If Not For You

Chapter 1-Around

I stood at the sidewalk and looked at the house.  It was fairly big, but looked simple. The front yard was kept nicely, the grass a uniform height and all the plants trimmed.  I had been offered a job basically as a dog nanny.  It was a gig that included housing, so I jumped on the opportunity.   I had always done lots of odd jobs and met a lot of people.   A friend of a friend had hooked me up with this job.  When me and the owner had spoken on the phone he had run through some of my responsibilities, watering the plants, cleaning, and taking care of his two dogs, maybe cooking a meal here and there.  I was talented in many different areas, having had so many odd jobs, so this sounded easy enough, and I loved animals.   The house had a big gate with an intercom system.  I pushed the button. 

"Hello, can I help you?" 

"Yes, It's Maeve"

"Ah yes! I will unlock the gate, just come through the front door please,"

The gate slowly slid open and I walked up to the front door. He has said to just walk in, so I did.  As soon as I stepped in the door a small child ran into me,

"Well hello there small human," I said smiling as I looked down, I realized that her hands were covered in paint that she had just gotten all over my jeans upon the impact.  It didn't bother me, it gave my jeans some character. 

"River, you know paint stays outsi-" I heard as a man came around the corner, the little girl took off running to another room, "Oh, you must be Maeve." He said sticking out his hand for me to shake, it also had paint all over it.  I shook it anyways, he was young to own such a nice house, and to have kids this old.  I wasn't judging, just thinking.  He was also alarmingly handsome, even with some paint smeared on his face.  He was thin, but his arms were toned, he had shoulder length brown hair.  

"Thats me," I said confidently

"I'm Sam, let me wash some of this paint off my hands and I'll show you around." He said as I followed him to the kitchen,

"Uh, the add didn't say anything about watching kids..don't get me wrong, she is adorable"

"You won't be watching them" He laughed.

"Them?" I asked looking around

"Yeah, her twin brother is in the other room, he's not quite as wild as her." He giggled as he dried his hands "I get them like once a week or so,"

"Once a week doesn't seem fair for visitation" I paused, "Sorry, that's none of my business." I said once I realized I had probably overstepped

"Oh, they aren't mine" He laughed, "They are my niece and nephew.  My only kids are the ones running around the backyard on four legs with fur." I smiled and nodded, feeling dumb that I had assumed.      

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed."

"Do you always apologize this much?" He asked as he walked towards me,

"No actually." I laughed,

"Here let me show you around the house while the kids are occupied" He said, "This is the kitchen, feel free to cook and use whatever you need from the fridge, there should also be some room on the second shelf for you to put your own groceries if you'd like. I do like to keep it fairly clean so all I ask is that you clean after you cook or use dishes, but there is a dishwasher so It makes things really easy." He smiled and motioned to it.  It was a very spacious kitchen with pans and pots hanging over the island in the middle. 

"Do you like to cook?" I asked as I looked in the fridge and saw a lot of fresh vegetables. 

"I like to try and cook" He raised a brow, "I am vegan and some of those recipes can be complicated."