A Christmas Blessing

many as she got right in the oldtoaster she had in her apartment.
“A nanny,” Mary announced triumphantly, capturingJessie’s full attention with the out-of-the-blue remark.
“A nanny?” Jessie repeated cautiously.
“For Angela.”
She’d hoped for a new tangent, but this one was pretty extreme evenfor Mary. “Please, it’s not necessary,” she said firmly. “I cantake care of the baby perfectly well. Besides, you couldn’t possibly find anyoneon such short notice. And I’ll be going back home next week, anyway.”
“Nonsense,” Mary said dismissively. “You’ll bestaying right here.”
When Jessie started to argue, Mary’s expression turned intractable.It was a toss-up whether Luke and the others had gotten their stubborn streaks fromHarlan or their mother. The combined gene pool was enough to make Jessie shudder withdread.
“I won’t take no for an answer,” Mary said just asfirmly. “Even if you insist on going back to that tiny little apartment and thatsilly job eventually, you have to take a few weeks of maternity leave. You’llspend it right here, where we can look after you.”
Jessie bristled at having the life she’d made for herself dismissedso casually, but she bit her tongue. She honestly hadn’t given any thought to thefact that she was entitled to maternity leave. It was on her list of things to worryabout closer to the baby’s arrival. Angela had thrown that timetable completelyoff.
“I don’t know how much time I’m entitled to,” sheadmitted.
“I believe I’ve heard six weeks is the norm,” Mary saiddistractedly, jotting herself a note on the pad she always had at hand at breakfast forwriting down the day’s chores. She dispensed them to the staff as merrily as ifthey were checks. They weren’t always received in quite the same spirit, butJessie doubted if Mary noticed that.
Her mother-in-law glanced up from her notes. “Of course, threemonths would be better. Why don’t I have Harlan call your boss and make thearrangements?” She made another note.
The thought of Harlan Adams negotiating anything with her boss gave Jessiechills. “Absolutely not. I’ll make the call later today. After that Isuppose we can talk more about how long I’m staying.”
She gazed directly at Mary and tried to recall the precise tone of voiceshe’d used so successfully the evening before. “But no nanny. Itwouldn’t be fair to hire someone and then turn right around and fire themagain.”
“Well, of course not,” Mary agreed far too readily.“We’ll send her home with you. It will be our gift.”
Jessie felt as if she were losing control of her life. “You saidyourself that my apartment is tiny. When you visited, you complained you could barelyturn around in it. It can hardly accommodate a live-in nanny.”
Mary didn’t even bat an eye at that complication. “Thenwe’ll find you someplace larger,” she said at once. She picked up her cup oftea. “If you decide to go back, of course.”
“I thought we had settled that,” Jessie began, then sighed.Clearly she would be better off saving this particular fight for another day. Shedidn’t have the strength for it this morning. She stood. “I think I’llgo back up and check on Angela.”
“No need, Jessica. I believe Maritza’s sister is sitting withher now.”
She had married into a household of control freaks, Jessie decided,fighting her annoyance. Erik had quite likely been the only one in the group whosepersonality didn’t demand that he take charge of every single situation. She hadlearned her lesson from observing him, though. If she didn’t stand up to them,they would dismiss her opinions and her plans as no more than a minor nuisance.
“There’s no need for her to stay with the baby,” shetold Mary forcefully. “I have a few letters to write this morning and some callsto make, so I’ll be with her.”
With that she turned and headed for the stairs, fully expecting yetanother argument. For once, though, Mary was silent. Well, almost silent, Jessieamended. She thought she heard her mother-in-law sigh dramatically the instant shethought Jessie was out of earshot.
Back in her suite, she found a beautiful, young Mexican woman sittingright beside Angela’s crib. Apparently she had taken her instructions to watch thebaby quite literally, because she didn’t even look away when Jessie entered theroom.
“Buenos dias,” Jessie said to her.
The young woman glanced her way and smiled shyly.
“Do you speak English?” Jessie asked.
“Yes.”
“What’s your name?”
“Lara Mendoza.”
“Lara, thank you for looking after the baby. I’ll stay withher now.”
Lara seemed alarmed by the dismissal. “But it is my pleasure,señora. It is as Señora Adams wishes.”
Jessie bit back a sharp retort. “It’s not necessary,”she insisted gently. “I’ll call for you, if I need you, Lara.”
Lara’s sigh was every bit as heavy as the one Jessie had heard Maryutter. Apparently she was testing everyone’s patience this morning.
Still, she had to admit that she was relieved to be on her own. Perhapsthe decision to come to White Pines had been a bad one, after all. All of the thingsshe’d hated most—the control, the dismissal of her opinions, the hints ofdisapproval—were coming back to her now.
She realized that for all of her hopes and dreams when she’d marriedErik, this still wasn’t her family. Jordan and Cody seemed to like her wellenough. Even Harlan appeared to be fond of her. But Mary was another story. Every timeher mother-in-law addressed her, Jessie couldn’t help concluding that the olderwoman found her sadly wanting.
Suddenly she was filled with a terrible sense of despondency. Perhapsthere was no place she really belonged anymore, not here and certainly not with Luke.He’d made that clear enough. Perhaps it was time she accepted the fact that sheand Angela were going to have to make it entirely on their own.
A tap on the door interrupted her maudlin thoughts. She eyed the doorsuspiciously. She didn’t think she could take another run-in with Mary justyet.
“Who is it?” she called softly, hoping not to wake thebaby.
“Open the door and find out,” a masculine voice said.
The sound of that unmistakable voice gave her goose bumps. She practicallyran to fling open the door, relieved and elated by his timely arrival.
“Luke,” she cried and propelled herself into his arms withoutconsidering his reaction.
Despite his startled grunt of surprise at her actions, he folded his