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She took a few steps toward him, hoping Katrina wouldn’t come out.
“Alphé, can we talk for a moment?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“About paying me to babysit.”
He looked at her, the expression sort of melting away, and she knew he wasn’t expecting it.
“I’m really sorry. I need the money. Since Rodney died, I’ve been living month to month off the kids’ Social Security, and they are getting older and need more than I have money for. Just the Wi-Fi we must have for school is expensive.”
He still said nothing, and it made her angry. “Think about it, then. I have to get home.”
He finally spoke, taking a step toward her. “Calista, I thought you were doing it as a favor.”
“Alphé, a person babysits one night as a favor. Every day, five days or more a week, for months at a time, that’s a job. It would cost you seventeen dollars an hour to hire a nanny. I’m here for at least four hours a day. That’s three hundred and forty dollars a week. That money would make a big difference to my family.”
“I’ll have to think about it.”
“I’m going to have to get a job if you decide not to pay me.”
Then she thought but didn’t say,Maybe your girlfriend could give you a hand.She’d let Alphé have the last word, but wasn’t budging until he dismissed her.
He nodded toward the house. “I’d better get inside.”
“Goodnight, Alphé.” She walked away, body shaking so violently she was afraid she’d topple over.
“What was that all about?” Katrina asked when he came through the door. “I saw you talking to her, and your body language was a little challenging.”
“She asked me to pay her for babysitting.”
Katrina blinked, shaking her head. “Alphé, you haven’t been paying her?”
“No! I didn’t realize she expected it.”
Seething, Katrina wondered if sexism was simply rampant in Cypress Cove.
“Alphé, pay the girl. I’ve followed her in after Lola has been here in the morning, and it’s chaos with clothes all over the place and the kitchen a mess. It’s almost like Lola does it on purpose. You come home to a clean house with fed kids and a meal for you, your laundry done. She’s probably folded your underpants. I’m a little upset about your attitude.”
“Look, I didn’t know. I thought she offered the way Lola did, because she’s their aunt.”
“No. She offered because she knew you were desperate. Now you need to pay her, right away. How much do you owe her?”
“A couple of thousand. It’s going to hurt.”
“I’ll pay her, then. And when I have a baby, I’ll pay a nanny for all of them if I have to. But you can’t expect someone to watch your four kids and clean your house out of the goodness of their heart. That’s insane.”
“I hate to ask you, but please pay her. I’ll pay you back.”
“No need,” she said. “Just get me pregnant.”
“Ha! I should pay you, then.”
“You’ll owe me. Send her a text and apologize. Tell her you’ll pay her when she comes to pick up her kids tonight.”
“Oh! I see, her kids stay here free.”
“She’s taking all six of them for the entire weekend. That guy bought a giant camper, and he’s taking them to Yogi Bear park or some awful-sounding place.”
