Page 5 of Nanny Crush
I add them to the list too, then I move around the kitchen, looking everything over to figure out what I need to buy. When the kids are done eating, I tell them to go get dressed while I finish up my list.
We make it to the grocery store the moment they open at nine, and I put Maddy in the seat in the front of the cart while Xander walks beside me, grabbing the things I point at. It saves me from having to pick everything up and it makes him feel useful. It’ll be a miracle if we can make it through the entire store without having a breakdown over candy, so I try to avoid the aisles that contain all the junk food. I let the kids help me pick out fruits, veggies, and drinks.
Lastly, I pick up all the toilet paper, paper towels, and laundry detergent that we need. Finally, we make it to the checkout, and that’s the hardest part, because that’s where the candy is. I do a good job at keeping the kids too busy to notice. Xander is loading everything onto the belt and Maddy is on this counting kick so she’s attempting to count the grapes. She can only count to ten so after ten she just starts all over again.
Once everything else is loaded onto the belt, and I have to take the grapes away, her eyes find the one thing I don’t want to buy. Candy.
“Daddy! Daddy! Candy,” she says urgently, pointing.
“No, Maddy. Not today.”
“But Daddy! Candy!” she tries again.
“No, Maddy. We got grapes, remember?”
“No grapes. Candy. I want candy.” Her eyes start to water. I push the cart down to the end of the checkout to swipe my card and the waterworks start. She’s crying, breathing hard, and almost hyperventilating. The closer to the door we get, the louder her crying gets. I try to ignore her fit as Xander and I walk out of the store.
I unlock the truck and Xander hops in. I pick Maddy up from the cart as she starts kicking and screaming. I nearly have to wrestle her into her car seat, but I finally get her in and get her buckled up. Then I go around to the back of the truck and load the bags into the back. I take my time with this, hoping her crying and yelling has stopped by the time I get in, but of course, it hasn’t. She has more steam than that.
Xander sticks his fingers in his ears as we drive back home. I try to tune her out, but the constant screaming is enough to make my blood pressure rise. About halfway home, she runs out of steam and the car ride lulls her into a deep sleep.
“Thank God,” Xander whispers to himself, but it’s loud enough that I hear, and I let out a quiet chuckle.
Same, buddy.
Chapter Three
SASHA
By the time I wake up it’s nearly eight o’clock. I push myself out of bed and go to the kitchen. I pull a bottle of water and a cup of yogurt out of the fridge. I take a long drink and start eating the yogurt as I stand at the island, gazing out the window. I’m glad today is sunny. I don’t think I could take another day of rain and wind. I watch as the birds chirp and dance around from tree branch to tree branch. Squirrels are running up and down the tree trunks, gathering nuts. I consider calling this guy about the nanny position, but I still haven’t made up my mind. I don’t have much experience when it comes to children and I’d hate to take the job just to realize that it’s not working out.
Finishing my breakfast, I go to the living room and unroll my yoga mat and carry on with my morning routine. I stretch and do all my usual poses and get my body limber and loosened up. When I finish, I decide on a run, so I pull on my jacket and hit the road. According to my watch, I’ve ran just over a mile, so I head back home for a shower. While running, I came to a conclusion: I will call and set up an appointment for this nanny interview.
I hang my jacket by the door and pull my phone from my pocket. I find the piece of paper with the number and call. It rings several times before a man answers.
“Hello?”
“Hello, is this Liam?”
“It is. Who is this?”
“My name is Sasha Bright, and I was given your number because I was told that you were looking to hire a nanny. Is that right?”
“Uh, yes. Who gave you my number?”
“Kinsley from the coffee shop.”
“Oh, right,” he mutters. “Okay, well I guess we can set up an interview.”
“That would be great,” I reply, feeling excited.
“Umm, I’d really like you to meet the kids, and they’re in school all week. Is there any way you’d be able to come over today? This afternoon?”
“Oh, um, sure. That shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Great,” he says, giving me his address and an interview time.
I hang up the phone and let out a sigh of relief, reminding myself that if I don’t like the man or his kids, that I can turn the job down. At least this way I’ll know a little more about the position and can make a better decision.
