Joe just points at me with his cigarette. “That right there? That’s how I know you noticed her. You don’t go into all of your evolutionary biology shit unless you’re tryna avoid somethin’.”
“I’m not avoiding anything. I’m stating facts.”
“Uh-huh.” Joe’s smirking now. “So what you’re tellin’ me is you hired a girl—”
“Woman,” I correct automatically.
“—a woman who you got into a physical altercation with over cab access, who your hostile daughter miraculously doesn’t hate, and you didn’t notice asinglething about what she looks like?”
“I noticed she has two arms, two legs, and a head. The standard configuration of a human body.”
Maria nearly chokes on her soda. “The standard configuration?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I really don’t think I do,” she says, wiping her eyes because she’s laughing so hard.
Allison’s watching me with that knowing look that mothers and pregnant women seem to develop, like they can see right through whatever bullshit you’re trying to sell them. “So when does she start?”
“Tomorrow.”
“And you’re not the least bit nervous about this?” she asks, raising an eyebrow. “Like, at all?”
“Of course I’m nervous, but Emma likes her, which is the only thing that matters.”
“Uh-huh.” Allison exchanges a look with Joe that I don’t like at all.
“What?”
“Nothin’,” Joe says, but he’s still grinning. “Just that this is either gonna work out great or it’s gonna be a complete disaster, and either way it’s gonna be entertaining as hell to watch.”
“I’m so glad my life is entertaining for you.”
“Hey, we all gotta get our kicks somewhere.” He takes another drag. “Speakin’ of which, we still on for next week? The girls have been askin’ about a playdate.”
I think about my schedule, about the lecture I need to prep and the grant proposal that’s due and the stack of papers I still need to grade. “Yeah, we’re on. Emma could use the time with Lauren.”
“How’s she been doin’?” Allison asks, and her voice has gone softer, gentler. “With everything?”
“Better some days than others.” I don’t really want to talk about this, about Rebecca leaving and the aftermath and the behavioral issues and all of it, but Allison’s asking because she cares, because she’s Emma’s godmother and actually gives a shit. “The last couple months have been rough. Hence the nanny situation.”
“Well, maybe this Annie girl will be good for her,” Allison says. “A fresh face, you know? Someone new who doesn’t know all the history.”
“Maybe. I guess we’ll see.”
I hope she’s right. Ireallyhope she’s right, because I don’t know how many more nannies I can go through before Emma’s pre-school starts suggesting therapy or medication or some other intervention I’m not ready to think about.
“So what’s the plan?” Joe asks. “She just shows up tomorrow and you throw her in the deep end?”
“Essentially. I’ll be around for the first hour, make sure everything’s okay, but then I have to get to campus.” I’m already mentally running through everything I need to tell Annie, all the instructions and schedules and emergency numbers. “I made a list.”
Maria snorts. “Of course you did.”
“A comprehensive list,” I continue, ignoring her. “With Emma’s schedule, her routines, things she likes and doesn’t like, emergency contacts, everything.”
“How long is this list?” Joe asks.
“Four pages.”
