“I am rich. I’ve spent half my life fixing my house to be exactly how I want it. It looks out over the moors, you know. I watch the deer and the hawks, I walk the paths and gather blueberries or beach plums and make jams and jellies. I’ve done that all my life. I took the job with Mr. Bittlesman because I needed the money. I’ve made some improvements on my house that I couldn’t have afforded otherwise. I’ve made my mother comfortable and safe in the house, and that means a lot to me.”

“But Oscar…”

“I never intended to fall in love with Oscar Bittlesman. You know, I’ve worked on and off for him for three years now. I have a nice little room off the kitchen in this house, and some nights I stay here, but most nights I go home. Oscar asked me as a special favor to be here constantly for the month of December because all his family would be here. I’ve moved my mother to my oldest daughter’s house for this month.”

“But, but,” Christina stammered, “are you two…lovers?”

“Christina Antonioni, you know better than to ask such a personal question. You have no right to the answer. I care for Oscar—I love Oscar. And he loves me. We have wonderful times when we’re together alone. You can’t imagine how he changes when it’s just Oscar and me.” Janice smiled. “Oh, how we laugh.”

“Didn’t you feel awkward when we had dinner at this house and you cooked and served it but didn’t eat with us?”

“Oh, no, honey. It’s much more fun to be the fly on the wall. Oscar and I stayed up for hours picking apart the dinner conversation and laughing about it.”

“Does Delia know? Or Andy? Or your friends?”

“I suppose Delia and Andy have an inkling, but Delia’s too obsessed with her own life, and Andy’s so good-natured, he doesn’t intrude. As for my island friends, they have no idea. Why should they? I’m simply working as a housekeeper.”

“I’m glad you told me this, Janice. It helps me see Oscar Bittlesman in a new light.”

“I’m glad I told you, too. Maybe it will convince you that you could make a life with Andy Bittlesman.”

Christina’s shoulders slumped. “Janice, you know as well as anyone that I’m an island girl and Andy’s a city guy. You just said you won’t marry Oscar because you don’t want to change your life.”