Dateline Matrimony (Hot off the Press! 3)

“Have you ever actually taken care of a sick child?”

“No,” he admitted. “But Marjorie said Maggie’s not badly ill. She said it was just a bug. She’s right, isn’t she? There’s no reason to be seriously concerned?”

“No. It is just a virus that’s going around the school. But feeling bad makes her whiny and cranky. And very demanding. I’m not sure how much work you’ll get done when she wakes up.”

“I can handle this, Teresa. Go to work.”

She hesitated, not at all sure this was a good idea. She still found it hard to believe Marjorie had called Riley to baby-sit—even though he certainly was close and apparently available. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him to take care of Maggie. It was mostly that she hated to be obligated to him.

Torn between obligations, she wavered only another moment before saying, “I’ll only be gone three or four hours. I’ll come home as soon as the meeting is over. Um, don’t you usually cover that meeting for your paper?”

“Lindsey’s taking it today. Maggie’s sleeping now?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I’ll go get my notes and my laptop and I’ll be right back.”

The phone rang almost as soon as Teresa closed the door behind him. She picked it up, knowing who would be on the other end. She was right.

“I found you a baby-sitter,” Marjorie announced.

“Yes, he just told me. I can’t believe you called Riley.”

All innocence, the older woman asked, “Why? Do you have a concern about Riley watching Maggie for a few hours?”

“Of course not. It’s just not something I ever would have asked him to do.”

“You didn’t ask him, dear. I did. And as a favor to me, he agreed.”

“I really hate to impose on him, Marjorie. When I moved in as his tenant, I promised myself I wouldn’t cause him any problems.”

“What problem? He said he was working at home today, anyway. Keeping an eye on Maggie is certainly no great imposition.”

“Still—”

“He really doesn’t mind, Terry. I thought of him immediately when you said you needed someone today. After all, he lives right next door and he often works at home. He was the logical first choice to call.”

Teresa still didn’t see it quite that way, but there was no need to argue with Marjorie about it now. After all, Marjorie had only been trying to help. Promising to be at work as soon as she dropped Mark off at school, she hung up and headed upstairs to her daughter’s room.

Maggie lay sprawled in her bed, her face still flushed, her fair hair tumbled on the pillow. Teresa placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, leaning close to say, “Maggie? I need you to wake up for a minute.”

Blinking, Maggie peered blearily at her mother. “Mommy?”

“I have to leave for a little while, okay? But Riley’s going to sit with you until I get back.”

Maggie’s first reaction had been to shake her head to protest Teresa leaving. Riley’s name changed her attitude. “Riley’s going to stay with me?”

“Yes. For a little while. Is that okay with you?”

“I like Riley.”

“I know you do. He’ll take good care of you, and I’ll be home early. He knows the number at the diner, so he can call if you need me and I’ll come straight home, okay?”

“When will he be here?”

“In just a couple of minutes. I have to go very soon.”

“Okay.” Maggie snuggled more comfortably beneath her covers, her eyelids already getting heavy. “’Bye, Mommy.”