My girls?
Well, for
the time being, they’re both mine. Just then, the doorbell rings.
“Must be the nanny,” Quinn says as she bundles Daisy up and holds her to her chest in a protective manner.
I make my way to the door, and when I pull it open, there is a young girl standing on my stoop, an envelope in her hand. Her eyes go wide when they see me. Well, not me, but the Body Checker.
“You’re…you’re…”
“Jonah Long,” I say, and step back to wave her in.
She curls a strand of hair around her finger and steps into the room, and her eyes land on Quinn and the baby. Quinn steps up to her and introduces the baby, then herself.
“I’m Rebecca,” she says, and hands me the envelop. She looks young, like high-school young. “Here’s my resume.”
“Why don’t you have a seat,” Quinn says. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“No, I’m good thanks,” she says as her nervous glance moves to me again. I pull the paper from the envelope and look it over quickly. After high school, she did a two-year certification course. On paper, she seems to have everything one would need to care for a child, but I worry about her experience.
Quinn and I sit on the sofa together, a united team—outside the bedroom, for once in our lives—and face Rebecca, who folds her hands and places them on her thighs.
“Can you tell us a little about yourself?” Quinn asks.
“I received my certification last month, and I’m looking forward to starting in-house care. Eventually I want to open my own daycare.”
Quinn smiles at her. “Do you have any experience?”
“I have three younger brothers,” she says and laughs. “Plus, I used to babysit through high school.” She points to her resume. “I have references.”
“Is there anything you’d like to ask us?” I say.
“Would I have my weekends off?”
Both Quinn and I exchange a fast look, then I say, “When I’m on the road, I need someone here caring for Daisy full time.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize.” She frowns and looks down for a second.
“Will that be a problem for you?” I ask.
Her eyes lift. “No. Not at all,” she says, and glances around the room. “You guys have a lovely home.”
“Oh, we’re just friends,” Quinn says. “I’m helping him out until he finds a nanny.”
“Oh,” she says, her eyes wide. “You’re not the baby’s mother?”
Quinn, as though realizing just how tight she’d been holding Daisy, hands her over to me. “No. I’m just a friend. Jonah and I go way back.”
“Her mother currently isn’t in the picture,” I add.
“Oh, that’s too bad. Poor little girl needs a mother figure.” She scoots forward on her chair. “Well, I hope you give my application consideration. I would love to work for you, Jonah. I’m also a great cook. I’m good at many things.”
Beside me, Quinn stiffens, and I give a curt nod. “We’ll definitely consider it,” I say, and stand. Rebecca stands with me, and I walk her to the door, Daisy in my arms.
She gives a little wave as she leaves, and tells me she’ll be looking forward to a call. I close the door, lean against it, and shake my head at Quinn, who has a worried look on her face.
“No way,” I say, and she blows out a breath. “Not in a million years.”