Nothing Short of a Miracle Read Online Free Page B

interview.
    The person at the second interview was so cantankerous, and in the late stages of Alzheimer’s. His children’s loud, demanding, angry attitude toward him, and what they demanded of a home-health aide, had her shaking her head at the sadness of it all. She definitely wasn’t the person for this position either. She hoped the third time was the charm. Literally. She needed a job. However, she wasn’t sure it was worth going to the last interview. She had no businesses applying for a position as a health aide. What was Mindy thinking? Why had she let Mindy make all these arrangements? One of them needed their head examined. Trouble was, she had a feeling it was her.
    Gabby had hurried home after the second interview, fed and changed Nina, gulped down a cup of coffee, and bundled them both into her Saturn. She headed out to the afternoon appointment with a Mr. and Mrs. Hempstead. She inched her way through the streets of downtown Ithaca during lunchtime traffic on snow-covered streets, turned up Route 89 on the opposite side of Cayuga Lake. She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel and cursed each red light. She wanted to get this interview over with and chalk the day up to another miserable letdown. She checked her watch while she waited for yet another light to turn green.
    She finally found the address listed on the sheet the employment agency provided, and made a right turn onto a long, curving driveway lined with mature, snow covered blue spruce. The grounds surrounding the house reminded her of a Christmas card dotted with red cardinals perched on coated branches and Cinderella-type animals snuggled underneath. In the distance, a gigantic yard lay covered in snow, dotted with bare maple trees, and sloped down toward the water’s edge. It was a great yard for children to romp around in, to build snowmen in, or even build an igloo or two. Gabriella remembered the good times growing up in Pennsylvania and the snowball fights she and her sister used to enjoy with their parents—skating on the pond, searching for the right Christmas tree on their grandparent’s family farm.
    Despite her melancholy misgivings, her spirits lifted.
    Gabriella rounded another clump of trees and stopped in front of an impressive and enchanting three-story Victorian home overlooking Cayuga Lake.
    “Just look at this home, Sweetheart.” She half turned to Nina. “I bet they’ve enjoyed some wonderful family holiday gatherings here, too.” Gabriella sighed. Tears threatened.
    She shook her head and recalled the disappointing exchange with Charles, and the little fender-bender of a few days ago. Had she been too hasty in breaking it off with Charles? The last two interviews were a bust, and already the money the man from the crash had stuffed in her hand had dwindled. What if this interview goes nowhere? Maybe Staffing Solutions could find her something other than a home care position in another week or two.
    Right. Who was she kidding? There weren’t any other openings at the moment. Other than dog-walking. She had no intention of trudging through the snow-covered winter streets with several dogs yanking and tangling the strings, tripping her and landing in the slush and snow.
    Nope. This was her last chance.
    Gabriella took a deep, steadying breath, sighed, and got out of the car. She walked around the vehicle and lifted Nina from the back seat. Gabriella smiled at her niece. She had made the right decision—picking Nina over Charles.
    “Well, Nina honey, here goes.”
    Gabriella kissed the infant on the forehead and tucked the warm blanket over the infant’s head. “I’d ask you to cross your fingers and toes, but I know I’d be asking a lot. Just be the cute cuddly baby you are and we’ll see what happens.” She lifted the sleeping baby from her car seat, and settled her over her shoulder. “Let’s get this over with, sweetie,” she whispered—her voice wobbled.
    Gabriella walked to the front porch, up several