Temporary Nanny

Chapter 3

I find myself at the bookstore a couple days after my day with Stella and Michael. My friend Mia figured she'd get her book enthusiast of a dad some old classics from a little antique bookshop not far from my apartment.

Although I tagged along purely for the promise of paid lunch, I find myself deep in the middle of the baby book section. There's loads of books, an overwhelming amount really and if I'm being honest, I'm not even sure what I'm looking for.

"Need any help?" A nice elderly lady with a sweet smile comes up next to me. "Oh, uh, do you work here?" A sudden wave of nerves washes over me. "I do," she nods.

I nervously gnaw at my lip not knowing how or what to ask for. I just need some books about babies I suppose...

"Are you expecting?" She asks gently. "What? No! I- god no. No." I draw back with a shake of the head. She gives a light laugh. "Oh, I'm sorry dear. What are you looking for then?"

"Just.." I sigh. "I've just gotten a sort of job as a nanny for a 4 month old baby and I don't have a clue what I'm doing." I admit. "Well, this is our best seller," she hands over a thick book about what to expect from infancy to a year.

"We also have this one, it starts with pregnancy but you can just skip all that. It's good with healthy diets and answering some questions you may have and this one..." She trails off about another book which leads to another and another.

In the end I rack up about four different books I'm not even sure why there's so many or what they could possibly be for but the owner said they'd all be helpful and I figure it's better safe than sorry.

The sweet elderly woman rings me up quickly while Mia is still busy trying to sort out finding the last book on her list.

"Baby books? Something you're not telling me Char?" Mia peaks into the paper bag. "Ha ha." I roll my eyes. "Well, why else are you buying baby books?" She asks as she pays for her own books.

"Because I kind of sort of have a job." I shrug, fiddling with some nearby bookmarks. "A job? What kind of job?" "A..nannying kind of job." She snorts. "You?! A nanny. You can't stand kids." She snickers as we walk out of the small shop.

"That's not true." I utter in offense. "Charlie." She deadpans. "What? It's not true. It's not like I hate them." I defend. "Charlie the last time I had my niece over you refused to go anywhere near her and left early." Mia counters.

"Well that's just because your niece is evil." I retort. "When was the last time you were actually voluntarily around a kid?"

Alright. Fair enough. She may have gotten me there. I can't remember the last time I even went to a park with kids on the playground.

"That's beside the point." I dismiss with a wave of the hand. "Is it?" She muses. "Yes. Because now I'm kind of a nanny and I'm going to get paid for it and that's all that matters."

"Why do you keep saying kind of?" She questions as we cross the street. "It may not be a full time thing..." I admit sheepishly. "Not a full time thing?" "Yeah, it's more like whenever he needs a nanny."

"That is not a nanny Charlie, that is a babysitter and how do you expect to pay your bills being a babysitter?" She says logically.

"Obviously I'm going to find a job, I'm just helping a friend out." I shrug. "I still have quite a bit saved up in the meantime so don't worry about me." I add reassuringly.

She's quiet for a moment and I start to worry I might have to hear another half hour of her infamous lectures.

"Who is this friend? Do I know him?" She gives in and I sigh in relief. "His names Michael and he's my new neighbor so no I don't think you know him." I answer with a nod to the doorman.