“Make yourself comfortable.” Jenna spread her arms wide. “The driver will soon bring your bags. The few things I have here are packed and ready to go. In fact,” she lowered her voice in a conspiratorial whisper, “as soon as Stone called to say he was bringing you, my husband and I started clearing up the place. I was never so happy to lose a job.” Then, as she saw Indie’s face she laughed. “Oh, don’t worry. It’s one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. You’ll love it. It’s just that Kirk and I want to get ready for our baby. This will be our first and, being so busy, we haven’t had a chance to prepare.”
“When are you due?” As far as Indie was concerned that baby looked like it should have come out already. Jenna looked about ready to pop.
“In two weeks, but you know babies. They can come a couple of weeks early or a couple of weeks late. I could go into labor right now.”
Indie put a hand on her arm. “Please. Don’t. Let me at least get settled first.”
The pregnant woman laughed and stroked her belly. “My baby has been good to me so far. I know she’ll cooperate just a little bit longer.”
“Oh, it’s a girl? Have you chosen a name yet?”
“We're still working on that. We have some names on our list - Diamond, Crystal, Jessica. One of the teachers suggested Imani, which means faith.”
“Very nice,” Indie said, nodding. “I’m sure she’ll be as beautiful as her name.”
They were interrupted when there was a knock on the door and Jenna opened to see one of the teenage boys with a tray covered with a striped cloth. “Cook sent lunch for the lady,” he said, and laid the tray in Jenna’s arms.
“Thank you, Mfana.” She took the tray and headed to the tiny dining room. “Come on, Indie,” she said over her shoulder. “We can talk while you eat.”
While Jenna brought her up to speed on what needed to be done to ensure the smooth operation of the home, Indie enjoyed a meal of boiled yams, curried chicken and carrot salad, also curried.
As she listened to Jenna talk, Indie realized that the job was going to be a lot more work than she’d thought. In addition to supervising the home with the assistance of six home mothers, Jenna was also principal of the school and she even filled in as substitute teacher when any of the staff members fell ill. Indie was going to have her hands full.
As long as she could find time to be with Stone.
She took a pause from her meal as she thought about that. Her primary purpose for being here was to get to know Stone – fast – and to get a marriage proposal, but based on all that Jenna had told her she didn’t even know if she’d find time to go to the bathroom, let alone go man hunting. She grimaced. Things were not looking good.
“Don’t worry, Indie. It’s not that bad.”
Indie blinked. She looked across the table at Jenna who was smiling at her.
“I know you’re worried. I can see it on your face. But you’ll be all right. The staff is very supportive. They're like my sisters and brothers.” She reached over and patted Indie’s arm. “And they’ll give you all the help they gave me. I’m sure of it. They want this home to succeed just as much as we do.”
Indie nodded. If Jenna only knew…
This was a good time to change the subject. “Where did Stone disappear to?”
“I guess he’s spending time in each of the classrooms, chatting with the boys. He always does that. That’s why they love him so much. We all do.” She got up. “Now you finish eating. I’m going to get Kirk to pick up my stuff. “She left Indie and headed for the front door.
So this is it. Indie looked around. This little house would be her place of abode for the next few weeks, maybe a whole lot longer. She knew her personal weakness. Once she’d attached herself to a cause she would see it through to the end. And if she wasn’t careful, whether things worked out with Stone or not, she’d most likely spend as long as it took to ensure
the success of the boys’ home.
A few minutes later there was a rap at the front door and Indie opened to find a tall, gangly man with a shock of brown hair standing in the doorway.
“Hi,” he said with a warm smile. “I’m Kirk, Jenna’s husband. One of the drivers just dropped her home and she asked me to pass by.”
“Yes, of course.” Indie stepped aside. “Won’t you come in?”
“Thanks.” He brushed his palms against the seat of his very worn jeans. “Jenna said I should come over and pick up some bags. Do you know where they are?”
“I did see a couple of bags in the bedroom, in the corner by the window.” She waved her hand toward the room. “Go on in. I’m sure those are the bags you're looking for.”
He gave her a polite, almost apologetic nod, then headed for the bedroom. “Yep,” he called out, “it’s them all right. Jenna’s forever tagging her bags with these little pink strips of cloth.” He came out of the room with the bags tucked under his arms. “Ever since we heard it’s a girl you would think pink is the only color in the world.”
Indie gave him a sympathetic smile and went to hold the front door open. “She’s just excited, that’s all. As I’m sure you are, too.”
His bashful smile and the blush creeping up his neck told Indie she was right. He gave her another quick nod and then he was through the door, lugging the bags toward an ancient-looking pickup truck. He threw them in the back then jumped into the cab. The engine turned over immediately, sounding like a very healthy, well-tuned machine, nothing like what the outside looked like. He gave her a wave. “If you need anything, just send one of the drivers to fetch me. I’m not even a quarter mile away.”
“Will do.” She waved until he disappeared down the dirt track.
Alone again, Indie headed back inside where she washed the lunch dishes then she sat down at the desk and began to go through the notes Jenna had left for her. Orders to be placed for school and home supplies, a staff meeting to be planned for the teachers two days from now, a progress report to do, one that Jenna hadn’t even had the time to touch. Boredom would definitely not arise as one of her problems. Not at this place. There was just too much to do. Never one to procrastinate, Indie grabbed a notepad and began to write her plan of action.