Chapter 3 #2
“I’ve been living in a rural country for two years. I feel like I’ve just entered lifestyles of the rich and famous, and I’m an alien here.”
“They’re all just people like you. They put on their trousers one leg at a time.” The doors opened, and Carrie linked her arm with Meredith’s. “Come on, girlfriend. At the very least you’ll get a sneak peek into some high society.”
“Right…” Meredith remembered the advice to hold up her head, so as Carrie knocked on the door, she squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and reminded herself of what her dad used to tell her. “Princess, you really are a princess because you’re the daughter of the King of the Universe.”
A man wearing a dark suit and tie opened the door. “Good day?”
Carrie smiled and introduced them, announcing their appointment, and he opened the door wider to let them in.
Meredith tried not to drop her jaw at the size of the suite.
It looked like a full-blown house. Certainly it was bigger than the one she’d shared with her dad while she’d grown up.
Everything in the room where the man dressed in the dark suit led them was upholstered in shades of creamy white.
Not terribly practical with children, but then again, she didn’t see any children.
Or any signs of children. And the room was silent.
He motioned for them to have a seat, promising that someone would be right with them, and then he left.
“There don’t seem to be any kids here,” she whispered to Carrie. “Are you sure this is the right place?”
“The man seemed to expect us.”
“I know…but I guess I’m having flashbacks to how I was conned yesterday. You know, scammers pretending to be rich folk in order to take advantage.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let that happen.”
For some reason Meredith trusted this woman.
Maybe it was because she worked for the US Consulate.
At least she said she did, but as they sat there waiting, Meredith wondered…
how could she know for sure? Of course, she was just being paranoid and hyper-vigilant after yesterday’s ordeal.
Good grief, Carrie and Faith had taken her into the apartment.
For all they knew, she could’ve been a crook.
Trust could be such a slippery thing.
“Hello, ladies.” A nice-looking man came into the room.
More casually dressed, perhaps, than the first man who’d come to the door, but with his crisp oxford shirt, khakis, and loafers, he still looked like money.
Like he was comfortable in his skin as well as his surroundings.
“Thank you for coming.” His accent was British, which made Meredith even more curious about why they wanted an American nanny.
Carrie stood to shake hands and introduce them both, and Meredith followed suit, relieved to let Carrie take the lead for her.
She was still so nervous that she’d only caught his first name—Spencer—so she just listened as Carrie professionally explained her job at the consulate and what had happened to Meredith yesterday.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Spencer told them. “What a nasty welcome to Vienna.”
“Yes,” Carrie agreed. “The poor thing was still in shock yesterday when my niece brought her home. She stayed with us, and I tried to help with her most urgent needs, but what she needs most now is a job. And with her teacher’s training and experience—”
“Excuse me,” he interrupted, glancing at his Rolex. “But my time is limited today. I assume Miss Cardwell can speak for herself?”
“Yes.” Carrie chuckled. “Yes, of course.”
“Can you tell me a bit about yourself?” His gray eyes peered intensely at Meredith. “Why you think you’d be a good nanny?”
She reiterated what Carrie had just said about teacher’s training, her three years of teaching fifth grade in public school in Oregon followed by her two years overseas. “And I did a lot of babysitting too,” she threw in.
“Babysitting?” He looked slightly puzzled. Or perhaps he was making fun of her.
“You know,” she said. “Minding other people’s children. We Yankees call it babysitting.” She felt slightly indignant now. “Which brings me to my question. Why does a Brit want an American nanny?”
He smiled. “That’s a fair question. Our last several nannies have all been Brits and, well, we’ve been a bit disappointed. We thought to try something new.”
“That makes sense. But where are your children?” She waved her hand around the perfect room. “This does not look like a family home to me.”
“Who is interviewing whom?” he asked a bit tersely.
“You have to excuse her,” Carrie’s tone was light. “She’s been through a lot and is quite naturally a bit wary.”
“Live and learn,” Meredith said in a flat tone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to question you, but this is rather new to me. I suppose my best qualification is that I just really like children.” She held her hands up in a helpless gesture. “I do.”
“Right…” His brow creased as he ran a hand through his somewhat messy reddish hair.
It was the kind that was thick and wavy and probably hard to keep in place.
It was the only thing about him just a tiny bit unkempt.
“I don’t really have time, at the moment, to go into all the family history, Miss Cardwell, but trust me, we do have solid references. ” He frowned. “Can you say the same?”
She returned his frown. “I haven’t had time to gather any references of late. Or…well, to gather much of anything really. But I can get references from the school I taught at in the States and, it’ll take a bit of time, but also in Papua New Guinea.”
He blinked. “You taught school in Papua New Guinea?”
“I was on a mission base for language translators for two years.”
“Was that for Wycliffe? SIL, I believe they call it?”
“Yes. You know about that?”
His eyes lit. “I have a cousin who joined that organization several years back. He and his wife are translators there. Out in some remote mountain village. I send them monthly support.”
“Really? Are they there now?” she asked eagerly. “I may know them.”
“Yes, I’m sure they are.” He looked at his watch again. “Drat. I really need to shove off. I have some papers to gather and a flight to catch. Not a moment to lose.”
“So we’re done here?” Meredith felt a sudden letdown and not just for the job possibility. She would’ve liked to hear more about this cousin of his.
“We’re done for now.” As he stood his face brightened. “So, here’s how it lies. I’m willing to give this a go…if you’re willing to give it a go.”
“Really?” She blinked in surprise. “Seriously?”
He tipped his chin. “Yes. But I must be off. I’ll have my man, Geoff—the fellow you met at the door—fill you in a bit and set you up with transportation. Are you in?” He stuck out his hand.
“Well, yes…okay.” She slowly nodded as she shook his hand.
He had a nice grip. Not too soft and not too hard.
Not too warm, not too cold. He seemed like he could become a friend…
but, wait a minute, was this for real? Because it seemed too good to be true, and she knew what that could mean. Was she about to be scammed again?
Although something about this guy—his sincere gray eyes and his earnest smile and straight demeanor—made her want to trust him.
Still, there was so much to take in, her head was spinning.
She couldn’t even sort the questions that flashed through her head.
Where was his wife? How many kids? Where was he going?
Did his family live in this suite? That seemed unlikely.
So where did they live? Where would she live?
After all, she was a woman alone. And other than Carrie and Faith, she was on her own in this country. But underneath everything, she felt a deep peace. Somehow, as crazy as the circumstances seemed, she felt that God was leading her. But she also knew that feelings weren’t always facts.