“Color your clouds blue,” Gina said to Jess.
I almost corrected Gina for being so forceful, but I found myself enamored with the woman in front of me.
Jess started on her coloring page. “How old are you, Gina?”
“Three!” Gina said, holding out three fingers to Jess.
I cleared my throat. “I’m looking for long-term. And I need someone to start right away.”
Jess nodded. “I’m available.”
“I’ll need references from your previous employers.”
“I have all contact information listed on my resume.”
“That’s good,” I said.
“Can you tell me about your family?” she asked.
“It’s just Gina and me. I run this company and need full-time help with her.”
“What sort of things do you like to do, Gina?” Jess asked.
“I like the park.”
“I like the park too,” Jess said. “Especially the swings.”
“Me too!”
Jess looked up and smiled at me, a genuinely happy smile. I hoped that she felt the connection that I sensed between them. And if I had to be honest with myself, with me too. There was something about Jess that made me want to keep her in my presence. Was it her foreign charm? Or the fact that she made my daughter open up in less than five minutes of being with her?
Was this the nanny I’d been waiting for? She was young, probably early to mid-twenties. And the fact that she stuck with a family for two years was a bonus for me. I wasn’t sure how long I would need a nanny, but I knew two years would be the minimum.
My gut told me that this was the one, but I had to push my rational side to disagree, at least until I could clear my head. Normally, I wasn’t the type to make quick decisions like this, but I wanted to hire her before anyone else did.
Allison’s signature sharp rap on the door broke me from my thoughts.
“Come in,” I said.
Allison stepped into the room. Her eyes were wide as if she had a feeling I was going to reprimand her. My look had been enough. Next time, I wouldn’t be so forgiving.
“Yes?” I asked.
Allison looked at Jess then me. “I-It’s time for the meeting.”
I stood up from the child-sized chair and smoothed the wrinkles on my pants. “Thank you, Allison.”
She nodded and backed out of the room, leaving the door open.
Jess stood up from her chair. Her expression was remorseful. Had she thought she’d given a bad interview? Granted, it was shorter than I would have liked, but she’d given me everything I needed in that small amount of time.
“Well, thank you for your time,” Jess said. She opened her mouth to say something but quickly closed it. She crouched down next to Gina. “It was nice to meet you, Gina.”
Gina flung herself off her chair and into Jess’s arms. “Can you stay while Daddy has his meeting?”
Jess cleared her throat and glanced up at me.
“Honey,” I said to Gina. “Jess has to go.”