Practical Details

The intercom buzzed. "Mrs. Adams, Col. Tracy is here."

Caroline nodded and laid down her pen. "Thank you, Violet. Would you please tell him to come in?" She rose from behind her desk, and the door opened on its silent runners to admit a man whose posture and carriage would have given him away, had she not already known his rank. Caroline extended her hand. "How do you do, Colonel? I'm Caroline Adams."

"How do you do, ma'am," Tracy returned in a clipped baritone, taking her proffered hand for a brief, strong shake. "I appreciate your taking the time to see me."

"Not at all." She gestured to the chair in front of her desk. "Please have a seat. May I offer you a cup?"

Tracy laid his cap on the desk and seated himself in the tufted leather chair. "No thank you, ma'am, I'm good."

Caroline tapped a button on her desk, and the door slid shut behind them. "Now, what can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for a house, as well as a governess." His brows drew together. "Maybe two," he added.

"Houses?"

"Governesses. Or a governess and a nanny."

Caroline smiled. "Just thought I'd clarify." The Colonel's face remained impassive, so she cleared her throat and went on. "What size is your family?

"There's seven of us."

Caroline nodded, her fingers tapping and sliding the files on her monitor. "Nice big family," she commented. "Not something you see very often these days." The Colonel did not comment, and she went on, a touch uncomfortably. "So: A home for you, your wife-"

"No." The word was flat. "Just me and my boys. My mother will be coming from the U.S. to live with us full-time as well."

Her hands stopped their dance mid-air as the realization of his words sunk in. "Five boys-"

"Yes."

Guessing from his stony expression, comments on the size of his family were off-limits. "I see. And their mother-"

"She died last year." It's none of your business, said his tone.

"Oh." She hadn't meant to pry, but-five boys! Caroline found herself wishing she could have met the late Mrs. Tracy, if to do nothing else but shake her hand. "I'm sorry."

Tracy sighed and stood, collecting his cap from the desk. "Mrs. Adams, look. I know we're not your average family, but I'm just trying to find someplace we can regroup. My wife died last January, my father passed away six weeks ago, and I'm about the only one in my family that's any type of upright and sane." He shook his head. "I need to find someone who'll take us on. My mom usually picks up the slack, but she's got her own problems at the moment, and she's not getting any younger. My boys are good boys, but they're active, and Alan's just a baby-"

He stopped in mid sentence, and Caroline could see by the way his throat worked that he was trying desperately to hang on to his composure. After a few moments, he took a shaky breath and continued. "We just need someone to give us some breathing room. That's all. If you can't help us, tell me now, so we don't waste my time and yours."

As her prospective client finished this impassioned speech, Caroline found that she was near tears herself. Col. Tracy was a man who might have lost the light in his eyes, but he was fighting to keep it alive in his soul; the least she could do was help him with the practical details of that battle. "I see your point, Colonel." Turning back to her monitor, Caroline deftly called up the listings for several vacant country houses, as well as her file of capable young women who might relish the challenge of teaching and caring for five active brothers. "I believe I may have what you're looking for."

For the first time since their meeting began, Jeff Tracy smiled.