Page 16 of A Flower for Angus

“Nay...nay she doesn’t work. Dad always said a woman’s work is in the home,” she added with a touch of sarcasm.

Angus jumped in with a comment. “I’d say a lassesbestwork is in the home,” he replied gently. “But if she wants to add to the household income or develop other skills outside of that, there’s no reason not to.”

“Now that’s surprising,” Macy remarked, staring at Angus. “I would have sworn you were the male chauvinist type. Barefoot and pregnant and all that nonsense.”

Angus’s brown eyes suddenly danced. “I hadn’t heard that expression but I used to like that too, in my day. Are ye thestay-at-hometype mum or a worker?”

Flustered, Macy responded without thinking. “A combination of both. Since Sam and I were only blessed with one child, I put my college education to good use as well.”

“Good for ye. What did ye do?”

“I worked with investments, like my husband.”

“Were ye good at it?”

“Very good.”

“Then I need to grab ye up and marry ye so ye can double my investments,” he teased. “I could use a good cook too, of course.”

Macy stared, not sure what to say but realized she’d already said too much. How did the man do it? “I-I’m not in the market for a husband,” she stuttered, shrinking emotionally away and closing mental doors.

“That’s all right,” Angus replied cheerfully. “I can take both without marriage if ye just want to move in with me.”

“Dad!” Dorothy stared at Angus with her mouth open, trying not to giggle. “Ye are embarrassing Macy.”

Angus waggled his eyebrows and winked. “I was just hopin’ to steal her away from Darro as my housekeeper. What did ye think I meant?”

Dorothy shook her head and patted Macy’s other leg. “Ignore him, Macy, everyone else does.”

“Now that’s disrespectful, lass,” scolded Angus. “I can see I need to have Ben take ye in hand.”

“Hah! That’s never going to happen.”

“I wouldna be too sure, lass. Ye sound like ye need a good bottom warmin’.”

“You surely wouldn’t encourage your son to beat his wife, would you?” Macy’s heart hammered as a shot of adrenaline hit her. Sam had threatened to spank her a few times but had never followed through. She hadn’t known whether to be relieved or disappointed at the time. Julian was too sophisticated and cultured to ever make threats. His silent frown of disapproval had been all it took to make her feel like a bug under a microscope.

“A spankin’ is no a beatin’,” Angus assured her. “Sometimes a lass can benefit from it.”

“That’s one opinion,” Macy replied with a frown.

Dorothy just shook her head and giggled. “Like I said, Macy. Just ignore Dad, he loves to tease and get folks riled up.”

From the raised eyebrow Angus shot his daughter-in-law, Macy wasn’t so sure Angus was just teasing. For some reason, that made her pulse trip even faster.

***

“IWONDERED HOW LONGit would take before ye came sniffing around to talk about Macy, Angus. It’s been two weeks already.”

Jamie MacNamara chuckled as he poured two cups of hot tea and placed them on the table in the kitchenette of The Happy Housekeeper’s office.

Angus snorted. “Ye know I always drop by when I’m in town, so don’t pretend it’s me that wants to talk about the lassie. Ye’re the one bringing her up.”

Jamie huffed. “I hired her, so naturally I wonder how she’s doing.”

“What? Ye don’t talk to yer own daughter every day?” Angus eyed him skeptically.

“Well...aye,” he admitted. “Lucerne says Macy’s doing well after the setback with her ankle. She just needs to brush up on her housekeeping and cooking skills. The kids like her and that’s the most important thing, so it looks like she’s working out for the household. That’s my only interest. What’s yers?”

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