Chapter Four
Jess
Sunday morning, I woke to the blaring sound of Mom’s ringtone on my cell. I rolled over and pressed my fingers against my temples. The ringer radiated through my brain. Last night rushed into my mind in a flash. Sierra had canceled on me when she got last-minute tickets to a band she liked. And I was stupid and took it upon myself to drink the bottle of wine I got for us on my own. And mixed with the overeating of Chinese takeout, my body was not feeling so hot.
I grabbed the phone from my side table and turned off the ringer. I squeezed my eyes closed, wishing the world wasn’t so bright at that moment.
I pressed my pillow to the back of my head, cutting out all light from my world. All I wanted to do was drift off to sleep again.
But Mom had other ideas.
The phone rang again. She wouldn’t stop until I picked up.
I groaned and accepted the call, pressing the phone to my ear. “Hey, Mom.”
“Did I wake ya?” she asked.
“No, I was just lying around,” I lied.
“With the boy? Ricky was his name?”
I rolled my eyes. She knew damn well that was his name. We’d only discussed him every Sunday for the past two years.
“Yeah, Mom. I don’t work for them anymore. Remember?”
“Did you get fired?” she asked.
I gritted my teeth. “No, I didn’t get fired. He’s five now. And since it’s school break, the family didn’t need me anymore.” Her memory wasn’t fading. It was the lack of attention she paid to anything that I said.
“Have you got another job lined up?” she asked before I finished speaking. Why did she bother asking me questions if she wasn’t going to listen to the answer?
“No,” I said, hesitating. I already knew what she was going to say, so I braced myself for her reaction. “I’m taking a break from working.”
“A break? What do ya mean a break?”
“Yes, a break. I need to clear my head before starting another job.”
She made a dismissive snort on the other end. Why the hell did I pick up the phone? Even from ten thousand miles, away she was mothering me. I should have turned my phone off. But Sierra wouldn’t appreciate a phone call this early in the morning. Mom had insisted I have an emergency contact in case I didn’t pick up the phone. Sierra had agreed to be that person, but I never let it get that far. I didn’t want to torture my friend with any of my mom’s accusations.
“What do ya need that for?” she asked.
“A break? I don’t know, Mom, maybe because I worked my butt off for two years. What’s wrong with taking some time off?”
“You need to keep earning money, love. You’re going to get lazy.”
I groaned. “I’m not going to get lazy. I’ve already found a few positions I’m interested in. I’ll contact them in a few days, all right?”
“No need for the talkback, love. I’m just trying to help keep you grounded.”
I dug my fingers into my temples. God, I wished this headache would go away. “I know.”
“You know you’re always welcome to move back home. There isn’t as much hustle and bustle as America, but I would love to see you every day.”
I had no desire to move back home with her. Not in a million years. The dull ache settled into the front of my head. And I knew it wasn’t just the hangover. She had a way of doing this to me.
“Tell me about your week,” I said, moving the subject away from me.
After the conversation with Mom, I got out of bed, took two aspirin, and washed it down with two glasses of water. I rarely drank that much, but I knew dehydration was about to settle in and I wanted to have a productive Sunday. Especially after the conversation with her. Bright and early next Sunday morning she was going to call and ask about the job hunt.
So much for my break. I could inform the prospective families that I had a particular start date in mind, but most long-term nanny positions were looking for their chosen candidate to start right away.
At least I had today to myself, and I would make the best of it.
After showering and changing, I went back to the computer and continued my job search. I had read a few listings before my phone rang.
Sierra’s face lit up the screen. I pressed the DECLINE button and went back to my job search. I didn’t want any distractions. Besides, she was working today. The Baker brothers would be happy I didn’t take up their employee’s time. She probably wanted to talk my ear off about the concert. I would stop by later and talk to her, once I felt better.
Later that afternoon, I gave myself a break from staring at the computer screen. I’d updated my resume and sent it off for five different positions. I wasn’t thrilled about any of them, but any job would pale in comparison to being with Ricky all day. The interview would be the deal breaker. Getting along with the child was paramount for me, and I wouldn’t mind going on a bunch of interviews to find the next kid.
I hoped that would appease Mom for a little while, though I doubted it the moment the thought came into my mind. I never told her how much I made, but for me to be able to have my own apartment and pay all my bills should have been enough for her. I supposed she thought that if I couldn’t afford a plane ticket back to Australia, then I didn’t make enough. Little did she know it was more my apprehension about going back home that kept me rooted in St. Paul than my bank account.
My stomach growled, needing sustenance. I packed up my laptop and notes and shoved them to the back of the table. I’d come back to all that tomorrow. I decided to get food and visit Sierra to find out what she called about earlier.
When I arrived at the record shop, Sierra had a line of two customers in front of her. She rolled her eyes, and they clearly saw her. I stifled a laugh and went to the back of the store and browsed through some records. I had no interest in the older music, but I enjoyed looking at the beautiful cover art.
A few minutes later, Sierra joined me.
She hugged me. “What’s up, girlfriend? How come you ignored my call earlier?”
She had a way of getting right to the root of a conversation. “I wasn’t ignoring you. I was busy.”
“Busy with what? Or should I say whom?” She leaned forward conspiratorially.
I whirled on her. “What are you talking about?”
“Sorry I bailed on you last night, but I figured since your night was free, you might have checked out that dating app I put on your phone.”
“First of all, I’ve never used that app. And second, you know I haven’t found a man worth my time since moving here,” I said. I’d dated a lot when I first moved out here, but I’d placed myself on a year-long hiatus. Most guys my age wanted one-night stands, and that wasn’t for me. Sierra didn’t seem to mind that way of life, but I certainly did.
“You should at least try,” she said. “At least it would help you to get to know more people in the area.”
I wasn’t willing to meet horny strangers to appease my best friend. “Anyway, I spent the whole morning looking for a job. I wanted to focus, so that’s why I didn’t pick up.”
“Hold on.” She raised one of her thick eyebrows. “I thought you were taking a break? You just said that yesterday. Why the change of heart?”
I shrugged and went back to absently browsing the records. I couldn’t meet her eyes. “I was, I mean, I am, but—”
“You spoke to your mom this morning, didn’t you?” she asked, resting her hand on her hip.
“Yeah, well, she got me thinking…” I trailed off.
“I know she’s your mom and everything, but you should do something for you for a change.”
“There’s no harm in looking for a nanny job. I don’t have to take it if I don’t connect with the child—”
Sierra waved her hands between us. “Oh! That’s what I wanted to tell you.”
“Tell me what?” I asked.
“I have a friend who works for Noah Stone. He’s a big medical supplies executive—”
I rolled my eyes. “Sierra, for the hundredth time: I told you I don’t want to be set up—”
“If you’d listen,” she said, grabbing my hands to grab my attention. “This guy is looking for a nanny for his daughter.”
“Oh,” I said. “How do you know him?”
“My friend Rachel works for him. He sent an email last night about needing someone to watch his daughter. Like right away. Since you changed your mind about the break, at least having a reference from Rachel might help. Apparently, he’s super gorgeous, and his kid is like three or four? Anyway, Rachel says the kid is a cutie, and I think it would score some good points for her if you got the job. I told her you were the best nanny around.”
I smiled. “That’s sweet of you to say. Too bad you don’t know any other nannies.”
“You’re welcome!” she trilled.
“Do you have his information?” I asked.
She pulled her phone from her back pocket. “Yeah, he was doing interviews today.”
“On a Sunday?” I asked.
“My friend said his nanny left on Friday. So, he seemed motivated to get someone right away.”
I’d hoped I’d have more time for my break, but if this guy was an executive, then he might be able to match the pay I got from Ricky’s parents.
“Do I have to call for an interview?” I asked.
She scrolled through her phone and then made a face. “Ugh.”
My heart sank. “Did he hire someone already?”
“I have no idea, but the interviews were until five.”
I checked my phone. It was already five-thirty. Damn. I should have picked up the phone when Sierra called before. But if it was meant to be, then it was meant to be. I wanted to get my name on the list at least. I couldn’t imagine he’d hire someone in one day. I could call in the morning and squeeze myself in for an interview. There was no harm. At least I could rehash my interview skills.
“Send me that info,” I said to Sierra. “I’ll contact him and see if I can interview tomorrow.”
“Sure thing,” she said and forwarded me the info.
The name Noah Stone popped up on my phone screen. A light tingle ripped down my arms. There was something serendipitous about the whole situation. I had to take the chance on the job.
“Thanks,” I said. “What are you doing for dinner?”
“I’m free as a bird,” she said. “You?”
“Let’s get some food, and you can tell me all about last night.”
“I’d love to. What are you in the mood for?”
“Anything but Chinese,” I said.