Read Online Amelia by Bernadette Marie - Free Book Online

concerns was child care. That was a definite issue with her getting a job. And Penelope didn’t know anyone so how could she get a job if she had to pay out for child care always?
    But Amelia didn’t know anything about children—nothing. She’d been one once, but that was as far as it went. But she did understand finances and business—enough.
    Of course they could open a store with shirts and skirts and the kids could hang out. Maybe they could have a self-defense studio and she could teach them what to do.
    “Are you going to let the rest of us in on your planning?” Vivian sat forward, her arms on the table.
    “Sorry,” Amelia said as she set the pen on the pad. “The common factor we have here are kids. Your two and Penelope’s. No matter what we do or what jobs either of you take on you’re going to have to find child care.”
    “Yeah, bosses aren’t real fond of kids hanging around,” Vivian snapped.
    “No one is going to hire Penelope either.” She looked to her side and saw that had brought a tear to Penelope’s eye. “They don’t want a pregnant woman who will leave and they will have to pay out medical benefits on.”
    “Where is this going?”
    “My first thought is we go into child care.”
    Vivian let out a snort and sat back in her chair. “You’re going to take care of children?”
    “I was thinking I’d be the executive side. The two of you seem to have more knowledge about kids.”
    “Ya think?”
    Amelia swallowed hard. If Vivian Monroe had crossed her path prior to Adam’s funeral she was sure she’d have given that dark hair a firm yank that brought her to her knees. But as it was she was also the peace keeper, so she’d refrain from ripping Vivian Monroe to pieces.
    “I’d love to work with kids,” Penelope spoke softly. “I have four sisters and they were much younger than I was. I’ve done a lot of babysitting.”
    “This is more than babysitting,” Vivian added.
    “Oh, I know. But I like the thought that I could be with my baby too.”
    Vivian’s eyes softened. “That is a plus.”
    Amelia watched Vivian process it. “It would mean thinking about it. A place, licenses, advertising. There is a lot to consider.”
    “It would take a while to get it all together. That’s quite an undertaking,” Penelope added.
    “I agree. I could teach some martial arts and self-defense classes for a bit. That would help earn us some revenue.”
    “I could find a job for a few months. It’s summer and the seasonal jobs which are filled by kids will need people to fill in,” Penelope said as if she knew the facts behind that.
    Vivian looked down at her hands clasped on the table. “I’ll still need to find a job and have someone watch the kids.”
    Amelia pushed her shoulders back. “You have me and Penelope. We’re a team now, even if we didn’t plan that.”
    “You don’t know my kids.”
    Amelia grinned. “I train soldiers. I can keep tabs on your two girls.”
    Vivian met her grin with one of her own. “You might be in for a lesson.”
    “I like a challenge.”
    Vivian actually laughed before she looked down at her watch. “I have to go.” She reached for her purse and hiked it onto her shoulder. “So is this what we’re doing?”
    “Let’s talk again. Give it some thought. Penelope and I need to find places to live. And we have to secure his debts too. I don’t know what we’ll have left. But without a plan…”
    “We won’t know where we’re going,” Vivian added.
    “Right.”
    Vivian nodded. “Why don’t you both come by my house tonight for dinner?” She stood. “I promise not to poison anyone.”
    Amelia laughed, but she noticed Penelope’s eyes opened wide.
    “I think that would be nice. I’ll bring wine,” Amelia offered and Vivian acknowledged with a nod before leaving the room.
    Amelia sat back in her chair. “That went better than I thought it would.”
    “She doesn’t have much choice,” Penelope said softly. “She’s