Page 30 of Falling for Brody

Missus Hardy reached out and gave her knee a gentle pat. "I know. You're thinking that I'm making fun or maybe even a little off my rocker, but I'm not. I was just packing and taking my sweet time of it because my grandniece wanted me to put my things in storage and move in with her." Missus Hardy gave a little sigh. "In Richmond."

Rhea felt her heart kick in her chest at the sound of the other woman's heart breaking in real time.

"I don't want to give up my house. To sell it. I don't even want to leave."

"I'm not sure you want two people sharing your space either. Especially a little kid."

She turned to look at Rhea. "Actually. Would it sound worse if I said I'd be the most excited about having your son there? I could use an infusion of youthful energy."

"Are you sure?"

Missus Hardy grinned at her. "There is just the one bathroom. Older homes didn't have so many bathrooms as newer houses. The house was built with three bedrooms. The bathroom. A combined kitchen and living space. The yard is the culmination of nearly four decades of my work. Blood, sweat, and tears. I'm not all that eager to leave it."

Rhea smiled and felt something shift inside of her from panic to a kind of... anticipation. "I've always wanted to learn more about gardening."

Missus Hardy nodded slowly. "I'm a good teacher, or so I've been told."

Rhea turned her head and watched as the kids started chasing Brody around the gazebo. The kids were laughing as much as they were running and she had a feeling that Brody wasn't running full out, giving them a chance to catch him.

She leaned closer to Missus Hardy. "When I'm on shift it's around the clock. I'm looking for childcare that would be able to watch-"

"I'll be there."

Rhea froze for a second, listening to the sure tone of the other woman's voice.

"I don't expect that you'd make me stay up all night..."

"No." She shook her head. "No. Definitely not. It's having someone there so he's not alone. Getting him to bed. And-"

“Making sure he takes care of himself. Gets rest. Gets up and fed. I can handle those things. I'm an early riser. Some folks say it happens when you come to a certain age, but I get up before the birds. I always did when I was teaching. Haven't broken the habit since. And I venture that Chip's bedtime is similar to mine."

She mentioned the hour and Rhea had to agree. The timing worked.

"Of course, I'd pay you."

"You'd be paying me to rent the house-"

"I'd help in the yard and in cleaning the house." Rhea offered. "Laundry, too."

"I line dry outside. Prefer the smell of sunshine on my clothes."

Rhea grinned. "I don't think I've ever tried it."

"I'll show you."

Tears began to well up in her eyes and Rhea felt like she was standing on the edge of the cliff about to jump off and trying to fly with the thinnest of wings.

"Are you sure?" Rhea could feel her voice shaking a little. "It's probably been a long time since you've had a little kid running around underfoot."

Missus Hardy reached out and took Rhea's hand in hers, squeezing gently. "I've never had one at home. Mister Hardy and I tried, but we never had one of our own. So when I tell you that I've always dreamed of it. I'm telling you the truth."

Missus Hardy turned and gave her a watery smile. "Why don't you and Chip come to my home. I'll show you around. We can sit down and have some tea and discuss the particulars." She smiled and nodded her head. "I feel," she drew in a deep, lung-filling breath and let it out with a smile, "I feel like meeting you, here, today, could be the answer to my prayers and hopefully ease some of your worries.”

"And," an impish smile played across her features, "I can tell my grandniece not to worry about cleaning out her guest room. Which is currently her storeroom, I think."

"I can tell you really don't want to leave your house." Rhea chuckled softly to herself.

"I never want to leave that house."

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