Page 25 of This Heart
Turning, I saw Aurora pouring the wine into the glasses. She held mine out for me.
“Thanks. Find the notebooks?”
Holding up a yellow notebook, she replied, “Yep, got it.”
Kicking off her sneakers, she sat down on the outdoor sofa and tucked her feet under her body.
“Are you chilly? Do you need a blanket?” I asked.
“Nope, I’m good. Okay, what are some things you’re looking for in a nanny, first of all?”
I sat down and thought about it. “Someone reliable. Caring. Experienced. I think someone younger, not that I don’t trust anyone older. Or I don’t know, maybe I do want someone older. Someone experienced with children.”
“They need to keep up with Winnie, so young makes sense, and someone, maybe not too old, needs to be able to keep up with a two-year-old.”
“Am I missing anything?”
She read over the shortlist. “Dependability.”
“Yes!” I said, pointing to her.
“Genuine love for children with references that back that up. Strong communication skills. They must be able to adapt to different situations, such as when you need to arrive early or will be late, so they may have to stay overnight on occasion. I think a degree in early childhood education would be a plus, but not necessary.”
She looked up from where she was writing down everything she was saying. “You get off pretty late, Liam. Won’t they have to stay the night anyway? Maybe you should think it over, about the live-in part.”
I shook my head. “Hope wouldn’t like that.”
Aurora stared at me momentarily before saying, “Liam, Hope isn’t here. You have to do what will work for you and Winnie. Do you honestly think someone will want to wake up at one in the morning and head home after you get home from work?”
Frowning, I shook my head. “No, that would be silly.”
I dropped my head back and cursed. “Fuck. I wish I had a normal nine-to-five job.”
“Unless you want to sell The Muddle Moose, you’re going to have to adjust your schedule so that you get off earlier. You have reliable managers, don’t you?”
“I do. I wouldn’t have been able to take so much time off if it hadn’t been for them and your brother Nathan. But you mentioned selling.”
Her head jerked up from what she was writing down. “I was kidding, Liam.”
Setting my glass down, I stood. “Sell The Muddled Moose.”
“Did you hear me? I was kidding.”
My mind started to spin as I paced the back porch.
“Liam?”
I stopped and faced Aurora. “Did I ever tell you what I went to school for?”
She shook her head.
“I was in marketing. I ran advertisements for major corporations. I was the one who came up with marketing plans.”
Her face crinkled up. “Sounds boring.”
I laughed. “Itwasboring.”
Aurora set the notebook down and leaned forward. “Hope told me that The Muddled Moose had been your dream for years. Don’t give that up because you don’t think you have a typical nine-to-five job. Liam, we can make this work. Just sit down, drink your wine, and let’s brainstorm.”
