“Oh, no,” she says, laughing. “Bria is excited to have you. She’s sick of me.” She chuckles. “We’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
I nod and smile as she walks out.
Cecelia’s words are reassuring. I’ll be dealing with two people every day who’ve just lost half of their worlds. I can’t imagine the grief they must still be feeling. It’s comforting to know that Bria seems fine now. My heart aches for Nick. To lose the love of your life and your son in one fatal moment? I can’t even imagine.
I go into the living room and grab my suitcase, dragging it behind me and into the bedroom. I spend the next hour unpacking my clothes, and I stack my twelve books on my desk. I didn’t think of bringing anything to decorate, and I make a mental note to go shopping for some home décor items after I get my first paycheck.
When I’m finished unpacking the bedroom and my bathroom supplies, I make my way over to the kitchen. I notice I have pots, pans, and a basic supply of kitchen utensils. I make a pot of tea, noticing gleefully that my pantry is stocked with cereal, tea, sugar, flour, and coffee. I check the fridge, and sure enough, I see some milk, a dozen eggs, butter, yogurt, and orange juice. I’ll have to go grocery shopping soon, but I have the basics.
That was really nice of them, I think.
As I sit down on my new couch and sip my black tea, I realize that I’m going to like it here. If Bria and Nick are agreeable, which it sounds like they are, this might just be the best job I’ve ever had.
Around nine, I grab my phone and head out into the backyard, towards the main house, locking the guesthouse behind me. I probably don’t have to lock it, but it makes me feel responsible to do so. As I slide the back door open and walk into the kitchen, a little girl with a head full of blonde curls looks at me from her seat at the table.
“Awe you a wobber?” she asks and then smiles. “No, you can’t be a wobber. You’re too pwetty. Awe you my nanny? Grandma Ceecee says I’m getting a nanny today,” she continues, matter-of-factly.
I laugh.
“Yes, I’m your new nanny. Did Grandma Ceecee tell you my name?”
She wrinkles her nose. “Yeth,” she says bashfully. “But I fowgot.” Her lisp is probably the most adorable thing ever.
I laugh again, and she relaxes instantly.
“I’m Evianna,” I say, walking over to her. “But you can call me Evi.”
“I like the name Evi,” she says, watching me curiously. I notice she has a container of yogurt in front of her.
“Thank you,” I say, taking a seat next to her. “I assume you’re Bria?” I ask, grinning.
“Yeth. My weal name ith Brianna.”
“What a pretty name.”
“What do you like to do, Evi?” I look at her, trying to decide what she means. She seems to notice my hesitation, because she sighs and continues. “Fow fun?” She glares at me.
I suppose this is a valid question.
“I like to read,” I say honestly.
She bounces up and down in her seat.
“Ooh! Me too! I think we’re gonna be beth friendth.” She jumps up and grabs my hand. “Come on, I want to show you all of my bookth!”
I smile as she leads me up the stairs to her bedroom.
See? This wasn’t so bad. I don’t know why Elijah and my parents think this is so weird.
As we walk up the stairs, I see Cecelia folding laundry in the laundry room.
“Oh good, you two have met!” She scampers over to me and appraises us. Bria is holding my hand.
“Grandma Ceecee, I’m showing Evi my bookth. She liketh to read, too!” she squeals and tugs at my hand.
I wave back at Cecelia, who just stands there and smiles.
“Have fun, you two!”
*
Bria and I spend most of the day looking at her books and reading them out loud. I even manage to feed her lunch and prepare her dinner. This whole taking-care-of-another-human thing is not as hard as I thought it would be.