Starting Over

Chapter 21- Welcome, Tia!

My name is Tia Malone. I’m 28 years old and I have purple tips in my natural brunette hair. I have a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Vanderbilt University. I worked one school year in Knoxville and realized that as much as I love kids, I just can’t handle 20 or more on a daily basis. I’ve made a living tutoring the children of Nashville’s elite for the past two years, but I’m ready for something more reliable and permanent. I was lucky that I was placed, after only one interview, through the most highly respected nanny agency in Nashville just weeks after joining their firm.

I am standing outside of the Bryan Estate in Franklin, Tennessee in complete awe. This is going to be my new home. I’ve been looking forward to this since I got the call from Luke Bryan and his fiancée, Bridget just four days ago. I can’t believe they chose me and they called me personally to give me the news. I decide to walk up to the door after standing in amazement for the past 15 minutes.

“Welcome Tia!” Bridget greeted me with a hug after opening the door before I had the chance to knock.

“Thank you, Ms. Bowman,” I returned politely.

“Rule one. I’m Bridget. He’s Luke,” Bridget said with a smile on her face pointing at Luke.

He was sitting on the couch flipping the channels on the TV. The living room didn’t look like the other celebrity homes I had been in. This was normal. It was designed a lot like I would design my own home. It was still beautiful none the less.

“Thank you, Bridget,” I corrected myself.

“Luke, where are your manners? Get up off your lazy butt and introduce yourself,” Bridget demanded of him.

Luke got up off the couch and walked around. He was much more relaxed than he was during my interview. He was wearing shorts, a UGA t-shirt, and was barefoot. Bridget was dressed much similar in a matching UK tank and shorts set.

“Tia, nice to meet you officially,” Luke said as he shook my hand.

“Nice to meet you too,” I told him.

“Excuse me,” Bridget said as her phone started ringing, but before stepping into the other room.

Luke was standing in front of me. I really didn’t know what to say. This was my first nanny job. I didn’t really know what to expect and from what I was told they have never had a nanny before. Luke looked over towards the room Bridget had walked into before turning to me again.

“Bridget is a planner. She plans everything. The calendar in the kitchen has a schedule of the kids’ extra-curricular activities, everyone’s doctor’s appointments, vacations, and all that kind of stuff. My schedule is on there too: when I’ll be home, when I’m going certain places, award show dates. I’m sure in a few days she will have your schedule up there too. Your days off and such, but make sure to let her know of any doctor’s appointments or anything of the sort and she will work with you on those. She’s really reasonable,” Luke enlightened me on Bridget.

“Thanks for letting me know,” I responded, “So, where do we go from here? I’m new to this nanny thing.”

“We are too, but I think Bridget has everything under control there,” Luke told me as Bridget came back into the room.

“Sorry about that. Kenzie is having a rough first day back at school,” She told Luke and I, “So, are you ready for the tour of the house?”

“Sure,” I replied.

Bridget and Luke showed me around their beautiful home. Our last stop was what was to be my room.

“This is your room,” Bridget said as she opened the door to the beautiful room down the hall from the children’s rooms.