Page 32 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
“Oh, I just wasn’t feeling it anymore.” I shrugged. “It’s rough in the educational system these days. More kids than parentswho care. Hard trying to teach kids when their parents are going against everything and not trying to help in their education. So, I moved on to physical therapy and psychiatry for children until the practice I was working at recently closed. My boss retired.”
He nodded and lowered the paper at his side.
“I don’t need a Mary Poppins. Just somebody to help us maintain the chaos around here. At least until I feel like I got a grip on it. They loud, as you can see.” He threw his hand up, and the arguing seemed to have gotten worse as their voices rose an octave. “I know you can handle yourself. You went toe-to-toe with Rogue. He’s the youngest and gives us all a run for our money. I’ll even throw in a signing bonus.”
“Oh, you are desperate,” I teased. “The listing said I needed to move in here too.”
“It is a live-in position.”
That was the part I’d missed on the application until I got here. Although the home was nice, I was leery about moving in with this man and his children so suddenly.
“We can work out a schedule and everything once the paperwork is signed. There’s a thirty-day trial period anyway to see if we’re a good fit. All of your benefits kick in after that.”
“Hmm, so if nobody is hospitalized or I don’t go to jail for beating one of their asses, we’ll talk long term?”
Smirking, he nodded and swiped his hand down his beard.
“Yeah, that sounds good,” he agreed.
“Well, I’m also kind of desperate,” I confessed.
“I need you to start immediately. Like, go pack your shit and come back tonight,” Staten emphasized.
“I can do that.”
There was a pause where he drank me in one last time and looked me dead in my eyes.
“Yo! Everybody get in here!” he yelled over his shoulder, never breaking our stare.
Lingering in the foyer, Staten leaned against the railing to the stairs, eyeing me intensely. Rogue, who was now shirtless with jelly all over his face, came racing in first with the two oldest behind him. Both of their faces were turned up in scowls, and the girl tucked her arms across her chest with attitude. At the top of the stairs, the other little girl appeared, still blasting Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA” from her bedroom.
“This is Cambrie. She’s not officially our new nanny, but she’s here to help us out. She’s going to move in and take the empty room down the hall.”
The older two were skeptical, both looking me over slowly. I felt like I was on exhibit somewhere.
“Can you do hair?” the oldest girl questioned.
“Do you cook pancakes?” little mama from the top of the stairs asked, leaning over the rail.
I sensed the questions would only go on, and they weren’t giving me time to answer.
“She pretty,” Rogue grinned.
“Don’t try to sweet talk me now. I already met the real you last night, remember?” I mocked him.
“I got many sides.” He stuck a finger in his mouth and sucked the jelly off.
“Lord.” I choked on a giggle.
He was so damn cute it melted my heart.
“Welcome to the Marek house,” Staten announced, the first glint of something that might resemble joy in his eyes.
“God help me,” I muttered with an eyeroll.
“This is Rogue, as you know.” He nudged the youngest’s forehead playfully, and Rogue immediately wanted to square up. “That’s Saga and Octavia.” He pointed to the oldest son and daughter. “And this right here is Piaget.” He looked up at his daughter hanging over the railing with one leg.
“I hope she can keep up,” Saga voiced.
