Footsteps tap over the marble floors in the foyer, and a boy joins us. He’s Alessio’s replica. If I didn’t know Alessio was his uncle, I would think that he was his son.
I offer the boy my hand. “Hi, I’m Lake.”
“Leone Angelini,” he says formally.
“Can I call you Leo?”
He nods.
Valerina guides Leo around me, and, in a practiced manner, he sits on the leather reading chair in front of the library. He puts a toy truck on a tray held up by a statue of a well-dressed rabbit that must’ve been inspired by the rabbit fromAlice in Wonderland. What was it he used to say?“Oh dear! Oh dear!”Sounds about right, and appropriate for today.
Val offers me a seat across from the desk as she sits down in the executive chair I imagine her brother often occupies.
“This is my brother’s office. I hope you don’t mind meeting here. Normally, I don’t interview our staff, but this is a temporary position and for Leo. When I saw your résumé, I knew I had to be the one to interview you.”
That makes me uneasy.
Val continues, “It says you studied journalism?”
I swallow. That might be the reason she’s interviewing me. A family as tight as this one might not want someone with a background in journalism on staff. “I mainly write for travel magazines. I’m interested in people, food, and great places to eat.” Not uncovering plots.
“And you’re a native speaker who is already approved for work in most of Europe. I already confirmed it because we often travel. You said you have experience in caring for children this age.” Val puts down the résumé. “Can you tell me more about that?”
Don’t cry like some emotional whale.Swallowing, I say, “I have a little brother about Leo’s age who I used to care for full-time after our parents died.”
Val’s shoulders drop. “I’m sorry to hear about your parents.”
This is a genuine, nice woman, and I feel terrible asking her for this job. “Thank you.”
“It looks like you graduated from college and left a job in California but then didn’t work for a stretch of time. What did you do?”
“My little brother needed full-time care at the time, and I didn’t have assistance with him.”
Val pauses. “I’m grateful I can hire help when I need it.”
Is she getting defensive or just stating a fact? “I didn’t mean to imply?—”
She waves a hand. “I know. We lost Leo’s mother in a car accident.”
I have to exploit this so she will hire me, but I feel terrible about it.“Tragedy tends to bring families closer together. As awful as they are, they teach us about the importance of family.” If one’s family supported one another.
Val gives me a small smile. “It sure does. Are you clear about what the position requires?”
“From what I understood, it’s a short-term, live-in governess position where I teach Leo exclusively in English. I get to go home for the holidays, and then you may or may not call me back for another semester depending on how Leo’s language skills are improving.”
“Correct, except it’s not a live-in position.”
I knew that. Yet, I have to act, and those years living with my ex are finally paying off. I frown as if confused. “The man who told me about the job said it was a live-in.”
“Who is the man who told you about this position?”
“Antonio. We were passing by your house, and after he dropped me off, a woman jumped me. She mugged me, and when I recovered, of course I needed money. Since I missed my flight and the mugger took my passport, I figured it would take time to get a new one, and I need room and board while filing all the paperwork. The embassy is in Rome, and that’s a big city. I would rather stay here while submitting the papers there. Then I remembered Antonio said you were hiring, so I applied.”
“Well, I’m glad Antonio mentioned it before he went on vacation, or you wouldn’t have found us and we couldn’t have been of help. Sounds to me like we agree. Given your fluency in the language and your background in writing and communications, you’re an ideal candidate, and I’m happy to offer you the position.”
OH MY GOD!
I sit up straight and fist my hands, relieved that my little brother will live another day to show his crooked teeth when he smiles. I almost jump up on the chair and start bouncing.
