4. Chapter Four
There's no explanation for what came over me last night.
I’m just going to say it was a desperate moment of exhaustion and defeat that led to me asking my female neighbors for help watching my niece. We’re not even going to mention that Kelsey Anderson is coming over in five minutes to discuss the details of potentially hiring her.
I’m in a bind.
A big bind.
An I-don’t-have-a-nanny-for-my-niece-and-need-one-to-start-in-two-days kind of bind.
When I went next door yesterday, I’d hoped one of Kelsey’s three roommates would be able to help. But I hesitated when it came down to the only option being Kelsey. From my minimal encounters with her over the past two years, I’m not sure I can trust her. I mean, if she lets her dogs pee all over my lawn, what is she going to teach my niece?
Although, her roommate did say that Kelsey was a nanny in college, so at least she has some experience…but I wish there was any other option.
A knock sounds at my front door. I didn’t even know a knock could sound annoyed, but if anyone’s can, it makes sense that it’s Kelsey’s. How do I know it’s her? It’s 8:01. Of course she’d be one minute late to annoy me.
After double-checking that the coffee pot is still warm, I head to the front door. I’m greeted with Kelsey’s unsmiling face. She steps past me without a word, entering my safe haven. I immediately regret this entire situation.
The only women who have been in my house are my female family members and my last serious girlfriend—but I try not to think about the woman who left me for being too dedicated to my work and my sister as she went through her divorce. It’s strange to allow another woman into my space, especially one who doesn’t like me.
Kelsey’s eyes roam around my space like she’s an appraiser trying to determine the value of my property. I rub the back of my neck as I wait for her to finish her thorough perusal.
After a minute, she turns to me and crosses her arms. “I guess I should’ve expected a doctor’s house to be orderly. I’m pretty sure I could wipe my finger on your baseboards, and it would come back clean.”
I just wiped down my baseboards last week, but I’m not about to tell her that. “I like a clean space.” I gesture to the kitchen table and Kelsey walks past me again, hitting me with a whiff of floral perfume that is just the right amount to be pleasant but not overwhelming. “Do you want any coffee?”
“I never say no to coffee.”
I pour her a cup and set it down in front of her, next to the bottle of organic vanilla creamer I already got out since I don’t know how she takes her coffee. She adds a little of it to her mug, and I make a mental note and then scratch it out. There’s no reason I need to memorize how Kelsey likes her coffee.
She takes a sip and grimaces.
“I take it back. I might say no to your coffee.”
I swallow another gulp from my mug. “I thought it tasted fine.”
“Coffee isn’t supposed to be fine . It’s supposed to be an engaging experience, a heavenly ambrosia.”
I snort and she shoots me a glare.
“Good coffee involves all the senses. It’s the perfect balance of complex flavors, bright and sweet and the slightest bit acidic.”
“What are you, a coffee connoisseur?” My sarcasm hangs in the air.
“I’m a barista at Rise and Grind Café.”
My lips press into a firm line. Of course, she is. “Let me guess, that’s one of the jobs you might have to quit if you become my niece’s nanny?”
She nods and starts to stand. “But I’m starting to think this wasn’t the best idea.”
I reach my hand across the table, grabbing hers to stop her from leaving. She immediately snatches her hand back, reminding me of an angry cat who hates physical touch. As much as I’d love to show her the door, I need to suck up to her big time if I want her to agree to be Evie’s nanny. Just call me the world’s biggest brown-noser.
“I’m sorry. Please, just have a conversation with me before you decide anything.”
The way Kelsey’s gaze narrows has me feeling like she has X-ray vision and can see right through me. Or maybe she’s a psychic and can read my thoughts. Either way, it has sweat beading at my temples.
Thankfully, she sits back down. “Fine, you have ten minutes. Convince me, Doctor Evil.”
I raise a brow. “Doctor Evil?”
“It’s one of the many names I call you in my mind.”
Lovely. Looks like we’re off to a great start here.
“Well, uh, thanks for meeting me.” I clear my throat. “You mentioned last night that you have four jobs?”
“Yep. Like I mentioned, I may be able to quit one or two of them depending upon how much you’re offering.”
“What does your work schedule look like with the jobs you want to keep?”
“I’d want to keep my dog-walking clients, but I could change up the times I walk them to be outside of my nannying hours.” She fiddles with the sleeve of her maroon sweater. “I also would like to maintain my activities coordinator position at an assisted living facility. I coordinate all of our volunteers, so I should be able to do that outside of this position as well. There may be an occasional event on Thursday afternoons I need to attend, but Mallory already said she could have your niece hang out in her classroom while she tutors on those days.”
“But you’d quit your barista job…and?” I ask, not knowing what her other job is.
“I’m a virtual assistant for an author, but I have a few friends in the business I could send her way to replace me.”
I blow out a low whistle. “So you really have four jobs?”
“I’m many things, Tyler, but a liar isn’t one of them,” she bites back.
“I wasn’t implying—” I start, then cut off my sentence since that was exactly what it sounded like I was implying. “I only meant that’s a heavy schedule to balance.”
“I manage.” She brushes a strand of her caramel-brown hair behind her ear. “What would you expect from me as a nanny?”
“You’d have to pick Evie up from school every day and make her a snack. Help her with her homework. That kind of thing. Pickup is at two-twenty. I’d pay you starting at two for your drive to the school to cover your gas expenses. I should be home by five-thirty every day, except on Thursdays, it’s closer to six-thirty.”
Her face scrunches in concentration like she’s doing math in her head. “So, you’d need me a little over eighteen hours a week.” I nod, and her eyes move back to me. “What kind of pay are you offering with this position? I know you said you’d make it worth my while.”
I swallow hard. I did say that, but I hope she doesn’t try to drain my bank account. I got lucky with scholarships and worked an extra job throughout medical school, but I’m not a money tree. “That depends. What do you make at the two jobs you might quit?”
Kelsey gives me the number, and I sigh, knowing I need to give her an offer she can’t refuse, even if I wish there was any other option than her. As much as I hate to admit it, I need Kelsey’s help, and that might require some groveling.
“I’ll double it if you can start this Monday.”
Her eyes go wide. “You’ll double what I make?”
I clench my teeth but nod.
She’s quiet for a minute, and I start to bounce my knee under the table. If she says no, I don’t have a backup plan. She is the backup plan.
“I’ll do it.” She stands and walks around to my side of the table, extending her hand.
Now she’ll let me touch her? With her personality, I guess I shouldn’t expect anything less than Kelsey needing everything to be on her terms.
I shake her hand, trying to ignore how soft her skin feels. Apparently, I’ve missed a feminine touch in my life more than I thought if I’m thinking about the feeling of Kelsey’s fingers wrapped around mine.
I’m walking her to the door when she says, “Don’t go getting any ideas that I’m doing this because I like you. I’m only doing this for your niece…and the money.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m a doctor, not delusional.”
Reluctantly, I hand Kelsey a key to my house. The thought of her being here when I’m not around makes me feel uneasy, but like I said, I don’t have any other options.
“Thanks for agreeing to watch Evie,” I mutter. It’s the only gratitude I can offer when I feel like I’m making a big mistake.
“You won’t regret this.” Kelsey offers me a sly smile that does, indeed, have me regretting this.
At least one of my problems is solved: I have a nanny for Evie. But a new problem replaces it. I’m going to have to figure out how to muster enough patience to deal with Kelsey Anderson for the next three months.
I still can’t believe I hired Kelsey. Let alone the fact that I offered her double what she made as a barista and virtual assistant. I’m pretty sure I was swindled…or maybe blinded by my immediate need for help with Evie. We’ll go with that.
Kelsey and I have gotten on each other’s nerves since she and her friends moved in two years ago when I was still finishing up my residency. I was focused on reaching my career goal of becoming a pediatrician, and I know I wasn’t the welcoming neighbor I should have been. Once I graduated from residency and became a licensed and board-certified pediatric doctor, it felt awkward to try and start a friendship with them.
I still regret not being kinder when they moved in. After all, we’re the only people in the neighborhood under sixty. But then I think of how Kelsey lets her dogs pee all over my yard and glares at me every morning, and regret washes away like footprints on a beach when a giant wave hits the shore.
I need to stop letting Kelsey get in my head. Though, that may be difficult to do when she’ll be at my house five days a week.
I huff in frustration and turn my focus to the website I pulled up on my laptop again. Evie. I need to figure out everything I need to do before Tess drops her off tomorrow.
After a few quick internet searches—and what I know from my pediatric medical training—I’ve determined three things.
One: Evie needs a routine. Although, this may be a bit more difficult since she’s not used to living with me. But at least I can wake her up and put her to bed around the same time every day.
Two: I need to make sure she has time to play outside and use her imagination, which also means limiting screen time. I also need to make sure she has time with her friends to learn social skills and teach her other important things like cooperation and owning up to her mistakes.
Three: Kids eat a lot . Obviously, I knew I’d need to make breakfast, pack a lunch, and make her dinner. However, I didn’t realize the amount of snacks I apparently should have on hand.
While I know a lot of this stuff from my research and work with kids, I have a feeling putting it all into practice will turn out differently than I expected.
Staring at my computer screen, I’m beginning to feel like a cup that’s overflowing. It feels impossible to hold any more information, so I push up from my desk chair. After slipping on my shoes, I grab my keys and wallet and head out the front door to my car.
I give my sister a call on the way to my first stop.
“Please don’t tell me you’re changing your mind,” she answers, her tone pleading.
“Hello to you too, sis.”
“I’m dropping Evie off tomorrow. It’s too late for you to back out now.”
I hold up one of my hands before I realize she can’t see me. “Relax, I’m not backing out.”
“Oh, good.” She blows out a relieved breath. “Then why’d you call?”
“I wanted to let you know that I found a reputable”—I shake my head at the thought of calling Kelsey reputable …but at least she’s nannied before—“nanny for Evie who can pick her up from school and hang out with her until I get home from work.”
“You didn’t have to do that, but I trust your judgment.”
“She deserves some normalcy. No kid wants to sit in a doctor’s office for hours every day. But I’m also calling to see what Evie’s favorite color is. I’m headed to Target to buy some decor to brighten up the guest room for her.”
Her voice falls quiet. “You don’t have to do that, Ty. You’re already doing me a favor. She’ll be fine.”
There’s no way I’m having my niece sleep in my decor-less guest room with a navy comforter.
“Just tell me her favorite color,” I insist.
“It’s pink right now, but don’t hold me to it. I swear, it changes daily.”
“Noted.” I hover my thumb over the end call button on the steering wheel. “Thanks, see you tomorrow.” I hang up as I hear her protesting again about me spoiling Evie. She’s going to be living with me for a quarter of a year and is my only niece…of course I’m going to spoil her.
By the time I’m loading up at Target, I’m not sure I’ll be able to fit groceries in my car. I might’ve gone a little overboard. My trunk is filled to the brim with everything girly. Pink curtains. A floral rug. A pink bedspread with a ruffle skirt and matching sheets. A plethora of throw pillows. Literally everything pink I could find.
I hope Tess will give me the essentials like a hairbrush, shampoo, and conditioner. I’m decent at styling my hair, but I wouldn’t even begin to know what hair products a five-year-old girl needs.
Not wanting to take another trip into town, I decide to take a chance on everything fitting in my car. The next thing I know, I’m staring at the snack shelves in the grocery store, realizing I have no clue what Evie eats either.
“Does she like strawberry or apple cinnamon bars?” I mutter, looking back and forth between the boxes. I shrug and throw one of each into my shopping cart. Guess I’m getting both.
I continue walking through the aisles, adding healthy snacks to my cart, from clementines and baby carrots to yogurt bites. I make my way down an aisle to checkout when a box of protein pancake mix catches my attention. When I face forward again, it’s too late to stop my forward momentum from crashing my cart straight into a brunette woman. She loses her grip on the shopping basket she’s holding, and a mix of candy and other sugar-filled treats goes flying around us.
I rush around the cart and reach down to help her gather her food, if you can even call it that, with the amount of processed sugar in those items. I offer a hand to help her stand, but she rises on her own.
“I’m sorr—” My words cut off when I see who I ran into.
Standing before me, her cheeks burning red, is none other than Kelsey. I’m unsure if she’s red with embarrassment or anger, but when her eyes narrow, I’m guessing it’s the latter.
She places a hand on her hip. “Do you usually watch where you’re going, or do you just bowl over anyone in your path? I need to know if I should get on the intercom and make a PSA to all the sweet old ladies in the store to steer clear if they see you coming their way.”
I choose to ignore her snide remarks and grit my teeth. “I’m a little distracted today. I usually watch where I’m going.”
I’m not sure if I’m seeing things, but I think her eyes soften the tiniest bit before taking on a more cunning gleam. “If you hurt me, does this count as worker’s compensation?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think it works that way.”
“Well, it should.” She rubs her lower back. “Now that I’m thinking about it, I do feel a little tweak.”
I press my lips into a thin line. “If you go to the ER, you can send me the bill.”
Kelsey peers into my cart. “Just looking at your food makes me sad. Where are the snacks?”
I lift up a box of protein bars. “These are snacks. Besides, most of this is for my niece.”
“Isn’t she five?”
I nod.
“Yeah, she’s probably not going to eat half of this.” Kelsey wrinkles her nose. “The fruit and some of the bars you can keep. But where’s the kid-friendly food?”
“Kid-friendly?”
She looks unimpressed. Kelsey turns her head to the side, looking longingly at the self-checkout before turning back to me and placing her basket in my cart. She looks at the shelf beside us and adds a bottle of butter-flavored syrup to the cart.
“What’re you doing?” I ask. “Do you need me to buy this for you?”
Kelsey let out an exasperated sigh like I couldn’t be a bigger idiot. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m helping you shop.”
“I already shopped, but thanks.”
“As her nanny, I think it’s my civil duty to save Evie from her uncle’s poor snack choices.”
I cross my arms over my chest. She glances down at them, her cheeks flushing again. I bite back a smile. “Is that so?”
“Come on, Doolittle.” She walks down the aisle.
“You know that’s an animal doctor, right?” I call after her.
“Fine. Come on then, Frankenstein.”
I take a deep breath, exhaling slowly through my nose. “That’s even worse.” And I don’t know exactly why, but I follow her down the next aisle and the one after that, not saying a word as she throws in boxes of muffin mix, mac and cheese, and fruit snacks.
“Do these have any nutritious value?” I pick up the fruit snacks, and my eyes go wide when I read the sugar amount on the label.
Kelsey grabs it from my hands, throwing it back in the cart. “They’re good for the soul.”
I don’t fight her, even though the thought of giving them to Evie makes me wince.
We make it out of the refrigerated and frozen aisles with bags of chicken nuggets, frozen pizzas, yogurt, and cheese sticks. Although everything Kelsey grabbed isn’t what I would’ve picked, at least there’s some protein and dairy in the mix.
Kelsey looks at the cart, places her hands on her hips, and a pleased smile covers her lips. “That oughta do it.”
We reach the checkout line, and I start placing everything on the conveyor belt. I suppose I should thank Kelsey for her help , even though I didn’t ask for it.
When we’re waiting for the person in front of us to finish, I turn to her. “Thanks for your…insight.”
She shrugs. “I’ve never been able to pass up helping a lost puppy when I see one.”
I shake my head. Kelsey gets under my skin more than anyone else I’ve ever met. I know I asked her to be Evie’s nanny out of desperation, but I have no clue how we’re going to get through seeing each other every day for a few months without getting on each other’s last nerve.
“How are we going to do this?” I ask.
“Do what?”
“Work together.” I rub the back of my neck. “Be cordial to each other.”
“It’s simple, really.” She leans against the side of the conveyor belt. “You just have to learn to be a respectful, civil neighbor who doesn’t blast music at four in the morning, and then maybe I’ll consider not letting the dogs pee in your yard.”
“Yesterday, you didn’t seem to mind the fact that I work out.” I smirk, remembering how she’d blushed after looking at my arms. It looked similar to the blush covering her cheeks right now, except this one is more angry than ogling.
“I don’t know what you think you saw, but you can erase it from your mind. I don’t find you attractive.” Her expression hardens, hiding all emotion.
I wipe a hand over my brow. “Whew, that’s a relief. You should probably work on your staring-at-muscles problem then. And your blushing problem.”
Kelsey shoves my chest. “You’re right. Maybe we shouldn’t work together. I wouldn’t want to punch you in the face in front of your niece. Imagine how embarrassing that would be for you.”
I take a step closer, smirking down at her. “I’d like to see you try.”
The clearing of a throat has me dragging my gaze up to the cashier.
“Whenever y’all are finished with”—she motions to us with a raised brow—“whatever that is, I can get you rung up.”
Kelsey’s blush deepens. She grabs her shopping basket out of my cart and shoves past me, moving toward the self-checkout.
“I guess I’ll see you at home,” I call after her in a sarcastic tone, and Kelsey raises a hand in a sassy wave.
I push the cart up to the register and offer my best smile to the clerk. “Sorry about that.”
“Not a problem.” She begins scanning my items. “Trust me, I’ve seen my fair share of lover’s quarrels. You wouldn’t imagine how many arguments people get into over groceries.”
“Oh, I’m not— We’re not—” I stumble over my words.
The clerk grins. “Just give it time, sugar. There’s a fine line between enemies and lovers.”
I hold back a scoff. I know with certainty there isn’t any love there. Kelsey and I will just have to see if we can put our grievances aside long enough to make it through these next three months in front of Evie.
Then we never have to speak to each other again.