Page 4 of The Christmas Nanny

“There’s something I need to tell you, Em.” I paused long enough to hear the throat clearing on the other end. Emily hated surprises. She thought I could open a chain of gyms in another year, and then she would quit her job and help me manage the businesses. That wasn’t going to happen. “I have to close the gym.”

“But it’s only six. What about the dinner crowd?”

“That’s not what I mean, Em. I mean, I have to close it permanently. Forever.”

“What the fuck, Jacob? You know that wasn’t in my plans.”

“Oh, I’m sorry for screwing up your plans, Em.”

“Well, I don’t know what to say. Why didn’t you tell me you couldn’t handle managing the gym? I could have helped.”

“You think it’s my fault?”

She sighed dramatically. “It’s not mine! You’re the one who managed everything. My father’s not going to be happy.” I knew she would drop that line. Her father was some big wig with a local IT company. He donated lots of money to places and sat on the boards of at least a dozen non-profits. The man thought a lot of himself, sort of like Emily.

“There’s nothing I can do about it now. The bank wants their money, and a competitor is stopping in tomorrow to pick up all the equipment.” Maybe they would take the tree, too.

“Unbelievable, Jacob. You couldn’t even take care of a simple gym. How am I supposed to trust you to take care of me?” Another line I knew was coming. If it wasn’t about Emily, it wasn’t anything important. “You couldn’t at least wait until after Christmas? What am I going to tell my family and friends?”

“We will survive, Em. It’s just a bump in the road.”

“No, we won’t, Jacob. It’s a bump in your road.” She stopped talking only long enough to catch her breath. “I can’t trust you anymore. I think it’s time we start seeing other people.” Code for, she needs to find a guy who has money. Fuck it.

“You know what, Em. Do what you gotta do. I’m sure I’ll land on my feet.”

“You’ll land on your ass,” she said, ending the call.

“Merry Christmas!”

That was precisely how I thought the call would go.

I grabbed the box off my desk and returned to the front door, taking one last look back at the gym before closing and locking the door. Chapter closed, new one beginning. Christmas Eve at Mom and Dad’s house would be so much fun. “Why couldn’t I be like my older brother?” Dad would ask.

David, my older brother, was in charge of commercial real estate. That’s all he and my father would discuss when we got together. I needed something different in life. I didn’t want to follow in footsteps. I wanted to make my own.

I stopped for Chinese on the way home, and as I entered the restaurant, I held the door open for a woman about my age. I’m sure it was the first time I was speechless. Maybe it was all the shit going on in life, but I just nodded and stared like a true serial killer. She smiled back and continued into the restaurant.

I waited behind her, hearing her give the name Christine Nightingale. When she turned to leave, we bumped into each other, me still in awe of her beauty, her presence, and her absorbing eyes. As she walked out the door, I took note of her shiny blonde hair, the way she walked, her butt twisting perfectly. The woman had a smile I’d never forget. Emily was not the only fish in the sea.

While I waited for food, Chuck Conners, one of the gym’s most frequent visitors, sent me a text message. The guy joined shortly after Lauren. He again wished me well and told me how devastated he was that I had to close the gym. But then he said he had a lead on a job for me. I clicked the link he sent and then laughed out loud.

Bullshit.

No way.

I asked if he was joking, and then he told me it was for the Quartermains, the city’s only billionaires—the people we all wanted to be like. I clicked the link and sighed.

Experienced Nanny Wanted

I am a professional looking for a caring, responsible, and experienced nanny to care for my teenager. You will be a nanny with at least three years of experience in nannying, child care, or au pair work. You must love children and be mature, reliable, trustworthy, punctual, and well-presented. You will be required to work weekdays from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., with occasional evenings/weekends for which you will be compensated. We are a non-smoking household and would prefer a non-smoker. Your responsibilities will include:

Preparing meals.

Some cleaning and general housekeeping.

You will need a current First Aid certificate, background check, and driver’s license.

In return, you will be treated well and receive a fair wage and meals, have full use of the house, and be treated as one of the family.

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