Misadventures with a Manny Read online

  “I did. Thank you.”

  “How much time do I have to get ready for the move?” I laugh. I’m not ready to move, especially with my sister having a baby and everything, but this is my career. I wouldn’t leave the family hanging. I’d agreed I would go with them when he said he was applying.

  But when he looks back down, my dread returns.

  “That’s the thing, Linc. We aren’t going to take you with us.”

  I feel like someone has knocked the air out of me. “Oh.”

  “I’m not going to work since he’ll be making more money than we both make now,” Sharron says. “They’re paying for our housing, which means I can stay home and be with the kids. Homeschool them the way I wanted—not that you haven’t done an amazing job. Please don’t think I mean it that way,” she adds in a rush.

  I reach over and take her free hand with mine. “I’d never think that,” I say, my heart pounding in my chest. “It’s so great for you.”

  “It is,” she says, and then she starts crying. “We are torn over this decision—”

  “But it’s the best for us.” Mike’s voice is steady, but his expression is sad.

  “No, I completely understand,” I agree, letting out a long breath. “Just surprised.”

  “We know. We’re so sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” I urge, squeezing her hand. “I get it. You guys really wanted this job.”

  “We did, but we’re so sad to lose you,” Sharron says, wiping her face. “You’ve been a part of this family for so long.”

  I quirk my brows. “And a move across the world won’t change that.”

  Mike cups my shoulder, squeezing it hard. “We’re giving you six months’ pay up front to help until you find another family. We will write the best recommendations.”

  I smile gratefully. “I appreciate that. So you’ll be moving soon?”

  “The end of the month.”

  Another punch to the gut. “Wow. Damn.”

  “Yeah. It’s sudden, but they took so long to decide who they wanted, they want us there quickly. They’re paying for everything and giving us a moving bonus.” Mike grins. “That we’re handing to you.”

  “You don’t have to,” I insist, even though I really can use the cushion until I find another family.

  “No, we are. It’s the least we can do. It’s so hard to let you go.”

  And it is going to be hard for me to let them go.

  Chapter Two

  Lincoln

  I reach for the glass that my buddy’s wife, Riana, holds out to me, and I smile. “Thanks for having me over.”

  I lean back in my chair, so full from the amazing dinner she cooked. We usually have dinner every Thursday night when Phillip is in town, but lately, he has been traveling a lot, and Riana is helping her sister through a nasty divorce. It is nice to be back with them. I’ve missed them.

  Phillip claps my shoulder. “You’re always welcome. Wish we could have had you over sooner. With everything going on and my travel schedule, it’s been nuts.”

  “I know, man. No big.”

  “How are you doing since your family moved?” Riana asks.

  I shrug. Phillip and I have talked about it, but I guess he hasn’t told Riana.

  “It sucks, but they gave me a six-month severance, so I’m okay.”

  “Yeah, but you miss them.”

  I nod. “I do. Jenny doesn’t want me to get another family.”

  Phillip gives me a look. “I don’t always say this, but I agree with your sister.”

  I shoot him an incredulous look. “No, no you can’t.”

  He laughs. “Really, I think you should go into the field for real. You’re a wonderful teacher.”

  “Thanks,” I say with a shrug. “But I love the freedom of homeschooling and taking care of kids.”

  “What about teaching at a private school?”

  I nod. “I don’t know. I need to figure it out. My mom and sisters want to talk to me.”

  “Ew.” Phillip groans.

  I laugh at that. Phillip knows all about my gossiping family; he dated Vanessa, one of my older sisters. It was a quick hookup that fizzled just as fast, but at the end of it, he met Riana. The night Vanessa broke up with him, Riana was their waitress. Funny how things like that happen.

  “Either way,” he says. “You gotta do what makes you happy.”

  “It’s hard, ya know? I thought I had at least ten more years with them.”

  “That’s why taking care of families sucks,” Phillip says.

  Riana’s phone rings. She smiles in apology and heads to the kitchen.

  “I’ve been looking at families,” I say. “I just haven’t been impressed by anyone.”

  Phillip laughs. “You know you’ll never find another one like the Ellentons.”

  “I know. Man, I had it so good there.”

  We share a laugh. I hear Riana’s voice rising in the kitchen.

  Phillip says, “You did have it good, but now it’s time to grow up and be a big boy. Get a serious job.”

  I nod.

  “I can talk to my mom. She has some pull over at Liberty Hall.”

  Phillip and I both went to the local private school; that’s where we met. It is a nice enough school, but man, do I really want that? A nine-to-five? I’ve had such freedom the last six years. I can do whatever I want as long as the kids are cared for. I have to admit that most of the time being a manny feels more like being a brother than actually having a job. But like Phillip said, maybe it is time for me to put my big-boy pants on.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Riana’s face is red as she comes toward us. “That was Vera.”

  Phillip pinches the bridge of his nose. “What now?”

  “Another nanny quit.”

  His face scrunches up. “She just hired this one last week!”

  “The boys covered the entrance to the kitchen with clear packing tape. She didn’t see it and ran right into it.”

  Phillip starts laughing, and I can’t help joining in until Riana silences us with a look.

  “The girl freaked out so bad! She got wrapped up in the tape. They had to cut the tape out of her hair, and it pulled some of her eyelashes out. She was carrying a hot bowl of soup, and it burned her thighs. Still wanna laugh?”

  Our laughter dies off as Riana shakes her head. “She wants to sue. So of course, Vera is freaking out.”

  “Well that sucks,” Phillip adds.

  I nod. “The boys did that? They are great kids, really well-behaved last time I saw them.”

  Riana falls into a chair and covers her face. “They are honestly the best kids in the world, but when my sister’s fuckhead husband left, they went crazy.”

  “Especially Charlie, the oldest. He’s taking it hard,” Phillip says.

  I lean back in my chair. “He probably thinks if he chases off the nannies, his dad will come back.”

  Riana looks over at me, and I see the tears in her eyes. “Exactly. He hates school; he hates the nannies. That isn’t Charlie. He is such a good kid. I hate what Simon has done to my sister and those boys.”

  “We all do, baby,” Phillip says, getting up and going to her. He wraps his arms around her neck and kisses her temple. “Don’t worry, Vera is so strong.”

  “She’s at her wit’s end, though. This is the ninth nanny that has quit.” Riana runs her hands down her face, wiping away her tears. “All Vera has is us, and it’s killing me.”

  Nine nannies? Jesus Christ, what were those kids doing?

  “I know, baby. We’ll figure it out. Don’t get yourself so upset.”

  “It’s hard not to,” she says softly. “I don’t want to live with them. I want to live here and grow our family.”

  “It’s fine, Riana. Calm down,” Phillip says, and then he laughs. “Sorry, man, she’s emotional as shit.”

  I wave him off. “Hey, I know how it is to have sisters, especially when they’re pregnant. You want to be there for them no matter w