Read Online Elm Creek Quilts [09] Circle of Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini - Free Book Online Page B

up.”
    “Maybe not the only job,” said Karen. “What about President?”
    “Okay, maybe President. But he’s well compensated for it.”
    “And we all know that if you don’t get paid for it, it isn’t work.” Karen had been guilty of that assumption before she had children, and now, thinking of the millions of working women who still operated under that misconception, she could not feel angry, or indignant, or even frustrated. She simply felt tired, much too tired to try to enlighten them.
    Janice pushed her son’s swing for a moment in silence. “Speaking of paid work …” She paused. “There’s no delicate way to phrase this. I’m getting a nanny.”
    Karen stared at her, forgetting to push the swing or move out of the way. Lucas bumped into her. “Mama, Mama, no no no,” he complained as he twisted in the swing.
    She straightened out the chains and gave Lucas another push. “You’re serious,” she managed to say. “Why do you need a nanny?”
    Stupid question. Who needed a nanny more than Janice?
    “Don’t hate me,” said Janice. “I’m going back to work. In a manner of speaking, since I’ll work out of the home. Remember the birthday parties I ran for Elise’s and Jayne’s girls?”
    Karen nodded. Janice, a former producer of children’s public television programs, threw legendary birthday parties complete with themes, costumes, and games that could only be described as enchanting. When her eldest daughter turned five, Janice arranged a fairy tea party like something out of a movie, with cute little girls dancing around the backyard in ballerina skirts and delicate wings made from wire and tulle. Even Ethan, the only boy, wore a pair of emerald green wings and ran around calling himself a dinosaur dragonfly. The photos would surely mortify him in years to come, although he had enjoyed the party as much as the girls.
    “I’ve helped so many other moms with their parties that I finally decided to make it official,” Janice explained. “I can do something I enjoy, still be with my kids, and make a little money, too.”
    “I’m sure you’ll make tons,” said Karen, forcing a smile. “Enough for a Mercedes with built-in car seats. Congratulations.”
    She asked for more details, reminding herself that Janice was her closest friend, the only friend who understood her anymore, and she ought to be delighted and encouraging for her sake. Instead, she was so stunned and envious that she soon gave up responding with anything more than wordless murmurs.
I am a bitter, mean, little person
, she thought.
I nag my husband and I can’t be happy for my best friend
.
    It seemed a long time before Janice finished explaining the specifics of her new job and discussed her family’s need for extra income with the new baby coming and five college tuitions to plan for, as well as her own ache for some kind of life of her own apart from bottles and diapers and nursery rhymes.
    “You never needed a life before,” said Karen lightly, watching the older children running and climbing and tumbling over the playground like a pack of happy puppies. “You were as committed to the calling of maternal drudgery as the rest of us.”
    Janice laughed, but as her eyes followed Connor as he raced to stop his youngest from pouring a bucketful of pebbles down thefront of her sundress, her smile faded. “I want my own income. There’s no such thing as job security anymore. Or marital security.”
    “What?” exclaimed Karen. “Is something going on with Sean? His job, or … you two?”
    “No. Not yet. But sometimes you never see it coming.”
    “Janice, no.” Karen shook her head. “Sean would never leave you. He adores you. He would never be interested in someone else. He can hardly keep his hands off you.”
    Janice gestured to her round belly. “That much, at least, is true.”
    “Please don’t tell me you’re taking this job as an insurance policy in case Sean leaves you. I’ve never seen a man so