‘Gift?’
‘Yes. I would like to pay her wages.’
‘Oh, no, Diane, that’s fine. We couldn’t expect you to—’
She cuts me off. ‘It’s not a matter of expecting anything. They’re my grandchildren, and if I didn’t have my commitments at the club, I would look after them for you while you’re both working. Instead, this will be my way of helping you both.’
‘But—’
‘Thank you, Mum. That’s incredibly generous,’ Robert says, giving me a look.
I’m not sure what to think about this. Robert’s right – it is incredibly generous – but I don’t like taking handouts and normally, neither does Robert. I wonder what got him to change his mind.
Twenty-Two
It has all happened so quickly. From interviewing Sadie, to offering her the job and then checking her references. And now, today, she’s actually moving in. On the phone, she said she was available to start as soon as it was convenient, and Robert and I saw no reason to delay as the grammar entrance exam is only two months away, and we’re both still crazily busy at work.
Unfortunately, I had to call Louise Martin, the tutor I found online, to tell her we no longer needed her services. It was awful. She actually started to cry on the phone. She told me all she needed was a chance to prove herself. Practically begged me to give her the job. I was kind but firm and told her we would bear her in mind if our situation changed. But I feel bad for having raised her hopes only to dash them again.
When the doorbell rings, I try to quell the nerves in my stomach. Tell myself not to be so silly. But it’s the speed of everything. Even though I’ve come round to the idea of a nanny, I haven’t really had time to get used to it yet. This time last week, I had no intention of hiring any help. Now, here we are, about to invite this relative stranger into our home.
‘Is that Sadie?’ Katie cries, rushing down the stairs.
‘Wait for me!’ Eva cries, following her. ‘Mum! Don’t open the door without me!’
Robert and I laugh at their excitement. At least the children are thrilled.
‘Calm down, girls,’ I say, quietly. ‘Sadie will be here every day, so there’s no need to worry about being left out of anything. You’ll both get plenty of time with her.’
Robert opens the front door, and Sadie is standing there with a large holdall by her side. She’s wearing unfashionable jeans and a baggy, salmon-pink fleece with white piping, her hair pulled back into a low ponytail. She looks considerably younger than I remember, and quite, quite nervous.
‘Sadie, hi. Come in,’ I say, trying to be as welcoming as I can. ‘We’re all excited to have you here.’
‘Hello Mrs Ballantine, Mr Ballantine.’
‘Please, call us Robert and Gemma,’ my husband says. ‘Here, let me get that.’ He reaches forward and picks up her bag. ‘Come in. It’s nippy out there.’
From being boisterous and excited all morning, the girls have suddenly turned incredibly shy, hanging back behind me, Katie with her arms around one of my legs, so I can’t move properly.
‘Hello, Eva,’ Sadie says, peering behind me. ‘Katie, is that you hiding behind your mum?’
The girls nod shyly and mumble their hellos.
‘I’m looking forward to you showing me your rooms again,’ Sadie says.
‘You can play in my room first, if you like,’ Katie says, stepping out from behind me.
‘She’ll probably prefer to hang out in mine,’ Eva replies. ‘It’s more grown-up.’
‘No it’s not!’
‘I’m sure I’ll love spending time in both your rooms,’ Sadie says with a smile.
‘Before the girls drag you away, shall I show youyourroom?’ I ask. ‘And then you can come down and have a cup of tea with all of us.’
‘That sounds lovely. Thanks.’
‘Robert, do you want to stick the kettle on, while I show Sadie upstairs?’
