularly shocked. Nor did she seem approving, either. How did that bode for his plans?
“It’s not my place to object.” She pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Do you have anyone in particular in mind?”
There was something about her tone that gave him pause. But he brushed it aside—this was his opening and he intended to take it. “I’ve been giving it a great deal of thought, actually, and there are a few names on my list.”
He met her gaze, wanting to see her reaction.
“Right now, your name is at the top of that list.”
This time it was obvious he’d surprised her. Her posture stiffened and her eyes widened. “I beg your pardon.”
He tried to read her, wanting to gauge what her main objection might be. Was it merely being caught off guard? Or did she have objections to him personally?
Or was it something else entirely?
His best course was to keep things on a logical level. “I mean no offense. But anyone can see you and the children are already forming an attachment for each other. And there’s no denying you’re ideally suited to deal with Chloe. And as far as I can tell, you don’t have any other prospects at the moment.”
Her eyes narrowed as she glared at him. “Mr. Chandler, while it is true I have a fondness for your children, it is the fondness of a teacher for her students.” She lifted her chin, her expression taking a decidedly chilly turn. “As for my prospects, that is none of your concern. But I’ll have you know I haven’t been without offers since I moved here.”
He’d obviously struck a nerve. Perhaps she wasn’t as free of silly romantic notions as he’d assumed. He rubbed the back of his neck. It surprised him how hard her refusal hit. And not just because this would have been a convenient solution. He’d convinced himself that the two of them would suit nicely and he’d hoped she’d feel the same way.
But it appeared it was not to be and there was no point in fretting over it.
Right now he needed to smooth her ruffled feathers—he’d rather not get on the wrong side of someone he’d be spending so much time with in the coming days.
He held up his hands, palms outward. “All right. As I said, I meant no insult, but I had to ask. If you’re not interested, then you’re not interested.”
* * *
Janell kept her hands hidden in her lap, afraid their trembling would betray her emotions.
How dare he ask her to marry him, and in such a cavalier manner? No matter that they barely knew each other. The way he’d asked—it was clear she was no more than a convenient choice. Someone both close-at-hand and suited—like a nearby rag he’d reach for when he spilled his coffee.
His assumptions about her—that she had no prospects—stung most of all. Vain of her, she knew, but there it was. No woman liked to be thought of as a spinster.
And even if he had no way of knowing it, there had been a time in her life when she’d thought she would have it all—a loving husband, a house full of children, a respected place in the community. The fact that that had been torn from her didn’t mean she still didn’t yearn for it.
His proposal had brought home to her just how very alive that yearning still was inside her.
Too bad her status as a divorcée made that kind of future impossible.