The Family Plan (The McClouds of Mississippi 1)

She thought of all the single working mothers who had to deal with those very burdens, often unappreciated. And then she thought of the women who were no longer interested in Nathan precisely because of the chores he had just listed. And of the woman who had predicted that he would soon be looking for someone to share those chores with him.

“You need a housekeeper,” she blurted in sudden inspiration.

“A housekeeper?” he repeated, his hand going still at his neck.

“Of course. Someone to do the cooking and laundry and housework. You’ve managed to get by with once-a-week cleaning help until now, but with Isabelle there, you need daily help. If you’re really lucky, you’ll find someone who can do double duty as a baby-sitter when necessary. It won’t be cheap, of course, but I’m sure it will be worth it.”

“You know, that’s a good idea. As soon as I have time, I’ll place an ad or call a housekeepers’ agency or something.”

“I’ll handle that for you, Mr. McCloud,” Irene said as she entered with his briefcase. “I have several connections with housekeeping services. Sorry for eavesdropping again,” she added perfunctorily. “Now you really must leave or you’ll be late for court. And I’ve placed a call to Miss Thelma. I’m expecting her to call me back shortly. I intend to let her know exactly what I think of the way she treated you, especially you being a lawyer and all.”

Caitlin watched as Nathan’s hand fell to his side. “You, um—”

Irene shook a finger at him. “You really must go, Mr. McCloud. You know how irritated Judge Coleman gets when anyone causes a delay in his schedule. Don’t worry about a thing here. I’ll take care of everything.”

Caitlin smiled when Nathan looked rather helplessly in her direction, and then she made shooing motions with her hands. “What are you standing there for? Go, go.”

Looking more than a little bemused, he went.

Irene shook her head after Nathan had departed. “Imagine a woman deserting her son in his time of need, regardless of the circumstances,” she muttered. “I’m not usually one to get involved in the personal lives of my employers—”

“Of course not,” Caitlin murmured, watching the indignant office manager in fascination.

“But if we’re going to keep this office running smoothly, it’s obvious that I’m going to have to give him a hand with getting his routines in order, both here and at home.”

“I’m sure Nathan appreciates your help,” Caitlin assured her, suppressing a smile at the memory of Nathan’s dazed expression when he’d left. “Do you really think you can find him a housekeeper?”

“Oh, yes. As a matter of fact, I believe my sister, Fayrene Tuckerman, would be interested in the position. She retired from housekeeping a few years back, but she’s been at loose ends ever since her husband died last year. She’s very organized and efficient, and she’s quite fond of children, so this could be just the opportunity she’s been looking for. I’ll call her and ask if she’s interested.”

“Your sister? Um, Irene, maybe—”

But the woman was already gone, intent on her mission of having everything in her universe back under control. If getting Nathan’s home life organized meant that the office routines would go smoothly again, then she considered it her duty to see to it.

Things were getting more interesting around here all the t

ime. But Caitlin, like Irene, was becoming rather anxious for a normal routine.

Nathan was rapidly losing control of his life. Ever since he had received that telephone call from his father’s attorney, he had been on a roller coaster of changes and emotions, and he felt as if someone else was guiding the ride.

By the time he returned from court Tuesday afternoon, after spending several frustrating hours in front of a judge who had never liked him and a jury that seemed to be completely uninterested in anything except getting out of the courtroom as quickly as possible, he was wiped out. He arrived at his office to find that not only was Isabelle enrolled in a preschool program, but he was now the employer of a full-time housekeeper. Irene Mitchell’s sister, no less.

“Please tell me she was pulling my leg,” he said to Caitlin as he stood in her office, his back pressed against her closed door. “Please tell me she hasn’t hired her sister as my housekeeper.”

Caitlin closed the divorce file she’d been studying and looked at him sympathetically. “I tried to convince her to wait until you returned. She said she saw no need to waste time. She said you could hire her sister on a temporary basis, and if it didn’t work out you could find someone else.”

“Right. Like I’m going to have the nerve to fire her sister. Especially if the woman is anything like Irene.”

“Actually, I believe you’re the one on probation,” she murmured with a glint of mischief in her eyes. “If Fayrene Tuckerman doesn’t like you, she’s free to leave your employ.”

He raised both arms in a gesture of sheer frustration. “What made Irene think she has the authority to hire a housekeeper for me?”

“She heard you say you didn’t have time to interview anyone yourself just now. She considers it her job to assist you by handling tasks you don’t have time to tackle. Irene is a very efficient office manager.”

“This isn’t going to work. You have to do something.”

Her eyebrows rose. She tapped one hand on her desk, a sign that she was becoming annoyed. “I have to do something?”

“Exactly. You’re the one who got me into this.”