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“Homeschool?” I repeat. “I didn’t know he knew anything about that. Was he a teacher?”
“No,” Penelope says with emphasis. “Not even a little bit, ever. The first kid he ever actually interacted with was his own daughter. He doesn’t know anything about homeschooling.”
I raise an eyebrow. “And yet he’s going to homeschool two children? That’s bold.”
“Yeah.” She looks up at me. “I told him it was stupid, but he never listens to me.”
“It is.” I can’t imagine trying to teach kids and not knowing anything about it. Seems like a disaster waiting to happen, one that could have consequences for his kids’ future.
Penelope laughs, then stops abruptly and points at me.
“What?” I ask.
“You,” Penelope says as if recognition flashes across her face.
“What?” I ask again. “What’re you thinking?”
“You should homeschool his kids.” Penelope smiles as if she’s proud of her plan. She thinks for a second as her smile widens. “Yeah, he agreed he should get help. I didn’t even think of you until just now, but you’d be perfect.”
“I thought your brother was a hermit who doesn’t let strangers on his property.”
Penelope waves me off with a laugh.
“He’ll more than likely do an extreme vetting process,” Penelope tells me. “But I can vouch for you since you’re my best friend. He’d have to hire you because you’re perfect for the job and you have experience. Plus, he knows I wouldn’t recommend a crazy person.”
I laugh but shake my head. “Penelope, I don’t know—”
“You have a degree in early childhood education,” Penelope says. “You have all those certifications, including CPR and anything needed to homeschool little kids. You even have a nanny certification and nutrition training and experience up the wazoo. You’d be so perfect. There’s nobody who’d be better for the job.”
“Penelope. I just don’t know. What if he decides he doesn’t want anyone in his house? You said yourself he hates people.”
“You’re not people,” Penelope insists. “You’re my best friend and have been for a long time.”
“I don’t know about this,” I reply.
Penelope frowns at me. “You’d do an amazing job. I know you’d be perfect for my niece and nephew. Please. Pretty, pretty please.” She’s begging, and people are starting to look at us.
“But he doesn’t even live nearby! He lives in the mountains. That’s a long commute for me every day.”
“He has an extra room that you could use while you’re there,” Penelope adds. I give her a look, and she sends a text, then waits. “Yeah, you could be a live-in nanny,” she says more to herself than to me.
“A live-in nanny?” I repeat, incredulously. That’s typical, but know
ing the way her brother is, it sounds like a bad idea waiting to happen. “This is all a little sudden, Penelope. I haven’t even given you an answer, and neither has your brother.”
“Evie and Jackson are really sweet kids.” Penelope smiles. “Really, really sweet. They’d fall in love with you. And if you’re nervous, just play it by ear and give it a chance. If you don’t like him, or it doesn’t seem like the right fit—just say so. But I’m confident you’re a great match.”
I eye her skeptically. “But what if he doesn’t like me?”
Penelope sighs and reaches across the table taking my hands in her own. “He’d be an idiot not to, Kacee. Pretty please. I can’t watch you rot in your apartment any longer. You said just the other day your only hobby is taking care of kids.” She motions towards her phone. “Here are two kids who desperately need you.”
I bite my bottom lip, considering her words. On the one hand, Penelope’s brother seems strange as hell. The prospect of suddenly living with him is kind of daunting. But, on the other hand, I have been so bored, lonely, and out of sorts without anything to do. This really does seem like an amazing opportunity to get back into the swing of things.
“Okay,” I concede, and she claps her hands with joy.
“Yes!” Penelope exclaims.
I hold up one finger. “Don’t get too excited yet. This is on a day-by-day basis. Maybe hour-by-hour.” I laugh, half-joking. “We can go up there and see from there.”
