CHAPTER THREE #2
“We are?” Isabella loosened her grip and turned to look at him. “You didn’t tell me that. You should’ve told me.”
Amy could hear the reproof in the little girl’s voice and nearly smiled. But didn’t.
Will put his hands on his hips, and almost instantly Isabella assumed the same position. Though Isabella faced away from her, Amy could imagine the look on the little girl’s face. She glanced at Laurel who just shrugged.
“Frankly, after the hassles you gave me this morning and yesterday, I wasn’t sure you deserved to go.” Will let out a sigh. “And if you don’t check that attitude, we’re going home.”
Immediately Isabella dropped her hands from her hips but her head and shoulders remained lifted. “Sorry, Daddy.”
Amy knew manipulation when she saw it. She had no doubt the little girl’s apology lacked sincerity, but Isabella was smart enough to know she wasn’t going to get her way without it. Amy felt sorry for Will, but, unfortunately, he’d kind of created this situation.
As she expected, Will gave a nod and said, “Okay, but no more attitude today, please.”
Though Amy knew she had no right, she really wished she could give Will some advice.
She wasn’t a mother, but she did have experience with the age, and none of the children that came through her classes were perfect angels.
She had run into a few children like Isabella, and though they had been a challenge for her, she’d loved them and found that by the end of the year, with some gentle guidance, their interactions with her had improved.
“Ready to go, Amy?”
She turned to see Lance approach with Julia in tow.
“Yep.” She gave Isabella a smile. “See you guys shortly.”
Once back at the manor, she helped Lance get things together for the barbeque.
Jessa was planning to come down and join them for a bit.
Lance and Jessa had decided that as long as she didn’t do anything else while she was downstairs, it would be okay.
Amy agreed, figuring that being out in the fresh air with her family would do Jessa a world of good.
Lance got the barbeque fired up and was just putting the meat on when the others arrived. All the younger children ran off to the large play structure. Jessa had come down and was settled on a lounge chair that allowed her to keep her feet up.
“It’s so good to be outside again.” Jessa lifted the glass of ice cold water Amy had brought her and took a sip. “I miss my gardens and the sunshine.”
“It will all be worth it,” Lance said as he bent to press a kiss to the top of her head. “Wish we could share the bed rest.”
“I don’t know about Jessa,” Laurel said, “but I’d rather have shared the labor.”
The women laughed when the men looked pained. Amy wondered how Will felt hearing these jokes about pregnancy and delivery when his own experience had been anything but funny.
“By the way,” Lance began as he returned to the barbeque to flip the steaks and hamburgers. “I invited Maura to join us.”
“Really?” Jessa exclaimed. “I didn’t know she was back.”
“Just got back yesterday, apparently.” Lance laid down the spatula that he’d been using to turn the meat. “Gareth wasn’t with her in church, so I’m not sure if he’s back or not. And it sounded like they were going to be leaving again in a week or so.”
Amy saw Jessa frown at her husband’s words. “I hate that they keep having problems.”
“I think they bring those problems on themselves,” Laurel commented. “I mean, they seem to thrive on their disagreements.”
Jessa sighed. “Yes, I know what you mean, but man, when they’re on the outs it’s miserable for all of their friends.”
Before anyone could say anything more, Maura appeared around the side of the manor, with a tall lanky man right behind her. Though Amy remembered Maura from previous visits, she didn’t recall having met her husband.
“Gareth, glad you could make it,” Lance said as he walked to greet them.
Maura moved quickly to where Jessa sat. “I couldn’t believe it this morning when Lance told me what had happened.
Just let me know if you need anything.” She gave her friend a hug and then looked around to greet the others.
When her gaze landed on Amy, there was a spark of curiosity.
Maura glanced at Will then said, “So Will, you’ve finally got yourself a girlfriend? ”
It took everything within Amy not to glance at Will. She smiled at Maura and shook her head. “I’m here to help Jessa for the summer.”
“That’s Amy. Josh’s sister,” Lance said. “She is generously giving up her summer to help us out around here.”
“Ah, sorry about that,” Maura said with a sheepish grin. She went to Will and gave him a hug and a pat on the cheek. “One of these days you’ll take my advice.”
“I guess stranger things have happened,” Will said with a slight lift of the corner of his mouth. It didn’t seem to be the first time they’d had a discussion over his relationship status.
Still, when Maura turned back to Amy, her gaze held a glint of curiosity. “I remember you now. You were one of Cami’s bridesmaids, right? Her maid of honor?”
Amy nodded. “Good memory.”
“It was the hair. You have the most beautiful multi-color curls. Is it for real?” Maura reached out and touched a strand where it lay on Amy’s shoulder.
“Yep. All my own.”
“Lucky duck. Just wait until you get to our age.” She motioned to Jessa. “Then we end up with multi-color hair we wish we didn’t have.”
Amy laughed, remembering now the quick wit of Jessa’s best friend.
So far her husband sat in silence on a chair beside Matt.
There didn’t seem to be tension between them, but Amy wasn’t familiar enough with them to know for sure.
Since no little ones had shown up, she assumed they didn’t have any children.
When Lance asked for a platter for the meat, Amy turned to grab it from the table.
As she looked up, she found Will’s gaze on her.
She froze for a second but then glanced away as she handed the plate to Lance.
She hadn’t been able to read anything in his expression and wasn’t sure what to make of it.
She hoped he didn’t think that Maura’s comment had put any type of thoughts into her head where he was concerned.
Been there. Done that. She wasn’t going back for round two when she’d be competing against a memory.
God was going to have to put that one in neon lights—flashing ones—if He wanted her to consider Will as anything other than a friend.
As it turned out, the reason for Gareth’s absence from church didn’t appear to have been because of a conflict with Maura.
They sat together throughout the meal, and when Gareth slid his arm around her waist at one point, she didn’t pull away.
At least it would be one less thing for Jessa to be concerned about, because Amy was sure that she did worry about her best friend. Amy knew that she would have.
“Ready to go back upstairs?” Lance asked, once the meal was done, and they’d had some time to visit. Maura and Gareth had left already, and Laurel and Matt were rounding up their kids to leave as well.
“Not really, but I know I need to,” Jessa said with a sigh. “This was lovely.”
As Lance helped Jessa back into the manor, Amy began to gather up the few remaining things on the table.
“Here, let me help with that,” Will said when she turned to carry the tray into the house.
She hesitated then relinquished it to him. “Uh, thanks.”
He’s just being nice. Do not read anything into it.
She repeated the warning a few times as she followed him into the house with the empty juice pitcher and a bottle of ketchup.
Will set the tray on the counter and moved aside as she began to empty it.
She didn’t look at him as she worked, not sure she wanted to see the expression on his face.
Whatever it was, good or bad, she didn’t want to see it.
“I should be getting the list from Laurel and Vi this week for the invitations.”
“The sooner, the better,” Amy said, opening the fridge to put the condiments away. “Some might not be available since it’s summer and people go on vacation.”
“True. I didn’t really think about that. I hope Isabella’s not disappointed if they can’t all come.”
“The not-so-fun part of having a summer birthday,” Amy commented.
“You have experience with it?” Will asked.
“Yep. But I’ve also experienced it with my classes. I try to plan a party near the end of school to celebrate all the kids’ birthdays who didn’t have them during the school year. That way no one feels left out.” Amy dampened a dishrag and wiped down the tray before putting it away.
“My birthday was always during the school year, so I never really thought much about it. And my siblings were all during that time, too, come to think of it.”
Amy smiled at him. “You were among the lucky students then. Most everyone would have been available for your birthday parties.”
Will leaned a hip against the counter and crossed his arms. “Was it that bad? Just wondering what I’m in for with Isabella. This is just the first of many summer birthdays.”
“Nah. It worked out fine. As she gets older, she’ll have a group of friends she’ll want to invite. She’ll be more flexible with when she has the party in order to make sure they can come. I’m sure you’ll do whatever you can to make her parties memorable.”
“I suppose you think I overindulge her like my sisters do,” Will said, his expression once again unreadable.
Amy shrugged. “That’s not my place to say. I’m sure you’re doing what you think is best for her.”
“Maybe.” He straightened from the counter. “Or maybe just what’s easiest for me.”
Before Amy could say anything, Lance walked into the kitchen. He looked from Amy to Will and back again. “Am I interrupting something?”