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“Where did that come from?” he asked.
“Trying to avoid asking you about the members of the commissions and boards I’m going to be dealing with.”
He cracked a laugh, a deep sound that rumbled as if it rose from the depths. “I shouldn’t say much. A bunch of eejits, but not always. They’re politicians. You can count on them to look out for themselves. Take the culvert I told you about. That’s going to need to be replaced as swiftly as possible. I’ll have to let them know what I’m going to do, even though I believe I have the money in the roads budget. They like to be informed. Oh, keep that in mind, Diane. They want to know everything. Some of them will raise Cain because there are probably ten things that they might consider more important. Finally they’ll settle down and give me the go-ahead simply because they don’t want a dozen of the largest ranchers around here to be having to detour by miles all winter. But the argument will reassure them that they’re the ones in control.”
She understood him perfectly. That was a game she’d played before. She also knew how to win...usually.
“But that’s just a handful of people,” he said. “The rest of the folks around here are the kind of people I’m happy to spend time with. At least those I’ve met. I think you’ll enjoy most everything here, unless you like to live in high style. The closest thing we have to a nightclub is a roadhouse, where I’d advise you to never go alone. Then there’s Mahoney’s Bar, which is as close as I’ve ever found to my local pub.” He paused. “Now, you might like that somewhat. Busy, friendly place.”
She was smiling again, enjoying his description. Relaxation had begun to fill her anew as she thought that she probably hadn’t made a mistake in accepting this job.
Daphne’s sudden entrance into her life had given Diane more qualms about coming to Conard County than she’d initially had by far. When it was just her, it was all a big adventure. With Daphne it had become intimidating. She had begun to start thinking about all kinds of things, from day care to eventual schooling. Was this the best place to give her little cousin all the opportunities she should have? And what about the quality of medical care?
Thoughts that had never plagued her before plagued her now. “Becoming an unexpected mother is a bit shocking,” she said, musing and only half-aware she was speaking. “A whole new set of worries I never had in the past, and bam, at the worst time possible, in the middle of a move and starting a new job.”
“Yeah, most people get a little more warning, like about nine months.”
Again he made her laugh. There was a sparkle in his amazing blue eyes and only humor around his mouth. A good-looking man. She realized she was experiencing an adolescent urge to just drink him in with her eyes. At once she raised her cup and turned her attention to her tea, hoping to find safety there. She had too much on her plate, and anyway, as far as she could determine, romantic relationships with colleagues could be fraught with danger and a lot of potential discomfort.
“Thanks so much for the tea,” he said, rising. He crossed to the sink and rinsed his cup before setting it on the counter. “I’ll see you in the morning, Diane. I’m sure you need some downtime after everything.”
She rose, too, and followed him to the door. “How much trouble do you think they’re going to give me over Daphne? Aubrey said she’ll ask her sister-in-law to find room for her at the day care center.”
He paused with his hand on the doorknob and gave her another smile. “I told you we were going to be an army. I meant it. First one gives you a hard time is going to hear from me. You’re entitled to time to settle everything. Good night.”
“Thank you again for the flower,” she called after him.
He gave a quick wave, then strode away into the night. He moved easily, evidently fit and apparently accustomed to walking. He passed from the pool of light under one streetlamp to the next until he vanished around a corner.
Only then did she close and lock her door. Back in the kitchen, she smiled again as she looked at the bright red daisy on her windowsill. A thoughtful gesture. He couldn’t possibly have guessed how much she loved gerbera daisies. They always reminded her of a drawing, so perfect it hardly seemed possible that they were real.
Then, trying to divert her thoughts from Blaine without much success, she put the remains of her steak sandwich and salad on a plate, opened a bottle of diet root beer and headed for her recliner.
Settled in comfortably, she waited for the next feeding and wondered if she could find that novel she’d been reading before her whole life had been packed into boxes and the trunk of her car. Having so little furniture of her own that was worth keeping had made the move easy and cheap. But now there were boxes stuffed into every corner, awaiting her attention. Boxes that had been labeled by the movers she had hired. She wondered how well they had done their jobs.
Well, she could wait to find out. The important thing was that she had her dad’s easy chair.
And Daphne. That baby was becoming incredibly important to her.
Poor MaryJo. Diane couldn’t begin to imagine the hell her cousin must be enduring. She just hoped the doctors could help.
Then she started eating, taking her time. Even cold the sandwich tasted delicious. She wiggled her toes and felt tension start to leave her legs.
Man, she had been wound up today, although she hadn’t really been aware of it. For a little while when Daphne had refused to stop crying, yeah, then she’d been frantic.
But Blaine had come along, handling it all for her and assuring her it wasn’t all that difficult a thing to take care of a baby. Then Aubrey and Candy and their warm welcome.
She just hoped tomorrow would go as well. With a full tummy, she put her empty plate and bottle onto the box beside her chair and allowed herself to doze. Behind her eyelids danced the memory of a man offering her a red gerbera daisy.
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