The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow by Susan Martins Miller

pocket as he reached for his uniform jacket.
    â€œI’ve left the buggy outside,” she said. “You may tell Karl to put it away.”
    â€œKarl knows what to do when you come back from airing the baby.” Archie buttoned his jacket. “I’m sure he’ll be along without a reminder.”
    â€œThe baby looks sleepy.” Charlotte resumed her chopping at the butcher block but glanced at the child.
    â€œThe sun was bright, and he didn’t have his hat,” Sarah said. That maid had better not blame her for the warm sun.
    â€œIs he hungry?”
    Sarah sighed. “I don’t know. But I’d like tea.”
    Archie stepped over to Sarah and took the baby from her. “So make yourself some tea.”
    â€œBut Charlotte is right here.”
    â€œCharlotte is already filling in for Mrs. Fletcher, keeping up with her own work, and listening for Miss Brewster’s call. Make your own tea.”
    Sarah stomped across the kitchen and snatched the kettle off the stove.
    â€œHe’s perspiring.” Archie gently wiped the baby’s face with his hand.
    â€œI told you, the sun was overly bright.” Sarah took a cup down from a shelf and set it on a saucer.
    â€œDid you at least put up the hood of the buggy?” Archie asked. “His skin is quite fair, you know.”
    â€œI didn’t want to cut off the air. What’s the point of airing a baby if you do that?”
    She turned her head to meet his eye, but he was looking at Charlotte. What he saw in the maid, Sarah couldn’t fathom.
    â€œHe needs something to drink,” Archie said. “Charlotte, some milk!”

    Charlotte panicked. Was Henry not simply sun-drenched and ready for his nap? Dropping her knife, she snatched a bottle from the counter and filled it with a few ounces of the milk she had mixed and sweetened for the baby’s daily use. Screwing on a nipple, she moved toward Archie.
    â€œHe doesn’t take his milk cold.” Sarah moved to the sink to fill the kettle.
    Charlotte ignored her and offered the bottle. The baby reached with a hand to help guide it to his mouth and sucked eagerly. Sarah rolled her eyes.
    â€œYou let him get too hot and thirsty,” Archie said to Sarah. “Next time, use the buggy hood.”
    â€œI’ll thank you not to pretend to know anything about children!” Sarah posed with her arms crossed and her weight on one foot. “Coddling them teaches poor habits.”
    â€œAnd neglecting them? What does that teach them?”
    Charlotte could hardly believe what she was seeing—Archie standing up for her son. Except he did not even know he held her son in his arms. He simply did it because it was the right thing to do. She couldn’t imagine Henry’s own father ever holding him this way. Charlotte hardly knew how to respond to Archie’s gentleness toward a stranger’s nameless child.
    â€œPerhaps we should sponge him off,” Archie suggested.
    Sarah yanked the child out of Archie’s arms. “I’m quite capable of doing that.”
    Charlotte barely caught the bottle headed for a collision with the floor. Calmly, she handed it to Sarah. “When I get a chance, I’ll bring you some tea and biscuits.”
    Sarah spun and left the room.
    â€œCharlotte,” Archie said, “why did you offer to bring her tea? She’s—”
    Charlotte cut him off. “She’s taking care of a baby. I’m concerned for the child.”
    Archie put a hand on her shoulder. “I know I suggested a couple of days ago that perhaps you were getting too close to things. But I can see now how hard it is to watch her neglect an innocent child for her own convenience.”
    â€œShe can’t seem to control her tongue, but she is keeping a strict routine. That’s good for the baby.”
    â€œI suppose so.”
    â€œBesides, Mrs. Edwards wants Sarah to stay on until she returns in