Safe in Noah's Arms. Mary Sullivan

Monica passed Robert on her way out, noting the patent desire and admiration for his wife, she said, “Don’t you two go making any more babies tonight. Three are enough!”

      Kayla kissed Robert’s cheek and stepped toward the front door. “Wish me luck on my job interviews...and on our old clunker actually getting me into town!”

      Robert nodded, his eyes never leaving his wife.

      In Accord, they went to Tonio’s first—it had already been open for an hour—where Monica introduced Kayla to Maria. They had a chat that seemed to consist more of talking about children than about job qualifications, then Maria stated, “We can definitely find things for you to do here. When can you start?”

      “Right away. Right now.”

      “First we have to see John Spade,” Monica interjected. “I’ve set up an interview with him. Kayla will need two part-time jobs. Can you work out her hours around whatever John can give her?”

      Maria patted Kayla’s arm. “We’ll make it work.”

      Walking along Main to the only legal office in town, Kayla said, “I’ve never been inside Tonio’s before. I used to grow most of our fresh produce and then shopped for everything else at the discount grocery store. I can’t afford Tonio’s, but what an amazing place. They have all kinds of products I’ve never seen before. And Maria is so nice!”

      As Monica opened John’s front door, she waggled her eyebrows at Kayla, knowing she looked comical, but she was totally okay with it. She needed to get Kayla loosened up. “Maybe you’ll get a discount as an employee.”

      Kayla laughed. Good. She was in great spirits. Maybe she wouldn’t be intimidated by John.

      Monica greeted his receptionist, who alerted her boss.

      As handsome as ever, even though he’d probably burned the midnight oil last night, John approached, hand outstretched toward Kayla.

      “John,” Monica asked, “have you met Kayla before?”

      He shook her hand. “I’ve seen you around town.”

      John was older than both Kayla and Monica. They hadn’t been in high school at the same time.

      “Step into my office and we’ll chat. Monica, can I offer you coffee while you wait?”

      “I’m good, thanks, John.” She sat on a small leather love seat. John ushered Kayla ahead of himself. Just before he entered his office, he glanced back at Monica. She mouthed be kind.

      He winked.

      Ten minutes later, Kayla came out with a wide grin. “I got the job,” she whispered.

      Of course she did. Once John had promised Monica he’d give Kayla a job, he would follow through, unless Kayla was thoroughly unsuitable, which she wasn’t. She was eager, willing and intelligent. She could learn whatever needed to be learned.

      And apparently, for the next two days she would be learning the ropes at John Spade’s office.

      They went back to the market.

      “Okay,” Maria said. “We can operate around John’s hours, but if he can let us have you on Saturdays, it would help us a lot.”

      “I’ll ask him,” Kayla said, her fingers threaded nervously.

      “No, you won’t,” Monica said. “I’ll stop in and ask him on my way to work. Speaking of which, we’d better go.”

      They stepped out of the store and nearly collided with Noah.

      When he saw her, his expression darkened. Completely ignoring Kayla’s presence—or not even seeing her there—he addressed Monica. “Where were you this morning?” His harsh tone cut through Monica with the heat of an acetylene torch. “Do you think farming is like shopping? You do it only when you feel like it?”

      “No, I—”

      “It’s a day-in, day-out necessity. Plants need to be watered whether you feel like getting out of bed early or not. The work needs to be done even if you aren’t in the mood.”

      Foul man. Monica wanted to bite off his head. “The courts made no mention that I had to be at the farm every day. I guess they assumed you would tell me when you needed me. You told me nothing.”

      “I assumed you would be smart enough to know that farming is done every day, rain or shine, whether or not you feel like showing up. I assumed you would be responsible enough to act on it.”

      “If you assume, you make an ass out of you and me. Next time, tell me what you want. This was your mistake, Noah, not mine, but from now on I’ll be there every single dam— Every morning, okay?”

      Noah seemed taken aback by Monica and her acid tone. Good. He should be afraid. She wouldn’t let him walk all over her, especially not after she’d spent her morning helping someone.

      “Listen, I—”

      Monica ignored whatever Noah was about to say, hugged Kayla goodbye and walked away. Noah Cameron could rot in hell for all she cared.

      The courts had told her to report in on the farm when Noah needed her. He hadn’t shared his schedule with her. Was he hoping she would fail? What did he want? For her to go to jail?

      Just inside the gallery door, she drew up short, letting the door nudge her back. Her pulse pounded and her hands shook. The man made her so mad she could spit.

      Olivia peeked her head out of her office to see who had entered the gallery.

      “You’re five minutes late.” The hard edge in her voice undid Monica.

      “Not today, Olivia.” She’d never spoken to her boss harshly. In fact, she had always been unfailingly polite.

      Olivia’s mouth fell open.

      “I will work my butt off while I’m here today, boss, just as I’ve always done. But how many times over the past year have I been late? Twice! Both times this week. I’m sick to death of you and your son coming down on me. I made a mistake. I apologized. I’m paying my dues.”

      She approached the office. Wide-eyed, Olivia stepped out of the way to let her pass inside.

      “I thank you heartily, Olivia, for giving me this job, but if you can’t appreciate me as I am then I will leave. Is that clear?”

      Olivia nodded.

      Monica tossed her purse into the bottom drawer of Olivia’s desk, where they kept their personal belongings. “Good. I’m glad we have that settled.”

      She stepped into the back room to finish baling boxes in which artwork had been delivered yesterday, not too careful today about whether she might snag her dress or tear a nail, ripping them apart with her hands rather than using box cutters, happily imagining tearing Noah limb from limb.

      * * *

      “NOAH?” THROUGH THE red haze of his fury, Noah heard a woman’s voice and tried to focus on her.

      For the first time since bumping into Monica, he noticed Kayla standing in the doorway of Tonio’s, smiling hesitantly. She wore a tasteful dress and makeup. She’d done something funky and fun with her hair. “You’re—you’re lovely. You look amazing.”

      How long had she been standing there? Had she heard him give Monica hell? He didn’t haul people across the carpet in public, but then, Monica hadn’t shown up this morning when he’d needed her and he’d gone nuclear.

      He tried speaking normally, but his hot blood was slow to switch gears. “I’ve never seen you wear makeup before.”

      “I know. Monica showed me how to apply it.”

      “Monica?” The woman’s name came out on a faint gust of air. Kayla had been with Monica. She’d been standing there all