Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Hush!”
Harper’s voice filled the room. “Thank you so much for coming.”
Since my back was toward the door, I couldn’t see who was coming in. When Aurora’s face lit up, a spark of hope did the same. I stood and faced the door. My spark of hope quickly faded to something else.
Shock.
“Kim?”
“Liam! Oh my gosh! It’s so good to see you!”
Kim made her way over and hugged me. It took me a few moments to awkwardly hug her back.
When no one said anything, Aurora cleared her throat. “I take it you two know one another?”
Snapping out of my shock, I let out a nervous laugh. “Yes, um, Harper, Aurora, this is Kim Thompson, we, um…we…ah…”
“We dated in high school,” Kim stated with a laugh.
“High school?” Harper asked. “I’m so sorry, Kim, I don’t remember you at all.”
Kim laughed. “I didn’t live in Moose Village. I’m from Lake Placid, and Liam and I met through friends and dated for a few years.”
“Wow,” Aurora said with a laugh. “What a small world. And you are a nanny now?”
Kim pulled her eyes off me to look at Aurora. Her smile slipped for some reason when she saw Aurora, but then she recovered. “Yes. I’ve been nannying since I got out of college.”
“You never married?” I asked.
She gave me a soft smile. “No. I think I always regretted letting the one get away.”
I could see Harper and Aurora exchange a look from the corner of my eye.
Motioning for her to sit, I said, “Please, have a seat. I’m so sorry…your name wasn’t on the list.”
Kim sat on the sofa and set her bag next to her. “I was a last-minute addition.”
“You didn’t recognize Liam’s name?” Aurora asked.
Without looking at Aurora, Kim adjusted her purse to be just right on the floor as she said, “They called and gave me the address last night.”
She glanced around the room and let out a nervous laugh. “Is this like a throuple thing?”
Aurora let out a cough as Harper laughed.
“A throuple?” I asked, confused.
“Yeah,” Kim stated as she pointed to Harper and Aurora. “You’re in a relationship with two women. It’s the three of you. A throuple. I mean, no judgment from me at all.”
I was positive my eyes went as wide as saucers. “No! God, no. Harper and Aurora are good friends of mine. My wife, Hope, passed away last February from cancer, and my friends have been there for me and my daughter, Winnie.”
A look of pity crossed Kim’s face. That was one reason I hated telling people about Hope. They would give me that look of pity.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Kim quickly said. “I’m also sorry for the misunderstanding.”
Aurora laughed. “No worries. So it sounds like you’ve been a nanny for a while now. Are you currently working for anyone?”
With a quizzical look in Aurora’s direction, Kim replied, “No, I’m not. The family I worked for the last ten years moved to Italy. They offered for me to come along, but their daughter is getting older, and honestly, they no longer need a nanny at this point. Plus, I wasn’t willing to leave the country. My parents are in Lake Placid, and I enjoy the area.”
I nodded. “Well, let me tell you a bit about the position. First thing you need to know is that my daughter is two-and-a-half. Not twelve as the information packet mentions.”
Kim smiled. “That’s even better! Longevity in the job.”
Harper chuckled.
“I, um, I guess. I’m not honestly sure how long I will need a nanny.”
Kim grinned. “Fair enough.”
“Okay. So, should we talk details, then?”
Kim motioned for me to go on. “I can’t wait to hear all about your precious daughter.”
Aurora
Harper and I sat quietly by as Liam explained what he was looking for in a nanny, the hours he would need, and how I, along with Harper and Cadie, would be helping to fill in so that whoever took the position would have weekends off.
Kim waved her hand. “I have no social life, so I don’t mind working weekends.”
Harper cleared her throat and shot me a worried look. Confused, I shook my head slightly, telling her I wasn’t sure what she was trying to say.
“Kim,” Harper stated. “I appreciate that you don’t mind working weekends, but Liam and Aurora have devised a good schedule to allow those of us who love and care for Winnie to be a part of her life. We’ve all watched her grow up, and it means a lot to have us be able to keep being a part of her world, so you won’t be needed for weekends.”
Kim smiled, but it looked forced. “Yes, of course. I was just letting Liam, the father, know I’m willing to work weekends.”
My brows shot up at the tone she used with Harper. The moment I saw this lady, I got a strange feeling about her, and the more she spoke, the less I liked her.