Chapter Six
Jacqui Handy was younger than the applicants Meagan had interviewed previously, and that was one of the initial strikes against her. Meagan’s preset images of the perfect housekeeper for Seth and Alice was an older woman, much like Nina. Gray haired, sturdy bodied, efficient and congenial—a walking TV housekeeper stereotype, she admitted to herself.
Jacqui was about as far from Meagan’s preconception as it was possible for her to be. In her late twenties, she was elfin delicate in build. Her face was dominated by dark eyes and a stubborn-looking, slightly-pointed chin, both features highlighted by short, spiky dark hair. She wore a scoop-neck white knit top with dark jeans and black flats. The garments were obviously inexpensive, but immaculately clean and neatly pressed. Her fingernails were short and unpolished and her hands, while slender and graceful, still looked as though they had known hard work.
“You understand that Mr. Llewellyn is looking for someone who’ll stay on for a while?” Meagan emphasized. “His last housekeeper was with him for several years, and would be still if she hadn’t been injured.”
“I understand that.” Jacqui’s voice was quiet, but not shy. She met Meagan’s gaze steadily, sitting up very straight in her chair in Meagan’s living room. “I’m looking for a full-time position. I’ve moved around quite a bit in my past and I’m ready to stay in one place. I’m good at housekeeping and I’m a good cook. I’ll admit I haven’t had a lot of experience with children, but you said Mr. Llewellyn’s daughter is a teenager? That shouldn’t be a problem.”
Intrigued, Meagan glanced down at the résumé again. Jacqui hadn’t exaggerated when she’d said she’d moved around a lot. According to the jobs she’d listed, she’d worked since she was a teenager, and in at least five different states. She had attached copies of three letters of references from former employers, all highly complimentary of her work ethic. She’d tried everything from retail to food service to hotel staff, but she’d started housekeeping three years ago, when she was only twenty-five. Her last position had been almost a year as a live-in housekeeper for an elderly man who’d finally had to go into a long-term care facility. In the most recent reference letter, the man’s daughter had written glowingly about Jacqui’s service and dedication to her responsibilities.
“You’ve certainly made a good impression in your former positions.”
Once again, Jacqui answered without looking away. “Not all of them. I gave you all the contact numbers and most of them will say good things about me, but some will say I’m stubborn and insubordinate. I’m pretty easy to get along with for the most part, but I don’t like seeing other people mistreated and I won’t put up with employers making passes at me or anything like that.”
Amused by her tone, Meagan bit the inside of her mouth for a moment before responding. “You wouldn’t have to worry about that from Mr. Llewellyn. His daughter and her welfare are paramount to him. He would never step out of line with someone he trusts with her care.”
Maybe she hadn’t known Seth long, but Meagan was confident she spoke nothing less than the truth. He would never risk hurting or embarrassing his daughter with inappropriate behavior. She wouldn’t doubt Jacqui had been subjected to unwelcome attention from former employers, but she was confident that wouldn’t happen should Seth decide to hire her. Which didn’t mean he wouldn’t find Jacqui attractive, she thought with another glance at the pretty young woman sitting across from her. He was a man, after all.
The doorbell chimed suddenly and repeatedly, interrupting the interview. Glancing at her watch, Meagan stood. “That will be Alice now. One of the grandmothers from her school has been giving her a ride home in the afternoons until Seth, er, Mr. Llewellyn hires a replacement housekeeper. She’s been spending time with me until her dad gets home from work.”
Jacqui nodded. “I’d like to meet her.”
“Of course.”
It was Wednesday afternoon, and Alice had come over every day that week. Meagan didn’t mind. She had offered, after all. She’d even gotten into the habit of having a healthy after-school snack ready. She remembered how hungry she’d always been at the end of a school day.
Carrying a heavy-looking backpack on one shoulder, Alice had already been home and changed out of her school uniform and into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Meagan knew the girl wore a bathing suit beneath the shorts. Alice worked on homework at Meagan’s kitchen table while she had her snack, but she always wanted a quick swim before she returned home. Meagan teased her about being part fish.
By unspoken agreement, they’d accepted that Waldo wouldn’t be a particularly good indoor house guest during these peaceful afternoons. Though she checked on him every afternoon as soon as she got home, Alice left the dog at home, waiting to play with him in the evenings after dinner with her father. She had said repeatedly that she couldn’t wait until school let out in June and she could spend whole days with her pet again.
Meagan had reminded Alice several times that she would be back at work next week, but she wasn’t sure Alice truly understood how many hours a day Meagan spent at the hospital. She hoped Alice wouldn’t be too disappointed when Meagan was no longer available every day for companionship. It would be a good thing if Alice bonded well with the new housekeeper, since they’d be spending so much time together. Someone who could take her to movies or shopping or for other fun summer activities, she thought, glancing thoughtfully behind her to where Jacqui waited.
She tried not to think about how much she would miss Alice. She had enjoyed getting to know the girl during the past three and a half weeks, but it would be hard to sustain their unconventional friendship once Meagan was back at work full time.
She introduced Alice and Jacqui, then discreetly watched them interact. Jacqui was as straightforward with Alice as she had been with Meagan. “I don’t have much experience as a nanny, but you look old enough to take care of yourself for the most part.”
Alice stood a little taller. “I can take care of myself. But I can’t drive yet, so I need someone to take me to things like my friends’ parties and dentist appointments and stuff. And I’m going to be on a swim team this summer, so I’ll have to go to practice real often. My dad’s going to try to be at as many swim meets as he can, but he can’t make all the practices.”
Jacqui nodded. “I could handle that. I was on a dive team, myself, at one of the schools I attended. I enjoyed it.”
“Yeah?” Alice looked intrigued. “I haven’t tried the fancy dives yet. I’m a little afraid of the high board. But I can swim laps pretty fast.”
“The high board’s scary at first,” Jacqui agreed. “But you get used to it once you know how to slice into the water.”
“You look pretty young.”
Jacqui didn’t seem to mind the blunt comment. “I’m twenty-eight. Older than I look.”
“How come you want to be a housekeeper? Most housekeepers are old, like Nina.”
Shruggi
ng, Jacqui replied. “It’s a good job. I like keeping things clean and organized and I like to cook. No boss hanging over my shoulder micromanaging my every move. Not a high pressure position. And I usually have some time for myself during the day to read or knit or something while food is cooking or laundry’s going. Why wouldn’t I like it?”
Alice’s face lit up. “You knit?”
“Yes. I make sweaters and scarves and hats. A friend owns a kitschy little boutique in Santa Fe, and she sells my stuff in her shop. And I make some sales over the internet. It’s a nice hobby for making some extra spending money.”