Chapter 1
Schmidt
“Youcan'tdothisto me!”I run my hands through my hair and tug on the ends, trying to think of a solution, but I don’t have one.
“I'm not doing anythingtoyou, Jamie.”She rolls her eyes.
“Then why are you leaving?”
“Because I don’t have a choice!I have to go to Texas and sadly I can't be in two places at once.”
“But what am I going to do?How can you leave her?”I motion to my daughter who’s sitting in the high chair.She smiles happily at me, completely oblivious to how her world is about to change.
“Don’t do that.Don’t you dare make me feel bad and use her to do it.”She points a finger in my face.“It’s already breaking my heart to leave her.”
“Then don’t do it!Stay with us.”
My mind spins with how my life is about to be turned upside down.How Tali’s life is about to change.
“I already sold my house, Jamie.”Martha puts her hand on my shoulder and squeezes gently.“I'm not leaving you all alone though.I was talking to a friend and she has a nanny she loves.”
“Oh, I'm glad she loveshernanny.To be honest, I loved mine too, until about five minutes ago.”My voice is frantic even to my own ears.I don’t know what to do and I'm starting to panic.
“Jamie, everything is going to be fine if you just listen to me and stop overreacting.”
“I'm not overreacting, Martha!The season starts in two weeks.That means I'm going to be away.A lot.”
“Anyway…” She rolls her eyes and keeps going like I didn’t say a word.“The Marshalls are letting go of their nanny, but Karen says she’s amazing and she’ll do great with Tali.”
“Why would I want a nanny who’s getting fired?”I growl.
“She isn’t getting fired, Jamie.”Martha lets out a long sigh, more than frustrated with me.“The Marshall’s children are in high school.They don’t need a nanny anymore.Karen has kept their nanny for so long because she loves her and feels like she’s part of the family.She doesn’t want to let her go, but it makes no sense to keep her.Karen gave me the nanny’s number if you’d like to give her a call.”
“Does the poor nanny even know she was kicked to the curb yet?”I arch a brow.
“She found out last night.I think it would be a good idea to call her now and see if she’s interested.If not, I’ll help you figure out something else.”
“You can help by not leaving me!”
“Clearly, you’re a little overwhelmed right now.I'm getting out of your hair and giving you time to think things through.Call the woman today.”She thrusts a paper into my hand and takes a step back.“Now, Jamie.”She points a wrinkled finger in my face.
Before I can respond, Martha’s out the door and it’s slamming shut behind her.I glance down at the paper with a single name and number on it.
Winnie.
“Let’s get this over with, Tali.The faster we rule her out as a nanny, the faster we can find someone good to take care of you.”
Chapter 2
Winnie
“Karen?”Ianswerthephone as I reach under my bed, looking for my other shoe.
“Hey, Winnie.I know we gave you bad news yesterday, but I have a friend who nannied for a single dad.She’s moving to Texas and leaving him high and dry on short notice.I recommended you and gave her your number.I hope you don’t mind.”
“Oh, uh, not at all.I guess I'll have to find another job anyway, huh?”
“Probably.”She chuckles.“I still hate knowing you won't be with us anymore.It killed us to make this decision.I hope you don’t hate us for it.”The sorrow in her voice is clear as day.I know exactly what she means, I was so sad to leave them too.
