Page 1 of Now and Again

One

Juliet Sullivan was doing her best not to cry. God, this was hard. She hadn’t seen it coming either, which made it all the worse. ‘Did I do something wrong?’ she asked.

‘Juliet…’

‘If it’s something I’ve been doing, just tell me. I can change it,’ Juliet cried, aware she was coming off a bit desperate.

‘Juliet, oh my god,no. This isn’t about you. Things have just… changed,’ Helen told her, looking like she was trying not to cry herself.

‘But, I thought… I thought it was working. Was it not working?’ Juliet asked.

‘It was working. It really was. But…’ Helen sighed. ‘Look, we couldn’t have predicted it, but I’ve been promoted. And the position’s in Montreal. But Ipromiseyou’ve been the best nanny we’ve ever had.’

Juliet choked back a sob. ‘I… I’m going to miss the kids so much. Max, Lily. All of you.’ She looked around the kitchen, the room suddenly taking on a melancholic quality. This was one of the last times she’d ever see that kettle.

‘We’ll miss you too. You’ve become family to us,’ Helen told her sincerely.

That almost pushed Juliet over the edge again, but she took a deep breath and gathered herself. ‘Well, if you’ve got this new job, I guess, I mean… I’m happy for you all. That’s… That’s really exciting.’

‘That’s kind of you to say. And I want you to know, I’m going to make sure you’re not left jobless. I know people who are crying out for a decent nanny. I’ll get you sorted.’

Juliet shook her head. ‘Oh, no, don’t worry about me. That’s not your problem.’

‘Not a chance,’ Helen told her firmly. ‘I would never forgive myself if I left you high and dry. The only problem you’re going to have is too many job offers.’

Juliet had just about gotten ahold of herself now, the shock subsiding somewhat. ‘When are you leaving?’

‘Not very long at all. A week.’

‘A week?’ Juliet repeated, shocked anew.

‘Yes. As I said, this has all been a bit of a mad series of events. The guy who was going to take the job in Canada originally, well, he sort of… fell off a building.’

‘What?!’ Juliet cried, forgetting about her own worries. ‘Is he alright?’

‘From what I’ve heard, he was celebrating his new job on a rooftop bar andapparentlycelebrated a bit too hard and crashed through one of those plant barrier things. Luckily, it was only two floors up, and he landed on some rubbish bags, so he only broke about seventeen bones.’

Juliet was horrified. ‘That seems like a lot.’

‘There are two hundred and six bones in the body in total, so proportionally…,’ Helen said philosophically. ‘Well, anyway, he’s in a full-body cast for the foreseeable future, so he’s not able to take the job. And I got the call. It’s a real step up. I had to take it.’

‘Of course you did,’ Juliet agreed.

‘You’re a lovely person, Juliet,’ Helen said. ‘I don’t know what the kids and I are going to do without you.’

‘I’m sure you’ll find a great nanny in Canada in no time,’ Juliet assured her.

‘We’ll find a nanny. But she won’t be you,’ Helen said sadly.

‘I’m trying not to cry here, Helen. Please don’t say things like that.’

Helen nodded. ‘Me too, so best I shut my mouth now. And anyway, I’ve got to go and have a Skype meeting with a property person in Canada in five minutes, so I better not start blubbing. But are you OK?’ Helen asked, putting a gentle hand on Juliet’s arm.

Juliet nodded. ‘Yeah, go. I’m fine.’

‘Are you?’ Helen pressed.

‘I’m… I will be,’ Juliet assured her. Helen had enough on without dealing with her nanny’s breakdown. Juliet would collect herself, get over this. Maybe not this second though. ‘It’s just… It’s hard knowing everything’s about to change.’

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