“I can help you with that” Hunt stopped tugging at some errant brush at the edge of the patio.
“What, convincing my mother, or finding someone to help build it?” Keely grinned.
“I’ll help you convince Mother. Really, when is the last time you’ve heard her turn down anything I’ve asked for?” Katherine wheeled her chair to face Keely. “I might as well exploit it a bit.”
It was sad, but true. Their mother did fall over herself to do whatever she thought Katherine wanted. Katherine never abused it, but it sure could be used to their advantage here.
Hunt walked over to the French doors and looked around. “So, since you have the convince-your-mother thing figured out, I meant help with converting this to a wine garden. I put myself through school doing construction. Honestly, it’s the one thing I know how to do as well as shoot photos.”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that. You’re a photographer, not a construction guy.”
“I don’t think you asked, I offered. And I need something to keep me busy while I’m here. I enjoy construction work.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Natalie clapped her hands. “This is great. You’ll be around more. We’ll have to figure out some kind of arrangement with the boys though. On days I’m working, if you’re working too… I have to figure something out.”
“I could watch them.” Katherine paused in her work.
“You can’t do that.” Keely stared at her sister.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Why not?”
“Well, because. I mean…”
“A person in a wheelchair can’t watch kids?” Katherine nailed her with a stare.
“I didn’t mean that, I meant…”
“What did you mean?” Hunt joined in.
Great, she was going to get it from everyone. How could Katherine keep up with three active boys? Where would she watch them?
“If you’re working the dinner shift, they could walk to our house after school. It’s only a few blocks. I could get them a snack, help them with their homework. You could pick them up on your way home. I wouldn’t charge much. I figure it would be like me contributing to the running of the cafe some.”
“No, I’d have to pay you a fair wage.”
“A low fair wage then.”
“What about Mom?” Keely looked at her sister, still not convinced.
“What about her?”
“Oh, Keely is right. Your mom would probably go nuts with the boys and their energy level.” Natalie shook her head.
“Well, the way I see it, we all need to start pulling more weight around here. Not just Keely. Mom and I do, too. I know Mom rarely comes into the cafe anymore. It’s not fair to Keely to do everything. I’ll talk Mom into it.”
“Along with convincing her we need the patio fixed up and seating back there?”
“Yes, along with that. And while we’re talking about changes, I’m going to start working at the cafe some, too. I’m great with bookwork, you can show me how to do some of it. Might as well put that college degree to work.”
“Katherine, you can’t take on so much at once.”
“It’s not at once. I’ve graduated. It’s time I get a job. This will help out.”
Keely could feel Hunt watching her. Seeing how she’d react to this. Judging her. He’d no idea how hard it was to shoulder all this responsibility. But Katherine hadn’t worked a day in her life. She couldn’t just jump in with two feet. Keely paused, realizing how outrageous her thoughts were. Two feet. As if.
“Okay, I give up. Natalie will usually have two dinner shifts. So you could watch her boys then. And I’ll start showing you some of the bookwork.”
“When?”
Keely looked at her sister, so eager to jump in and help. Where had this come from? She was so used to protecting her sister. Making things as easy as possible for her. She’d a rough enough life as it was.
“Well, first you talk to Mom and convince her you can watch the boys. And that fixing the patio is a good idea. Then we’ll go from there.”
“Oh, that’s all I have to do.” Katherine laughed. “I’ll convince her. Just you wait and see.”
~ * ~
Katherine didn’t waste any time.
“Mother, this is something I want to do.” Katherine sat across the table from their mother, a look of determination in her eyes.
Keely looked back and forth between her mother and Katherine, not sure who was going to win this time.
“You can’t do that. It’s too much.”
“Which part? Watching Natalie’s boys or working at the cafe?”