Read Online Whatever Tomorrow Brings (The Californians 1) by Lori Wick - Free Book Online
Authors: Lori Wick
Tags: Fiction, General, Grief, Romance, tragedy, Christian fiction, Religious, Christian, San Francisco (Calif.), California - History - 1850-1950, Hawaii
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knowing how much his 15-year-old brother was enjoying this time without a teacher. "Well, I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. He looked a little young to teach school."
"That's true," Nate said with relief.
The boys were joined then by the next brother, 18year-old Gilbert, and all three of them went back to work.
"I can see I've surprised you, Mr. Kemp, and I know my appearance right now is rather a dusty mess, but I am qualified to teach your school."
Burt and Greg both stared in disbelief at the lovely young woman, dressed in widow's weeds. It took a few moments for Burt to recover.
"Please be seated, Mrs. Donovan. I'm sorry we-"
"It's Miss Donovan."
Burt blinked in surprise thinking that he'd misunderstood her when she'd introduced herself. He looked at her dress and Kaitlin knew she had to explain.
"My mother died recently." Her voice told of her grief. "I've never been married, although my brother and sister will be living with me."
The meeting, off to a poor start, came to a wonderful conclusion. The men had been hesitant to hire a woman but within a few minutes they were more than impressed with Kaitlin Donovan. The only cloud on the horizon was Kaitlin's lack of a teaching certificate. Greg was very bothered by this and came right out and said so.
"We can't very well give you a trial period since this is the end of March and school ends in two months but I do think we, as a school board, need to consider this. Maybe the best route to take would be a lower wage for the first month, you know, until you've proven yourself."
"That's fine, Mr. Carson." Kate assured him in her gentle way. Burt felt very guilty about such a move but the time was moving on. He didn't want this interview to make him late in leaving-he and his wife were going to see their eldest daughter, who was about to have a baby. He'd take up the matter with Greg, when he returned.
Sean and Marcail were ushered into the office and introduced. The next thing Kaitlin knew, they were being led down the street to ahotel for the night.
"Now, Mr. Carson will start first thing in the morning finding you a place to live." Burt was walking and talking so fast that Kaitlin was straining to catch his words.
"You should be comfortable here tonight." They were in the hotel now, going up the stairs at an amazing pace. "That will give you the weekend to get settled, and you'll be ready to start school Monday. Oh! The school records. Greg can bring you those. Oh, yes, my daughter... we're going on a trip but you'll have her when we return."
Mr. Kemp had seen them to their room and opened the door. He gave a quick look around before bidding them good-bye and nearly running from the room.
The door closed and the children stood still in the middle of the room. A moment went by, and then Kaitlin walked toward the only chair in the room and sank into it. She was nearly trembling with fatigue.
Marcail was fascinated with the idea of staying in a hotel and she did a thorough inspection of the room. There was only one bed, but there was a good-sized sofa, and Marcail declared it would be Sean's. Sean was too busy watching his older sister to pay much attention to Marcail.
"Are you going to cry, Katie?"
"I'm too tired to cry."
'Are you happy you got the job?"
"Yes, I'm just a little overwhelmed."
"Why don't I go get us some supper?"
"Would you, Sean?" Kate perked up at the very idea.
"Sure. Marcail and I will go find some food while you freshen up."
Kaitlin did cry then, because he was so thoughtful. Sean never knew what to do when his sisters or mother cried and then he remembered he didn't have a mother.
Please God, his young heart prayed as he moved close so Kate could cry onto the sleeve of his jacket, please help me take care of my sisters. And please take care of me, too.
fourteen
The next morning Greg Carson walked with a jaunty step into the hotel dining area to find the new schoolteacher. She was easy to spot because the room was near
"That's true," Nate said with relief.
The boys were joined then by the next brother, 18year-old Gilbert, and all three of them went back to work.
"I can see I've surprised you, Mr. Kemp, and I know my appearance right now is rather a dusty mess, but I am qualified to teach your school."
Burt and Greg both stared in disbelief at the lovely young woman, dressed in widow's weeds. It took a few moments for Burt to recover.
"Please be seated, Mrs. Donovan. I'm sorry we-"
"It's Miss Donovan."
Burt blinked in surprise thinking that he'd misunderstood her when she'd introduced herself. He looked at her dress and Kaitlin knew she had to explain.
"My mother died recently." Her voice told of her grief. "I've never been married, although my brother and sister will be living with me."
The meeting, off to a poor start, came to a wonderful conclusion. The men had been hesitant to hire a woman but within a few minutes they were more than impressed with Kaitlin Donovan. The only cloud on the horizon was Kaitlin's lack of a teaching certificate. Greg was very bothered by this and came right out and said so.
"We can't very well give you a trial period since this is the end of March and school ends in two months but I do think we, as a school board, need to consider this. Maybe the best route to take would be a lower wage for the first month, you know, until you've proven yourself."
"That's fine, Mr. Carson." Kate assured him in her gentle way. Burt felt very guilty about such a move but the time was moving on. He didn't want this interview to make him late in leaving-he and his wife were going to see their eldest daughter, who was about to have a baby. He'd take up the matter with Greg, when he returned.
Sean and Marcail were ushered into the office and introduced. The next thing Kaitlin knew, they were being led down the street to ahotel for the night.
"Now, Mr. Carson will start first thing in the morning finding you a place to live." Burt was walking and talking so fast that Kaitlin was straining to catch his words.
"You should be comfortable here tonight." They were in the hotel now, going up the stairs at an amazing pace. "That will give you the weekend to get settled, and you'll be ready to start school Monday. Oh! The school records. Greg can bring you those. Oh, yes, my daughter... we're going on a trip but you'll have her when we return."
Mr. Kemp had seen them to their room and opened the door. He gave a quick look around before bidding them good-bye and nearly running from the room.
The door closed and the children stood still in the middle of the room. A moment went by, and then Kaitlin walked toward the only chair in the room and sank into it. She was nearly trembling with fatigue.
Marcail was fascinated with the idea of staying in a hotel and she did a thorough inspection of the room. There was only one bed, but there was a good-sized sofa, and Marcail declared it would be Sean's. Sean was too busy watching his older sister to pay much attention to Marcail.
"Are you going to cry, Katie?"
"I'm too tired to cry."
'Are you happy you got the job?"
"Yes, I'm just a little overwhelmed."
"Why don't I go get us some supper?"
"Would you, Sean?" Kate perked up at the very idea.
"Sure. Marcail and I will go find some food while you freshen up."
Kaitlin did cry then, because he was so thoughtful. Sean never knew what to do when his sisters or mother cried and then he remembered he didn't have a mother.
Please God, his young heart prayed as he moved close so Kate could cry onto the sleeve of his jacket, please help me take care of my sisters. And please take care of me, too.
fourteen
The next morning Greg Carson walked with a jaunty step into the hotel dining area to find the new schoolteacher. She was easy to spot because the room was near
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