“Thanks,” I said. “What are you doing for dinner?”
“I’m free as a bird,” she said. “You?”
“Let’s get some food, and you can tell me all about last night.”
“I’d love to. What are you in the mood for?”
“Anything but Chinese,” I said.
Chapter Five
Noah
Even after five interviews with potential nanny candidates, I still woke Monday morning with no one to help me. It had been a surprise that people actually responded to my email on the weekend, but that was the
type of loyalty I fostered within my company. I called each of the referrals first thing Sunday morning and spent the entire afternoon interviewing.
Since Gina had another year until preschool, there was nowhere else for her to go other than to work with me.
I woke extra early so that I could get myself ready and then pack her bag with as many things as I thought she’d need for the day. I knew I had too many snacks, but I wanted her to be comfortable in the new situation.
All night, I mulled over the two at the top of my candidate list. Allison, my secretary, had kept Gina in her office during the interviews. I wanted to be sure of a person before introducing them to my daughter. And none of them wowed me enough to warrant an introduction. I’d decided to take the night to think about it.
My schedule was packed with meetings, as most Mondays were, so I wouldn’t be able to get to introduce the final applicants to Gina until Tuesday. I hoped that Gina would connect with at least one of them.
I woke Gina around six-thirty, and even though that was an hour earlier than she normally got up, she jumped out of her bed, ready for the day.
“Today’s work with Daddy!” she said, reaching up to me.
I embraced her, and she squeezed her little arms around my neck.
“Sorry you have to come to work with me, but you can bring whatever toys you want,” I said.
“I’m happy to work with Daddy.”
“You are?”
“Now I can see you all day!”
Her comment made me feel like the worst father ever. I wished I could spend more of my time with her, but being a single parent was incredibly difficult, especially since I carried the weight of all of my employees on my shoulders as well as my family.
But no matter how hard of a position I was in, I was adamant about making sure we had enough money to live comfortably. I wasn’t going to let Gina grow up the way I did.
“We don’t have time to eat at home, but I’m ordering breakfast for the company so we can eat there,” I said.
“Okay. I need to change first,” she said.
I’d padded our morning for this very instance. I worked through some emails on my phone while Gina picked out her most “professional” outfit. She chose a blue and white dress with her “fancy” white shoes.
When I breached the topic of a ponytail, she patted my hand.
“Today, I wear a bow,” she said and picked out a big pink bow for me to place in her hair.
I felt relieved that she trusted me with such a task. And after a few tries maneuvering the clip into her hair, I managed to do it. At least I didn’t rip her hair out of her head this time.
“High-five!” I said, and she slapped my hand with hers and let out an excited giggle. “Let’s go!”
I walked through the door of the building only ten minutes later than normal. Most of my employees had already picked through the breakfast I’d had the caterer set up in the lobby. But I’d ordered plenty for everyone. I allowed Gina to choose which items she wanted. By the time we made it down the buffet line, I had two full plates of food.