“Okay,” he started to say, and my heart fluttered with excitement. “I know you are trying, and I want to help you out. If you keep a job for thirty days, I’ll supplement your income with a small allowance. And I mean small. I’m not going to pay all your bills. You’ll need to pay most of them. But I’ll put a thousand dollars in your bank account each month to help you out.”
“You’ll do that now?” I asked.
“No, after thirty days of working. You’ll need to show you can keep a job and actually work hard for it. Life isn’t easy, honey. It’s uncomfortable and hard sometimes.”
“Daddy, but I need it now.”
“I’m sorry. You’ll need to work at the same job for thirty days and show me you’re able to push through some of the uncomfortable feelings and really make an effort. Working isn’t supposed to be fun. It’s work. It’s hard and uncomfortable, and you have to just keep doing it. As an adult, you have responsibilities, and having a job is one of them.”
“But …” I continued to sob … “What am I supposed to do now?”
“Get a job honey, and remember this is for your own good. Your mother and I love you very much and want to see you grow into a strong and independent woman.”
“I … um … I don’t want to be independent. I’ve tried it, and I don’t really like it. How about I just find a rich man,” I joked with him.
“Yes, you do want to be independent. A rich man is going to want a strong independent woman by his side. You’ve got to learn these things. Now call me and let me know when you find that job so we can start counting down your thirty days. I love you, honey; I’ve got to go.”
“Love you too,” I managed to say as we hung up.
I couldn’t believe he still wasn’t giving in and helping me out. It had been months since he and my mother kicked me out. I honestly thought they would be more sympathetic to how hard I had been working and the changes I was able to make so far.
I spent the rest of the day driving around and trying to figure out how I was going to explain this to Patrick. Living on my own was way harder than I’d expected it to be. It was impossible to manage my money for a whole month, and I could never imagine being able to do it on a long-term basis.
As I walked up the steps to Patrick’s apartment, I wiped away my tears and tried to hold it together. I opened the door slowly while still trying to figure out how I could explain to him what was going on. It was Friday, and I was supposed to pay him today. I’d planned on spending much less at the spa than I did, and now I’d just gotten myself into a pickle.
“Summer!” Anna said as she jumped off the couch and flung her arms around me. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Hey, oh, you’re both here?”
“Remember, we were all going to have a game night tonight? You and Patrick against me and Jason. Come on, I sent you the calendar to put it in your phone.”
“Yeah, of course, no problem,” I said totally not remembering we were doing this. “Do you mind if I take a quick shower first? It’s been a long day.”
“Hey, Summer, it’s nice to see you again,” Jason said.
“You too. I’ll be out in a few,” I replied as I motioned for Patrick to come talk to me down the hall.
“We ordered pizza so it should be here in a few minutes. You’re fine,” Anna added.
“What do you need?” Patrick asked as he was pouring drinks in the kitchen.
“Um, well. I don’t think I’ll be able to pay my part of the rent until next week,” I whispered. “I’m really sorry. I’ll take a pair of my shoes into the consignment shop and get you some money first thing next week.”
“Come on Summer! This is ridiculous,” he said loud enough that both Jason and Anna stopped talking and looked our way.
“What’s up?” Anna asked as she joined us in the kitchen.
Anna was my best friend out of the whole group. I’d known her long before I knew everyone else. She was honest with me all the time but loved me for who I was. If there was anyone who would understand what I was going through, it had to be her.
The day my father kicked me out it was Anna who came and got me and brought me to her apartment. No matter what was going on, I trusted her and her opinion, but when it came to Patrick, she had a bit of a blind spot. They had shared the apartment before me, and she nearly always sided with him on our little squabbles as roommates.
“Nothing, it’s no big deal,” I tried to say so everyone didn’t start talking about my inability to keep a job.
Every time I had a money issue, Patrick and any number of my friends would go on and on about how I had to learn money management. They would tell me about all these apps to use on my phone and tips to start saving money. It was so overwhelming.
Then they would go on and on about job openings that I should apply for and how I’d be the perfect fit. I was starting to believe I wasn’t good at anything and would never be able to keep a job. The problem was that they always suggested extremely boring jobs that I knew I would be horrible at. One time, Anna even suggested that I work as a secretary at her father’s company. I couldn’t even imagine the horror of having to sit at a desk all day long.
“Summer has lost her job again and doesn’t have money for rent. But surprise, surprise, her hair and nails are done. Oh, and is that some lip injections I see there?” Patrick asked as he pointed at my lips. “I’m so over this Summer. It’s got to end. I need a new roommate.”
Patrick stormed off to his bedroom, leaving me standing in the kitchen with Anna. There was no crying this time. I was too exhausted. I didn’t know if everyone just thought I was purposely being a horrible employee or what, but I genuinely liked talking to people, and sometimes I just got sidetracked by the clothing. Yes, I did make some mistakes in the process, and I was learning from those.
Like social media posting was a definite no-no in the workplace. I got that now. I wasn’t going to forget it, and I could take that lesson with me to my new job. I might not be a fast learner, but I was learning.
“You’ve got to keep a job, Summer. That’s like your eighth job in the last few months,” Anna said as she gave me a hug.
“Hey, I know a guy that wants to hire a nanny,” Jason said as he joined us in the kitchen. “How are you with kids? I bet the pay is good, and you’re basically just taking the kids to and from school.”
“I can hang with kids.”
“I’m not sure if he’s still looking, but he was pretty desperate to get someone on board,” Jason said as he started to dial a number. “I’ll call him right now.”
“Oh my gosh, that would be perfect,” I said as Anna looked at me skeptically.
“You’d have to make sure they get to school on time each morning and pick them up. They probably have breakfast before you leave. It’s a big responsibility.”
“Anna, come on. I could do it. Plus, it’s kids who are old enough for school. It’s not like they won’t be able to talk. They could tell me what I forgot. It would be perfect.”
Jason went to the balcony to talk with his friend while Anna continued to look at me as if I was crazy for thinking I could take care of a child or a couple kids. I managed to take care of myself well enough that I didn’t starve to death. I could handle a couple of kids.
Plus, I was more motivated than before. I needed to keep a job for a month so my father would start helping me out a little. Playing with kids before and after school sounded like the most amazing opportunity ever.
“Seriously, Summer, it’s going to be hard, and you can’t just quit. Those kids will love you and rely on you. You’ll have to stick it out even when you think it’s getting too hard.”
“I know. This is perfect for me. Come on, think about it. I love kids. I only know how to cook kid friendly food like mac and cheese. I’m excellent at doing hair, so if there is a little girl, I could rock some cute hair styles for her. Don’t you think it might be the right thing for me?”
“If you’re going to co
mmit to it, I know you could be an amazing nanny. You are very fun to be around, and I’ve seen how much kids just love you. Jason’s son Clyde absolutely adores you. Just make sure you’re taking it seriously and really try hard. If this guy is a friend of Jason’s, I’m sure I’ll hear all about it if things go wrong.”
“I’m confident I can do this Anna, you’ll see.”
Jason came back in with a smile on his face. He and Anna had only been together a few months, and I really didn’t know him too well, but I was hopeful this smile meant that I could get the job.
“Okay, you can go for an interview. He’s actually interviewing some people tomorrow. He will want you to stay at his house for the first few weeks at least so you can learn how everything works. Could you do that?”
“Yes, she can,” Patrick said as she stood in the hallway looking annoyed at me.
“Yes, that’s fine,” I added.
“Tomorrow, two o’clock, I’ll text you the address. Don’t be late, though. He’s a stickler about the time thing.”
“I’m always on time.”
Both Patrick and Anna broke into laughter at the idea. Maybe I was exaggerating a little, but I could be on time for this job interview. There was no doubt in my mind that this job was meant to be.
“Always?” Anna teased.
“Okay, okay, maybe not always. But I’ll be on time for this. I promise. Thanks for helping me out Jason; I really appreciate it.”
“Not sure how much of a help I was, but at least you can go in for the interview. Tyler is really picky, and I think he’s been through a few nannies in the last few months. But I know he’s getting desperate to hire someone and so hopefully, it works out for the both of you.”
“Is he mean or something?” I asked.
“No, he’s a really nice guy. I think he’s just particular about his children and their schedules. His wife passed away a few years ago, and he wants the kids to maintain a schedule so their life isn’t stressful. From what I understand, the last nanny went back to college or something. So not a big dramatic firing or anything like that.”
This was so exciting. My bad mood had totally been turned upside down by the prospect of being a nanny. I loved kids, and without a doubt, I could hang with them and feed them. I couldn’t imagine why I hadn’t thought about being a nanny before.
As we ate pizza and played party games, even Patrick seemed to lighten up a bit. He stopped being grumpy and even smiled a few times while we played. For the first time in several months, I finally felt like a job was going to be the perfect fit for me.
Chapter 4
Tyler
“So she has experience?” I asked.
“Yeah, I think so. I’ll make sure, though. Just interview her. She really needs a job, and I know her, she’s a nice girl.”
“Man, I don’t know. This is so stressful. Everyone who has come to interview is so awkward around the kids. Is it too much to ask that someone actually can play with them as well as take care of them?”
“Just remember, Tyler, you’re not looking for their mom. You’re looking for someone good enough. And don’t be turned off by this girl’s appearance. Look beyond that, okay?”
I wasn’t exactly sure what he was implying, but I didn’t care what the nanny looked like. I wanted someone the kids would like who could also follow the rules I set out. To me, it didn’t seem like I was asking for too much, but yet, over and over the women I interviewed weren’t a good fit.
Sometimes, it was the way they answered the questions I’d asked. Other times, it was how they described their previous work history. There were fake answers for everything, and I longed for someone to come in and just tell the truth.
“I don’t care what she looks like. Just have her come at two o’clock. I’ve got the last of my other women to interview before that. But if I find a nanny earlier in the day, I’m going to cancel her appointment.”
“I hope it works out for you.”
“Thanks for the referral. I appreciate your help.”
“Of course, let me know if there’s anything else I can do,” Jason replied.
Hanging up with Jason made me realize just how isolated I’d become since my wife had passed away. I didn’t go out with the guys. I didn’t meet up with friends. Basically, I was wrapped up in work and kids so much that I didn’t get a single moment of time to myself. I didn’t mind though because my kids were the most important thing in my life, and I’d give up every second of my free time to them gladly.
***
Saturday morning, I prepared the kids for a long morning of interviews. They were set up in the living room with some toys and cartoons, and I was set up in my office for the interviews. This was the last day of interviews, and if I didn’t find someone I loved by the end of the day, I was going to have to pick just anyone that would do. There wasn’t enough time left. I had to get someone on board and training right away.
The morning interviews were total duds. The three women and one man I interviewed seemed more interested in describing how perfect they were than telling me about who they really were. It was exhausting to listen to that much fakeness going on all morning long.
By lunch time, I needed a break, and the kids and I went to the backyard to run around and play. It was a beautiful late summer day and nearly ninety degrees out. After being cooped up in the living room all morning, the kids were excited to have some play time and took off so fast I couldn’t catch up to them.
“So did you like any of those nannies?” I asked Faith.
As the oldest and a girl, she tended to pay more attention to this decision than Thomas did. For Thomas, I was fairly sure anyone who was nice to him and would make him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich was all he wanted. But for Faith, it was going to take much more to make her happy. I wasn’t sure what that was just yet, but I was happy to search for it with her and eager to see if any of these people met her wish list.
“I didn’t really like them,” she said sadly. “But if you think they are good, then I’ll try to like them.”
“I’ve got two more ladies coming this afternoon. If we don’t like these ones, we will have to talk about everyone we have met so far. I did do some interviews while you were at school. You might like one of them.”
“Why didn’t you hire them?” Thomas asked.
“Because I wasn’t sure yet.”
“You said that Mom used to say you know if a person is good or not from the moment you first meet them,” Faith said as she repeated back my own wisdom from the first day of school speech.
“Well, I think most of these people are good. But there’s more to taking care of the two of you than just being good.”
It was true. I honestly thought the people I was interviewing genuinely would be good nannies for someone, just not me. There was no connection – not a sexual connection, just a connection in that I felt comfortable around them and vice-versa. I was searching for this mythical connection, and I just couldn’t figure out what exactly it was just yet.
“Maybe one of the last two will be perfect,” Faith said in her usual cheerful way.
“I bet they will.”
After an hour playing and laughing in the heat, we came inside to eat our sandwiches and cool off before the 1:30 p.m. interview showed up. I had a good feeling about this afternoon. Or maybe it was just hopeful dread that something good would turn up from the two women I had left to talk to.
I was getting desperate for a nanny. When Annette pulled into the driveway, my gut sank before she even got to the house. She was wearing a full-blown business suit to an interview to be a nanny. I tried not to be too judgmental of what people wore, but it was 90 degrees outside, and she was interviewing to work with kids. It wasn’t quite the right choice, but I put on a smile and opened the door to greet her.
“Hi, are you Tyler?” she asked with her hand extended to shake mine.
“Yes, Annette?”
“Yep, it’s so nice to meet you.”
>
“This is Faith and Thomas,” I said as we stood in the living room.
The kids looked up from the newly started television show and then back at it again. They both looked like they were about to fall asleep after our afternoon of playing outside. I was exhausted too, and I probably didn’t smell the greatest, but I plugged along with the interview.
“It’s nice to meet you guys,” Annette said nicely.
Again, the kids didn’t turn around and continued with their show. I already didn’t have a great feeling about this girl, but we were running out of choices, so I continued.
“Should we go sit in my office and talk for a minute?”
“Sure, I’d love that.”
Annette followed me down the hall to my office. I left the door open so I could hear if the kids needed anything, and we sat down in the two wingback chairs I had in the corner. I’d tried interviewing people while I sat behind my desk, but it just felt really impersonal and awkward.
“So, tell me a little about yourself,” I said as I pulled out her resume that she had emailed over to me.
“As you will note, I spent three years at the Stepping Stone’s Daycare. I worked in the big kid room and with the recreation team. I’ve got experience in crafting for kids as well as wellness education.”
“Wow, that’s really exciting. What about your hobbies? What do you like to do away from work?” I asked, desperate to hear anything that made this girl seem like a real person and not a robot repeating her résumé.
“I volunteer at the boys and girls club of America and really enjoy my time there. It has helped me learn self-discipline and compassion for the children I work with.”
“Okay, how about stress. How do you handle stress?”
“I majored in children’s psychology, so I know how to take time out for myself and the kids I help take care of. It’s been very helpful over the years, and I don’t yell or take it out on the children.”
Bedroom Rodeo: A Billionaire Romance Page 4
