even go out to see Emma and welcome her home. She watched Emma running in the garden and playing on her new play yard. Cameron pushed her on the swing and chased her around the huge back lawn.
Shelly complained about everything, annoying her the most. She didn’t like the room across the hall on Marti’s side of the house. Must be too far from the master bedroom and Cameron’s bed.
Marti wanted nothing more than to kick her out. Petty and childish, but it’s what she wanted to do.
Satisfaction came when Shelly discovered the bedroom bed and bath hadn’t been made up for a guest: no sheets or towels in the room, or fresh flowers like in Marti’s. Shelly practically screamed down the house calling for the maid. Marti had given the staff a few days off. The maid, the cook, and the gardener had all been given time off to grieve for their former employer.
Cameron knocked on her door several times. She didn’t answer. He’d finally resorted to sending Emma. She hated to ignore the little girl, so she’d simply told Emma she’d see her later. Emma left feeling rejected and Marti felt terrible for hurting her, but she needed time.
She’d only gone downstairs to get something to eat when she knew everyone was somewhere else in the house, or outside.
She’d stayed in her office-slash-studio working for hours and well into the night, until she was so exhausted she fell into bed and slept like the dead. When she was in her studio, she thought she heard someone outside the door. She wondered if it had been Cameron, but dismissed it as an old house settling.
Morning came quickly and so did the nausea greeting her each new day. She’d accepted it as part of being pregnant. Although she didn’t like it, it was kind of good to wake up each morning and be reminded she was going to have a baby. She’d rather her body told her in a different way. Soon it would. Her belly swelled, making her pants fit tighter around her waist.
She went down to Emma’s room and peeked inside. Emma was just waking up. She helped her dress and brushed and braided her hair down the back of her head. They went downstairs together. Still early, no one was in the kitchen. She began making Emma and her breakfast. She handed Emma some silverware and asked her to set up the table on the back patio.
Shelly came in, but Marti ignored her.
“Where’s the cook?”
“Gregory has the day off, along with the rest of the staff.”
Shelly frowned, showing her displeasure. Again, Marti ignored her.
“Well, it’s nice you’re making breakfast for everyone. You could have been more hospitable yesterday when we moved in.”
“You have a roof over your head. Be thankful for small favors.”
Marti continued making breakfast and sat out three plates. Jimmy came into the kitchen and she served him up a plate of pancakes and eggs with fresh fruit salad.
“Thanks, Miss Marti. I sure appreciate it. It’s hard being a bachelor. A good home-cooked meal is hard to come by.”
Marti gave Jimmy a warm smile. “Emma is on the back patio. Please, join us.”
“I’ll see you outside.” He took his plate and walked by Shelly with a good morning glare Marti appreciated.
“I like my eggs over easy.”
Marti didn’t say a word. She dished up two more plates for she and Emma, shut off the stove, and walked out the back door with the two plates.
Shelly huffed in outrage. It only made Marti smile more.
Cameron came in dressed for work and glanced at Shelly sitting at the table looking peeved. What now? “What’s the matter?”
“Her. You know what she did? She gave the staff the day off. She made breakfast for Emma and Jimmy and herself and not for me. She’s so rude. Who’s going to make me breakfast?”
Cameron didn’t know what to say. Shelly couldn’t actually expect Marti to make her breakfast.
“I guess you’ll have to make your own. I need to get to the office in a few minutes,” he said and poured a cup of coffee.
“You aren’t going to pour me a cup?”
“No. It’s not good for the baby. Have some orange juice.”
Marti walked in and passed him and poured a cup of coffee for Jimmy and got two glasses of orange juice for her and Emma.
“I’ve been wondering what was in the envelope you got from George that made you mad. It’s interesting he’d give you something just to upset you,” Shelly said.