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My eyes fly wide and my mouth drops in surprise.
“Isn’t that a hoot? I know we just opened up your search criteria, and then this job pops up out of nowhere.”
She laughs again then continues to speak, but I can barely understand her, the excitement thrumming through my body and my heart pounding in my ears the only things I can hear.
Sandalwood.
A job right here.
Last week, I called Jorrine—the woman who owns the nanny assignment agency that helps me find work—and told her to open me up to anywhere in California. My stomach was in knots and she reassured me she would still do her best to keep me near the area I wanted to be in, but I really did think I’d get hired in San Francisco or somewhere crazy north that would change everything about my life.
But no.
Sandalwood.
Sandalwood!
“So does Thursday work for you?”
Jorrine’s voice finally penetrates my fog of bliss, and I realize I’ve missed most of what she just said. But it doesn’t matter…I’m going to get to stay!
“Yes, Thursday is great.”
“Wonderful. I’ll send you an email with the address. It’s just the standard meet and greet with the kid and family. They seem desperate and loved the information I gave them about you, so I think this might be the real deal.”
“Wow, thanks Jorrine. You have no idea how much I appreciate you finding this for me.”
“Ah, well…I’d like to take all the credit, but sometimes luck just lands in your lap.”
I wrap up my conversation and get off the phone then continue my happy dance through the kitchen and out into the living room.
“Did I just hear what I think I heard?”
The sound of Leighton’s voice almost stops me in my tracks, but instead, I spin on my heel and point at her with a smile.
“Yes, you did!”
She squeals and rushes to the stereo to crank on some music, and then the two of us are dancing together in the living room to some song from TikTok that I recognize but couldn’t name the singer for the life of me. It’s a banger though, and we dance like rock stars through the whole thing, jumping up on tables and shaking our asses even when Leo walks sleepily into the living room rubbing at his eyes.
“It is so very early,” he tells us.
“Emily got a job!” Leighton shrieks.
Leo blinks a few times then smiles at me. “Congratulations,” he says. “You will be moving out soon, yes?”
I snort with laughter at his honesty then continue to dance. No need to tell him I didn’t actually get the job yet. I’m sure if I did that, I’d just jinx myself into doing something stupid to ruin my chances anyway.
We continue dancing around until the song is over, and then I collapse in exhaustion on the couch.
“Hopefully I’ll be out of your hair soon,” I tell Leo as the next song begins to play.
He gives me a thumbs-up before his head dips behind the fridge door and he rummages for something to eat for breakfast.
“This is so amazing!” Leighton says, snuggling up next to me on the couch and looping her arm in mine. “I’m so proud of you. Tell me everything.”
I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t really know anything yet, but I’m meeting the family on Thursday.”
“That’s in two days!” she shrieks, clapping her hands together and bouncing around next to me. “I think we need a little shopping trip to find Emily some new nannying clothes.”
