A Christmas to Remember(75)

This is it, Carrie thought as Adam placed his hand lightly on her arm and led her to the couple from his work as the others came up behind to join them. “I’d like to introduce my nanny and friend, Carrie Blake.” They nodded politely. “This,” Adam nodded to the man with the dark hair, “is Robert Marley, my good friend and the man who is helping me greatly with acquiring property for the expansion.” Robert held out his hand in greeting. He had a firm, businesslike handshake, but there was something quite friendly about him as well. “This is Robert’s wife, Allie. Their daughter, Carolyn, was the angel standing next to Olivia.”

It all made sense now. She’d seen Allie leaning forward when Carolyn had said her lines. The look on Allie’s face, she’d noticed, was an outward expression of the way Carrie felt looking at the Fletcher children. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said to Allie.

“Likewise.” Allie offered a warm, genuine smile. Carrie didn’t feel nervous at all around Allie. She seemed very nice. “I was a nanny for years!”

“Really?”

“Yes. I run a preschool now.”

Carrie couldn’t help but be excited to find someone else who knew what her life was like. “That’s fantastic,” she said. And it really was. Allie had a likeable demeanor. Carrie could almost picture her cross-legged on the floor, making funny voices while she read stories to the children. Just having someone there who understood her made all her nerves go away.

“Have you been with the Fletchers long?” she asked. Carrie shook her head, fear of leaving them flooding her again. “I’d love to share nanny stories! You should come to our Christmas party!” Allie looked over at Adam. Carrie looked at him too. This was the first she’d heard of a Christmas party. Had he planned on going? “Bring her along, Adam. I’ll finally get some good conversation!” she kidded.

Adam made eye contact with Carrie, uncertainty written on his face. Did he not want her to go? Was he worried she wouldn’t fit in?

“It’s a Marley tradition. I remember going to my first Christmas party at Ashford. It was not something I’ll ever forget. It’s so much fun! She’d love it,” Allie said to Adam.

“I’d be happy to take you,” Adam said, looking at Carrie, a small grin on his lips.

Was he really happy to take her, or did he feel obligated? Carrie couldn’t tell as she searched his face for the answer.

“Oh, that’s fantastic! I can’t wait to see you two!”

One of the Sunday school teachers came up behind them, carrying Carolyn, with David and Olivia on either side of her. “Hello,” she said, handing Carolyn to Robert. Carolyn’s white dress fluffed out over Robert’s arms, completely hiding them as he held her. “I think these kiddos belong to you all,” she smiled.

Carolyn couldn’t have been more than three. She had dark hair like her father and a smile like her mother. “Hi, Daddy,” she said, putting her hands on Robert’s cheeks and pressing her forehead to his. He smiled and kissed her cheek. Carolyn rested her head on his shoulder, her sleepy eyes on Carrie.

Carrie couldn’t help but wish that Adam could be like that with his children. He will, she thought. In time. If only time were on her side. She had so much she wanted to do with Adam and his children. Not to mention, she wanted more time with Adam himself.



They were finally all back at home and settled after the Christmas play. “I’m heating a ham in the oven, y’all,” Joyce said, coming up behind Carrie in the hallway and putting her arm around her shoulders to offer a little squeeze. It made Carrie smile. She enjoyed Joyce so much. The other men had already headed into the kitchen, leaving only Adam and his mother still standing in the hallway. Sharon was on the bottom step. Olivia joined hands with Joyce and Carrie, trying to swing between them and pulling them toward each other. David was standing next to them.

“I’d like to put the kids to bed tonight, if that’s okay,” Joyce said. “I never have a chance to do that, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to read bedtime stories. I miss it.”

Adam nodded.

“I think I might have a rest,” Sharon said, starting up the staircase. Carrie noticed Joyce’s concern, the way her face dropped from her cheery expression to one of worry. The children had been fantastic tonight, and Carrie could only speculate how hard it must have been for Sharon to have to watch it, given her circumstances.

“Are you okay?” she asked Sharon.

“I’m fine.”

Carrie could tell that it was the kind of “fine” that meant, I’m the same as I’ve been and nothing can help, but she wanted somehow to ease whatever it was that Sharon was feeling. It was futile, she knew that. There was nothing Carrie could say or do to help Sharon, but it bothered her to see her like that. Maybe she could just be there for her. She tried to offer Sharon a consoling smile. Sharon headed upstairs, and Carrie decided that she’d pop in and check on her once she went up herself.