The Question

Super Nova

Elyne was pretty sure the elderly woman now dashing across the front yard had only half-heard her introduction of "Hi, my name Elyne Richards, and I'm here to interview for the nanny position"; those suspicions were confirmed when moments later, with a thrashing two-year-old tucked awkwardly under her arm, the woman thrust her free hand into Elyne's with a hasty, "It's so nice to meet you, dear - I'm guessing you're here for the nanny position?"

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Forty-five minutes later, Elyne was still sitting around the beautiful hand-built oak dining table, coffee in hand, telling sweet old Adaline that yes, she was absolutely positive she could care for the little bundle of joy playing with dolls at their feet. If Adaline could see through Elyne's lack of qualifications with her kind face and wrinkled eyes, she didn't let on; so Elyne just did her best to answer questions she'd never thought she'd hear: Yeah, she could make sure she cut every single thing into a million little pieces so Little One wouldn't choke. Sure, she could learn to change a diaper in less than a minute! Yes, she was certain  she could help Little One reach her milestones. 

What the hell am I doing here? I belong in a cubicle or speaking with clients, not talking about diaper changes and toddler development! 

Each question made Elyne feel more uncertain; but it also meant she was that much closer to putting in her two weeks, and finally being able to close this nightmare of a chapter in her life. She just needed a few months, a job with a steady income, and she'd be right back on her feet again. 

"Hmm?" 

"I asked what your availability is, lovey. I've got Little One while Kalmin is at work, but I'd really love to give you the reins on most of the baby duty. I love her to death, but this grandma is getting too old to run around all day!" 

Kalmin? 

"I'm so sorry Mrs. Gentil -"

"Please dear, it's Adaline. I only look old, don't make me feel old too!"

Damn you and your niceness, Adaline. 

"Oh ok, Adaline then - I'm not quite sure I'm understanding. Who is Kalmin? I thought that Nova lived with you?"

After laughing - a little too loudly, Elyne thought - at the prospect of "Little One" living with her, Adaline pointed a finger at the picture frame hanging behind Elyne's head. 

"That's Kalmin, lovey. He's my oldest son, and Nova's daddy - Nova lives here with him, I just step in and help out when he's at work. My husband will come over occasionally too, but it's becoming too much for us to handle on a daily basis; Kalmin gets that we don't want to spend all of our retirement years raising another kid when we finally just got rid of all of our own a few years back, so he had me put up the ad looking for a nanny. I thought I had explained that the job was in his name, but I must not have! That's what you get when an old dog tries to learn new tricks with all of this technology we have now." Shaking her head and laughing to herself, Adaline got up to refill her coffee, leaving Elyne to look at the picture of Kalmin and Nova laughing on a beach together. 

And that was when Elyne had to ask herself the question: When in the world would she stop picking jobs that left her working with men that were too handsome for their own good?