I tried not to be impressed by Flynn Campbell, but it was hard. He was so commanding, so in charge of everything around the house. When I first met him, I had been determined to hold my ground. I didn’t want him to think that I was some shy wallflower, easily taken advantage of. When I saw the posting online that said a successful businessman was looking for a nanny, I almost didn’t answer.
I didn’t have any professional experience taking care of children, even though I did enjoy babysitting. I decided to approach it as I approached anything else. When I quit my job to take care of Nan, I didn’t have any experience as a home health aide, but I learned. It would be the same way with childcare.
I would create a schedule and stick to it. I would find out what the little one liked to do and make sure to incorporate those activities into the daily routine. I needed a place to stay, and the nanny position came with room and board. It was perfect, and I focused on presenting myself professionally to seal the deal.
The first interview was with a gentleman named Hud. He was friendly, explaining what his employer wanted and how many times they’d failed to get it right. I realized that the bar was set low and made up my mind to impress them with my skills. If I could even last a year, it would be a big improvement over whoever they’d hired before me.
I accepted a ride back to Flynn’s mansion. The green of the Irish countryside was evident even in the city. Large trees dotted the streets, and parks sprouted at even intervals. When we drove away from the skyscrapers and the hotels onto private land, I could see that the lawns were magnificent. Flynn’s house was nestled in a quiet grove of trees, well hidden from the road.
I followed Hud in through the foyer, past the living room, to a home office at the back of the house. The entire time, I kept my eyes fixed on my host. I didn’t want him to see me looking around, examining all the furnishings and framed artwork.
The building was by far the most opulent enclosure I had ever been in. The ceiling was two stories high in the entryway, a giant chandelier dominating the view. The couches and loveseats were made of leather, two seating arrangements laid out in the open concept living space instead of just one.
The walls were painted a soft cream color, collecting the daylight from multiple windows. On their faces hung portraits of rich people, each painting framed in gold. It was hard not to be blown away by my surroundings, but it was even harder not to appreciate the man himself.
When I walked in the door, I plowed through the empty space. Keeping in mind the professional appearance I wanted to present, I offered Flynn my hand. He rose up to his full height, and I couldn’t help noticing the way his muscles filled out his shirt. He was older than me, but not by much. I could tell that he too had been through an emotional turmoil. The weight of the world was etched on his face, and I immediately felt a connection.
I wondered how he had come to be a single dad. Had his wife died, or had she left him? If she’d left him, what was going through her mind? Didn’t she see what kind of splendor he lived in? Had she been so unhappy that she was willing to give it all up?
I tabled those thoughts, focusing on the job interview. Flynn was gruff, sizing me up in an instant. I wondered if he could see through my blouse but knew that was ridiculous. I wore my best outfit, one of only two that could be called professional. The rest of my wardrobe was jeans and T-shirts, the standard American fare that had served me well all the way through college.
“Hud will show you to your room,” Flynn said, ending our conversation.
“I got the job?” I asked, amazed that it had been so easy.
“If you want it.”
“I do,” I answered quickly, my excitement betraying me. I wanted to pull off the devil-may-care attitude that so many negotiations demanded, but Flynn wasn’t fooled. We hadn’t even talked about my salary, and already I was accepting the position.
Following Hud out the door, I asked him, “How much does this pay?”
“The position is fifty thousand euros annually with room and board,” he replied, taking me on a winding journey through the first floor of the mansion. “You will have Sundays off and use of a car, if you have a license.”
“I have a license,” I replied. “But not in Ireland.”
“I can help you apply for one.” He smiled graciously, indicating a door at the far end of the servant’s hall.
I peered inside. There was nothing but a bed and a dresser, no bathroom attached and very little floor space. I wandered around, inspecting the room, but it didn’t take me very long. I understood that I was going to start working immediately. As soon as Seanan woke up from her nap, I would have to introduce myself.
“I left my things at the hotel,” I said.
“I’ll have someone pick them up,” Hud told me. “And we can pay your bill.”
“That’s not necessary.” I had a little bit of savings that I’d brought with me, enough to cover a week’s worth of expenses.
“Please,” Hud argued. “It’s the least we can do. You’re a lifesaver.”
“I don’t know about that,” I lowered my eyes, wary of an abundance of praise at the very beginning.
Seanan was up before I knew it, cutting my conversation with Hud short. We got along great as soon as I demonstrated that I could get down on her level and play games. She showed me all her toys. She had an entire playroom full of dolls and puzzles, much more than I had growing up.
We worked our way from one side of the room to the other. Every doll had a name and a profession. There were toy cars and plastic dinosaurs. We cleared a space in the middle of the room and had a fashion show. My adult fingers made quick costume changes possible, and when she discovered this, Seanan demanded that I dress and redress each toy.
Hours passed before dinner. The little girl showed me to the kitchen, climbing up into her seat out of habit. The cook was a plump woman with no-nonsense eyes. She dished out plates of fish sticks and fried potatoes. I glanced up at her in alarm. It was a child’s meal, unadorned with green vegetables. The cook gave me a scathing look, and I swallowed my objection before I voiced it.
I was used to cooking for myself and had perfected several healthy dishes to share with Nan when she was still alive. I preferred asparagus and salads with some baked chicken for protein. I hadn’t had a fish stick since I was ten years old. Seanan was too excited to notice, telling me all about her pony. I held my breath and washed the meal down with a beer. At least in that respect, I was treated like a grownup.
After that first day, I was determined to provide some structure. She would be going to kindergarten soon, which meant she needed to know how to read. I loaded a few picture books onto my tablet and carved out a time for study. In between, we played dress-up, walked around the grounds, and had our meals.