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“Some kind of marketing executive,” I say.
Something flashes across my mother’s face almost imperceptibly. “I guess there’s a lot of those in Los Angeles,” she murmurs.
My father looks at her.
I frown, not understanding the look that passes between them, and I reach into my pocket to pull out the business card.
“See? It’s a legitimate business card,” I argue.
I slide it across to my father and he takes in a deep breath when he looks at it.
“He only talked to you about the job?” he asks.
“Yeah? What else would he talk to me about?” I ask.
“You don’t remember him?” my mother asks softly. “You met him a few years ago, at your cousin’s third birthday party.”
I blink at them, not sure what they mean, but slowly it dawns on me. I swallow hard.
“He’s my ex-brother-in-law,” my father says softly, and I remember, suddenly, the half-smile that he gave me this morning seeming awfully familiar.
The memory of that afternoon floods me.
“I’m Derek,” he’d said, and I’d been staring into his green eyes, already a bit enamored.
Was it weird to have a crush on your uncle? Probably, but I was only eighteen and he was the first extremely attractive man that I’d ever been around.
Even then, he’d had a few gray streaks around his temples, but his smile was warm and inviting.
“N-nice to meet you,” I stuttered, and I tried my best not to stare at him the rest of the visit.
He took pictures when I played peek-a-boo with the baby and I blushed.
“Come back to visit soon,” he said. “Magpie loves you.”
Oh shit. Maggie. I should have known, but I hadn’t seen her since she was just out of diapers. My aunt, Suzanna, had left Derek, my would-be employer, and her kids shortly after and disappeared off the map.
I’m never going to get this job.
3
DEREK
Ireceive the email with Kenna’s resume quickly, and I smile at my email. That is, until I look at the resume.
It’s not that it isn’t impressive. She’s had experience in college working at small daycares and also with teaching, and she states that she has two younger siblings, so she’s had lifelong experience with kids.
That’s not the problem.
The problem is her last name.Lodge. As inSuzanna Lodge, my ex-wife. It dawns on me slowly that Kenna's pretty smile looked familiar.
She’d only been eighteen the last time I saw her, and she’d changed quite a bit since then, her hair longer and a bit darker, gained some weight. But she still has that same smile, and I can’t believe that I didn’t realize it sooner.
McKenna Lodge is my ex-wife's niece.
I let out a long breath, wondering how much she has in common with her aunt. I can’t judge her based on the decisions of one of her family members, can I?
She’d been so good with the kids, and so helpful. I really need a nanny, but do I want to invite someone connected with their absent mother into my home?
