Twice Upon a Time. Lois Richer

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      “We are happy to hear any and all suggestions.”

      The tour over, Reese led her to the kitchen area now used for staff breaks, hoping that light in her eyes had intensified because she was interested.

      “Let’s take a break. Coffee?” He poured two cups, held one up.

      “Black, please.”

      He indicated she should sit in one of the easy chairs before he handed the cup to her.

      “Thanks.” Olivia sipped her coffee. Silence stretched between them before she spoke again. “If my opinion counts, I’d say Byways has a very effective board. Everything looks well maintained. I don’t understand why this job is still open.”

      “Frankly, neither do we.” Reese hated this part, but he had to be honest. “We’ve had several applicants accept our offer in the past two years. They each came in, worked for six to nine months and then gave their notice.”

      “Because?”

      He flopped down in the chair across from her, rolled his head from side to side to ease the tension in his neck. “The work isn’t what they expected. The job isn’t what they want. Like that.”

      “How many candidates have come and gone?”

      “Three, so far.”

      “None of them stayed even a year?” Olivia blinked, hazel eyes darkening as the gold flecks melted. When he shook his head, her irises dimmed to the shade of forest shadows in the mountains outside Denver. She sipped her coffee, but kept her gaze on him. “Oh.”

      “Exactly.” Reese nodded.

      “What happened to your last director?”

      “He quit six months ago. Said he wanted a different line of work. There was some, uh, tension in the office. We’ve had a complete turnover of other staff since then. Except for Nelson, of course. He’s been here forever.”

      “And he applied for the director’s job.” Olivia rubbed the bridge of her nose with one knuckle.

      “You knew?”

      “The attitude gives it away.”

      “I suppose.” Why did he always feel he had to apologize for Nelson? “After the last one quit I think Nelson was so sick of the constant changeovers he decided he could do the job himself. But he can’t.” Reese wanted to make it clear Nelson was not her competition.

      “Because?”

      “We have to comply with state and city regulations by having a qualified counselor who approves our programs—and Nelson isn’t, he simply doesn’t have the training to talk someone down, counsel them about the future or offer advice for problems. He’s not interested in going back to school, either. So the day trips continue.”

      Reese thought he could watch her hair forever. The unusual shades seemed to change every time Olivia moved her head. She wasn’t the least bit plain or retiring, but she had a way of seeming to melt into the background that encouraged him to lose whatever reticence he might have. Reese wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.

      “What do you do now?”

      “A local psychologist comes in two days a week. She’s made it clear it’s only temporary and that she’d like to go back to her private practice—yesterday. Kids are not her forte so perhaps it’s as well she isn’t staying.”

      Olivia didn’t ask any more. She finished her coffee, rose and walked over to read the notices on the bulletin board. She flipped through the canvases Byways’s art students had created last winter and checked out the marionettes swaying from the ceiling.

      Reese held his tongue, willing to give her all the time she needed to decide. He hoped she’d agree to take the job quickly because he needed to get on the phone and find a new nanny fast.

      After many moments had passed, Olivia turned to face him.

      “I am a board-certified child psychologist, licensed to practice in Colorado.” Olivia listed her degrees and the colleges where she’d attained them, her voice neither boastful nor deferring. She was simply stating her qualifications. “I have not been employed for several years, however, so I don’t have any current references.”

      “Were you ill?” Reese didn’t think she looked unhealthy.

      “No. Family problems. I am single, I have no dependents. I, er, moved from the East to start again.” And she didn’t want to talk about it. That much was crystal clear from the solid jut of her chin as she stared at him.

      Reese didn’t hold it against her. He didn’t like to talk about his past, either.

      “But you do have experience? References from your past employment?”

      “I had my own practice, which is now defunct, but yes, there are people who will vouch for me. Professional and otherwise.”

      He studied her, confused by the eagerness he’d glimpsed in her eyes and the stiff, unyielding way she held herself, as if she wasn’t quite ready to commit.

      “Are you applying for the job, Olivia?” he asked quietly when time had elapsed and she hadn’t spoken or looked at him again.

      She lifted her head, met his stare.

      “I’m definitely interested.” Her back straightened. “But I do need to pray about it and learn God’s will on the matter before I make a final decision.”

      “Okay.” Reese rose, gathered their cups and placed them in the sink.

      “But.”

      “But?” He whirled around unable to keep hope from sneaking into his voice. “What does ‘but’ mean?”

      “I would like to learn more about Byways, about what’s worked in the past and what has failed. I want to get the feel of the operation and hear a little more about the board’s expectations.” Her voice dropped, but her hazel eyes did not avoid his scrutiny. “Mostly I want time to pray about it, make sure Byways is where God wants me to be.”

      “And then?” he prodded.

      “As soon as I’m certain, I’ll give you my decision.” Her shoulders lifted, her spine straightened. “I don’t know why your other applicants quit, Reese, but if I don’t take this job, my reason will be because I do not feel this is where God wants me.”

      “You’re a person of strong faith, aren’t you?” He didn’t need to ask, but Reese did anyway because he wanted Olivia Hastings to talk and he wanted to listen to the smooth soft lilt of her voice. He wanted to see her eyes flash from green to gold again, as they did every time she spoke of God.

      Most of all, he wanted to know what situation had brought her to Denver and how God had helped her. Maybe then he’d understand why God never seemed to be there for him or his boys, though the family would be shocked to hear him say that.

      “Strong faith?” Olivia raised her eyebrows СКАЧАТЬ