AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s alright. That would have been my assumption as well. But no, I’m just a good friend of the family.”
My mind immediately swarmed with an endless list of questions about said family.
Where were the parents?
Why aren’t they here?
Will I be meeting them today?
However, I knew it wasn’t my place to ask. I ignored each and every one of them, simply grateful that my uncle happened to overhear someone talking about hiring a full-time nanny.
My tio Feto said he had a family that he provided lawn service for, and they were looking to bring in help for their kids.
When he told me about the opening, it couldn’t have come at a better time. Nursing school wasn’t going to be cheap, and I needed a job to pay for my student loans that were already piling up. Working at my best friend Danté’s club wasn’t going to pay my bills or my student loans. I needed a real job.
Education was my only way out of living in Selma, otherwise known as El Barrio, the hood. I couldn’t afford anywhere else and I wanted a better life for myself.
I spent two hours on the public transportation bus just to get to this interview, and already it felt like I was screwing it up.
“You have an accent. Where are you from?”
As much as I tried covering it up, I should have known it’d be useless. It didn’t matter that I was bilingual, Spanish would always be my native tongue.
Pulling myself together, I didn’t bother hiding my accent this time. Responding, “My siblings and I were born here, but my parents are from Venezuela. But it won’t be a concern,” I quickly vowed. “My English is perfect, except when I get nervous, my Spanish tends to come out. I’ll speak English with the kids, that won’t be a problem. I promise.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why would that be a problem?”
“Because it had been an issue all my life. I’d been treated like a minority ever since I could remember.”
“Well that won’t be a problem in this house.”
Damn it, I just said that out loud.
I was never one to not speak my mind, often digging my own grave. I was opinionated, I couldn’t help it. You try growing up in a house full of Venezuelan people. I spoke my mind loudly, or I wouldn’t have been heard.
“They would love if their children learned another language. Aside from cusswords, you’d think their boys barely spoke English.”
I relaxed, instantly at ease. Her confession had me wanting the position even more. Working for a family who treated me as an equal was something a girl like me only dreamt about. My family was poor, but they were hardworking.
We had what we needed growing up, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and a roof over our heads.
As if she could read my thoughts, her pointed stare never wavered from my eyes once.
“Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself? Who is Camila Jiménez?”
Swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat, I countered, “What would you like to know? Skyler, right?” Silently hoping I remembered her name correctly from when she introduced herself.
She nodded. “Yes. Skyler Jameson, but you can call me Sky. Everyone besides my husband calls me that.”
Her name even sounded familiar.
Where do I know you from? Just shut up and smile, Camila. Just shut up and smile.
“How about we start with how old you are?”
“I’m twenty-eight.”
“Are you married? Single? Never dating again?”
