Christmas Mom Tryouts by Samantha St. James

Author:Samantha St. James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: christian Fiction
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Published: 2017-11-17T00:00:00+00:00

9

The week passed with the children back in school. Strangely enough, the pranks also stopped.

Natalie didn’t know if it was because they needed time to plan more, or if they’d decided to accept her. Or perhaps they still had pranks set in motion, and they would pop up at unexpected moments. She was cautious around the furniture in her bedroom, looking in drawers before sticking her hands in, checking out the bathroom cupboards before putting her stuff away.

Jason worked from a home office on some days, and went off to an office in town on others. “Feel free to explore the property and the house, poke in the corners, climb into the attic, check out the basement. If one of you ends up being the mom, you need to know your territory.” His grin lit up his face.

Often he’d whisk Emily and Adam off on some adventure, leaving Natalie with Miss Jenkins, who’d still not invited Natalie to call her Rose.

Then Miss Jenkins began disappearing for hours at a time and Natalie, in a complete fit of irrationalizing, wondered if the woman weren’t off helping the children plan their pranks. In her more logical moments, Natalie dismissed her ridiculous musings and silently asked forgiveness for entertaining such judgmental thoughts. Miss Jenkins seemed too mature and staid for such antics. And while this arrangement was an interview of sorts, it certainly wasn’t an outright competition—not one Natalie wanted to win unless it was God’s will she be here.

She set up the sewing machine and her portable design wall in her room to work on a quilt she’d been imagining for some time, a scene depicting the Nativity. She studied photos of Bethlehem and the area around it on the Internet, trying to envision how the fabric could be turned into something worthy of the subject.

She sighed as the picture just wouldn’t formulate in her mind’s eye. Grabbing a sweater, she ran down the stairs. A walk in the cool autumn air would clear her head.

“Hello,” Jason called from the kitchen.

His voice still had the ability to make her spine tingle. She wandered in, opened the fridge, and poured a glass of iced tea, pleased that he was around. She was enjoying getting to know him, and her heart craved spending time with him for a portion of each day. Especially when it was just him and her.

“Soon the weather will turn and you’ll want hot tea,” Jason teased.

“Yes, I will.”

“Would you like some coffee, instead?”

“No, I prefer tea.”

“Have you seen Miss Jenkins this morning?”

“I saw her at breakfast, same as you, but then she went off somewhere. I don’t think she’s in her room.”

“I wonder where she goes?”

“I’m not certain. Where are Emily and Adam?”

“Out with George. He likes them and will often take them around the barns. He thinks it’s good they’re around the horses. Keeps the horses socialized and the kids learn about animals.”

“He seems like a nice person. You’re blessed to have a capable helper who also likes kids.

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