Saving Each Other (BWWM Romance) (16 page)

“I expect you to live here, however 6p.m. and on is time for you to have to yourself. If I'm not here then Miss Watson is so she won’t be alone. I also expect you would want your weekends but Saturdays, when you don’t have plans I can pay extra if you could perhaps find things she likes to do.” He paused. “I’m not sure what that is, she doesn’t say much to me, but I’d like to encourage her.”

Having waited until the discussion had finished before entering, Miss Watson was pleased there was someone new who could push Mr. Robinson to his limits. He carried a lot of bitterness since his father’s passing.

“I’ve made up a room for you in the west wing, I like it much more than the east, it faces the pond and seems a little cozier to me.” They strolled down the hall at the top of the stairs leading to the rear. The staircases on both east and west joined at the top and branched off. The chandelier in the center of the room was a centerpiece for the weaving of the stairs. Walking down the hall, Faith noticed some beautiful pieces of art along her way to her room. Mostly colorful hues of blue, she loved the delicate flow they all seemed to have. They stopped at the third room on the left.

Faith was surprised when Miss Watson opened the door. The room was done totally in hues of pink. The silk gossamer along the windows matched the details in the comforter on the huge bed in the center of the room.

“I do hope you like pink, my dear.” Miss Watson chuckled and set about opening the windows.

“I certainly hope so too,” Faith giggled. “Can I ask you something, Linda?” Faith sat on the bed and Linda followed suit.

“Certainly, I hope you ask me anything.” Linda smiled at Faith warmly.

“Has he always been so…?”

Linda took a deep sigh before answering. “Bitter? Just since his father’s passing. They were very close and in the last five years, Mrs. Robinson’s health has declined and he…well, he is a little lost I think.”

“I see, thank you, Linda. I appreciate you talking to me about it.”

Linda left Faith in the pink room full of thought. She decided to unpack. Faith grabbed the top box to get started then unloaded the rest of her things. After a few more trips, Faith was firmly unloaded into the pink room. Tired from the morning and the long trip, Faith decided to take Linda’s advice and take a hot bath. She went into the bathroom adjacent to the pink room and turned on the water in the marble tub. Even the bathroom was pink, even paler than the silk in the bedroom. There were little pink and white soaps in the dish and fizzy pink bath salts to add to the jetted tub she was filling. Faith settled into the tub and let her mind drift as she tried to get her muscles to relax.

The loud grumble of her stomach brought Faith back out of her relaxation. She fluttered open her eyes and was once again startled at the way the room seemed to hum with color.

Stepping out of the bathtub, Faith wrapped up in her old worn robe. It had been the first thing she bought herself when she had landed the job with Everest Home Healthcare. She hadn’t owned anything frivolous in her life, but that robe had once been a fluffy dream. Now it was worn and ragged but still the most comfortable clothing Faith owned.

What should she wear to dinner? It was close to 4:15, so she didn’t have much time to think about it. She chose a simple black dress with a square neckline and some black ballet slippers. Simple was always best, she thought. She dried her hair and dressed. Not one for makeup or accessories, she let her long hair hang freely. Most other girls cut their hair short or wore wigs, but she had done her best to straighten the dark locks until she let it fall like silk on her caramel skin. It was long and straight down to the middle of her back. She glanced at herself in the mirror one last time, ran a brush through her hair and headed downstairs.

“Faith, dear, there you are.” Linda was still in her uniform as she greeted her with a smile. “This is Reagan, he is the butler. Then there is me and that’s about all of us.”

“I figured we could look around the lower level before dinner and take a longer tour tomorrow during the lunch break.” Linda linked her arm with Faith’s. “You look lovely, dear, I had no idea you had so much hair.”

“Thank you, Linda.” Faith smiled back and they proceeded to walk the lower level. Linda showed her the massive library, the old room that had once been a ballroom a long time ago. She walked through the den with its marble globe and even more fabulous art. They passed one large wooden door and Faith asked, “What’s in there?” She paused for a moment outside.

“That is Mr. Robinson’s office, we don’t go in there, dear, and it’s a good thing, he always has such a mess. Sometimes he allows Reagan to tidy but that’s it.”

They moved along the corridor and Faith admired the paintings along the wall as they went. Eventually they made their way back to the dining hall.

Giggling about some joke or another, they walked into the room and stopped.

“Hello, ladies, it seems we are running a bit late.” Cooper glanced at Linda and stopped on Faith. She was beautiful, there was no denying it now. Her hair was long and straight and the color of night. Angry at himself for the feelings he was dealing with, he snapped a little more than he intended.

“Have you not found your uniform yet, Miss Parks?”

Slightly stunned but not one for backing down so easy, Faith responded, “Yes I did and they fit wonderfully, but, since it is after my work hours I thought I would be free to wear my own clothing.”

He winced at the hurt sound in her voice, not meaning to have hurt her feelings, only trying to fight the battle within himself.

“You’re very right, Miss Parks, I apologize.” He stood to pull out her chair and was immediately drawn in by her perfume. She was no good for him. He simply didn’t have enough time to deal with any attraction to her. He needed to focus on finding the loophole in his father’s will.

“Thank you, Mr.Robinson.”

“I’ll just go up and get Mrs. Robinson if that is okay?” Miss Watson was waiting by the arched walkway.

“That would be wonderful, Miss Watson, thank you.”

There were a few moments of silence as Faith thought about her simple dress and if that’s what had angered him before. He was dressed splendidly in a dark black dinner jacket. Faith could tell this was probably the norm for him as she had yet to see him in anything but perfect form. He was a striking man and as she looked up at him, their eyes met and Faith felt that same burning sensation in the pit of her stomach. What in the world was going on with her? Maybe she was getting the flu. She reached out to take a sip of water from her glass on the table, her hands noticeably shaking slightly. Maybe he didn’t notice, but he did.

She was nervous, or maybe she was scared of him. Hell what did he do anyways? He would just have to make her feel comfortable and above all else, keep his distance.

“I trust your room meets with your approval?” He smiled at her.

“Oh yes it is quite beautiful, thank you.” She bit her lower lip and glanced away.

Biting her lip was his undoing, he needed to get out of here. He stood up and at that time Miss Watson and his mother arrived. Tucked into her chair, Mrs. Robinson was a dainty little woman. She had on a lovely dress and had a blanket on her lap.

“Mother, I’d like you to meet Miss Parks. She is a nurse and she is going to be staying here with us and be there for you should you need anything.”

“So I have another babysitter is that what you mean, Cooper?” She bit off the words slightly as she said them.

“No, Mother, she is here to help you with your medication and such since you don’t enjoy going into town for your therapy. I thought you would be rather happy that you can stay here to do it all.” He smiled over at Faith who took another drink of water.

“Yes, I’m so happy I can be at home, but what will your father think, Cooper?” There was a chill in the air evident to everyone in the room.

“Mother, please…dad has been gone for 5 years now remember?” There was a definite sadness to his voice now. Faith decided to help him.

“Mrs. Robinson, you may call me Faith. We will be good friends, I think.” She smiled at Mrs. Robinson who was still staring at her plate waiting on the food to arrive.

Not missing a beat, Faith smiled up at Reagan who brought in the meal of pot roast with carrots and onions, served with whipped potatoes and hot fresh bread.

After the food had been served, everyone at the table began to eat. She looked up to see the look of surprise on Mrs. Robinson’s face.

“You know, being a nurse has been a wonderful profession for me. I love meeting new people. Once there was a nice young man, he was a war veteran. He was 20 years old and left to serve the country we all love so much. When he came home, he had been in a terrible accident while there. He was also in a chair much like yours.” Faith paused for a moment, noting that Mr. Robinson was starting to look uncomfortable in his chair. Everyone including Mrs. Robinson had stopped eating to listen.

“The difference was that he had lost both arms and both legs, he couldn’t even hold a fork in his hand just like you’re doing now, Mrs. Robinson. He went on to learn how to paint by holding the brush in his mouth. He is now a very famous painter and is a happy man.”

Faith dived into her food and gradually everyone else did too. She looked over at Linda who gave her a wink and Mr. Robinson even seemed a little more relaxed.

Mrs. Robinson was silent for the rest of the meal. After dessert, she wheeled herself over to Faith. “Did he really paint with his mouth?”

Knowing she had a way in, Faith told her more. “Yes he did, you can even buy some of his work, you just have to research. Do you like art, Mrs. Robinson?”

“Well I paint sometimes, I’m not very good. I did one of the ocean the last time we went, but it doesn’t look real.” She scrunched up her nose.

“Well it just so happens that I was an art major in college and I paint too, you know I might be able to help you with that painting you’re working on.” Faith could sense a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.

“That sounds fun, dear, Cooper doesn’t have much time for fun I’m afraid.” She immediately sobered.

Cooper shook his head. He had to admit his opinion of Faith had risen even higher at the way she had managed to bring his Mother around so quickly. Most people found her to be a little more abrasive than they could handle.

Linda rose smiling and Mrs. Robinson told her she was tired. It was in fact time to get ready for bed. When Faith offered to help, Linda declined.

“Tomorrow is soon enough for you to start, Faith, enjoy your evening and after we go over everything, you can take over. For now just try to recover from your long day.” Linda started to roll Mrs. Robinson out.

“Okay, if you’re sure?” Faith hated feeling useless. Being busy kept her mind from thinking about the butterflies that had returned with the prospect of being alone with Mr. Robinson again. Linda reassured her and left the dining hall.

Chapter 4

Faith turned around to face Mr. Robinson, surprised to see he was looking at her. She smiled again. There was that awkward silence again.

“Miss Parks, tell me, do you enjoy being a nurse?” He rolled the words out much smoother than he felt inside.

“I love it, it took me a long time to get where I am but I feel like nursing is my calling. I love helping people.”

“There are a lot of hurting people out there, Miss Parks, it’s admirable what you do.” His gaze was intent as he looked at her thoughtfully.

She managed to choke out a “Thank you,” her face red and her ears were burning. What was it about him that made her feel like this? “I suppose I should go as well.” She started to rise but he stopped her before she took a step to leave.

“Actually, Faith, I was hoping I could show you something?” He actually felt a sense of panic that she would say no. He was Cooper Robinson, never thinking of women as much of a challenge, but with her something was different.

“I...sure.” It was all she managed to get out. He walked over and gave her his arm and led her out the double French doors onto the veranda which lead to the gardens.

The summer heat was still thick in the air as they strolled down the walk. It was a beautiful garden with every flower you could want to see. There were arbors and ivy hanging low and every so often there were benches placed along the way in case someone needed a break. The heady scent of lilacs was strong as they approached a bend in the walkway. Faith closed her eyes and sucked in the air deeply. She opened her eyes to see Cooper was looking at her again. She felt slightly embarrassed as a result.