She laughed, hugging her friend close.
After a few seconds, she pulled away and handed Lilah an envelope full of cash. There was close to five thousand dollars.
“What’s this?”
“For you,” Temperance said. “I worry about this, and I need to know that you’re taken care of while I’m gone. Get a job, and have this to fall back on. Don’t party. I know you’re not that much of a partier anyway.” Lilah always complained that partying and booze made you age faster.
“I can’t take this.”
“You can, and you will.” She hugged her friend a final time, and then smiled. “I’ll keep in touch.”
She left her apartment, climbing into her car after putting her cases into the back. This was one of those moments when she didn’t know if she should call Wayne and cancel. Timothy was going to break her heart. He wouldn’t directly, but Wayne would. Every person she’d ever worked with broke her heart.
“It’s just another job, Temperance.”
Starting up the engine, she pulled out of the parking lot and headed downtown toward the city. She released a little breath, wishing with all her might that the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach would go away.
Thirty years old, still a nanny. Her parents, if they were alive, would be so proud of her. Of course, they’d also be telling her to start a family of her own. She wanted a family. She was one of those girls who wanted to be a wife and a mother, to be completely devoted to her children, but that life hadn’t found her.
She’d been devoted to other families’ children, and pushed aside when she was no longer useful. Sad, really.
The drive didn’t take all that long, and as she drew closer, Temperance began to feel even more nervous. At some point, Timothy would be taken from Wayne and he’d be placed in other care. She hoped they found family or something soon because she hated the thought of any child feeling alone in the world.
Parking up in the underground parking lot, she had the spare key and codes to get access into the building. Before she left yesterday, he’d given her a map of the apartment building, which also had a small shopping center on the ground floor along with a gym and a pool.
She’d try the gym and see how she felt. When Wayne first called her, she’d been using Lilah’s treadmill to pass the time. Hunting the internet for jobs drove her crazy, and thinking of a new career right now seemed ridiculous even to her. She didn’t hold out a lot of hope for a career change. Once this job was done, she didn’t see Wayne helping her all that much.
The more she thought about a new life, she truly believed going back to college to further her education would be best. Still, all those plans were for after this job. She wanted to devote her time to Timothy and help him through this difficult process.
Taking the elevator, she stared at her reflection. Once again, she wore a pair of jeans with a long shirt. Her hair was up, and she looked casual. Her raven hair was something she was proud of.
She didn’t dye her hair, and she loved the long length.
Tapping her foot, she waited for the elevator to open, and it did. She took the key and let herself into the apartment.
There was a woman with one of those microphones attached to her ear, and she was talking into it.
“Please hold. You’re the nanny, right?”
“Yes, Temperance.”
“Hi, Temperance. Here is your contract, which you need to read through and sign, along with a non-disclosure agreement. I’ve got all of Mr. Myers’s contacts here, and also my name is Frances. I’m his PA. You’ll get me whenever you call this main number.”
Temperance took the list, forcing a smile to her lips. “Wayne’s not here?”
“No, he had an early business meeting. I doubt you will see much of him.” Frances glanced back toward the sitting room. “I really hoped this would change him, but it appears you cannot change everyone.”
“Thank you.”
“I must be getting on. Lovely to meet you, dear.”
With that, Frances was gone, and Temperance stood in the hallway, blowing out a breath.
“That’s a big book,” Timothy said.
She wrinkled her nose. “I’ve got to read all of that.” She pretended to yawn. “How boring.”
He giggled. “The lady is weird and always talking to herself.”
“You’re not dressed yet. Let’s go and get you dressed and you can help me deal with this boredom.” She dumped the contract on the table and followed Timothy down to his room.
She entered … adultsville. The bedroom was bland. The bed was large and totally not needed for a kid. Everything was pristine, not a sign of a child there at all. Even his bedding was plain and white.