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31
EVANGELINE
I runmy hands over the soft material of my long black skirt. I already double-checked to make sure my shirt is okay before I left the house. It would be just my luck to walk out with a big toothpaste splat in the middle of my chest.
I didn't know what to wear to an informal interview for a nanny position with the woman who used to be my mom's best friend. Who also happens to own the garage my car was fixed at.
And who is apparently the queen old lady of the Reapers.
I honestly don't even know what that means, but Cora was adamant that Dixie is like thequeen bee. So, you know, that only fuels my anxiety.
But I'm here.
Nervous and a little sweaty, but here.
Her proposition yesterday seemed more like a dream job than anything. Hanging out with Hunter and making more money in a week than I made in a month at my junior position at Pine Valley Design?
Piece of cake.
I adore kids, and this particular kid was pretty easy. But sitting in a little office watching a Disney movie is a far cry from what we'd do most days together.
Hence, the trial-run interview.
I bite my lip as insecurity wafts around me, twirling my anxiety up into a little ball. Maybe I should've worn jean shorts instead?
No, this is fine. I have black bike shorts underneath, and I can always tie up the sides of the skirt, on either side of the slit, if I need to. It would look a little silly, but I seriously doubt a five-year-old will care all that much.
I climb the stairs of the gray and white farmhouse style home further back on what Dixie called The Compound. Like her neighborhood has a proper title or something.
It's a beautiful home with a spacious front porch adorned with a couple of chairs and some potted cacti. The door creaks open before I even knock, and Hunter stands on the other side of the screen, smiling so bright and wide, his little cheeks squish up.
“Eve, you made it!” he exclaims.
I grin, feeling some of my anxiety slip away. “I wouldn't miss a day to hang out with you.”
He presses his nose to the screen. “Nan said you're gonna babysit me today because she has to go get a new shoulder soon. Because she broke hers.”
I chuckle and rock back on my heels a little bit. “Well, that's true. Your grandma has to have shoulder surgery soon, which makes it hard for her to do all the fun things she wants to do with you. So that's why she asked me to come over.”
Hunter nods, his head dipping slowly like he's thinking it over. “Okay. Wanna play cars with me? Or Go Fish? Oh, I know, we should play in Nan's backyard! She has the best tree swing. It's way better than the swings at the park. Nan has lots of movies here too. We can watch one and then sing along together!” He leans his hands into the screen, palms flat next to his face. “Let's dance together!”
I laugh. His enthusiasm is contagious. “That sounds like a lot of fun things. Maybe we should make a list?”
“Hunter Alexander St. James, I know you're not pushing out my screen again, are you?” I hear Dixie's reprimand before I see her.
Hunter's response is instant. He pulls back from the screen like it's going to burn him, jumping a foot back. He tucks his hands behind his back and spins to look at Dixie. “Sorry, Nan!”
Dixie appears then, her blonde hair swept up in a clip at the back of her head. She's wearing a black draped tank top, black leggings, and black sandals. Her clothes might be dark, but her smile is sunny and bright.
She casts a pursed-lip look at her grandson, who looks at her with a contrite expression. I get the feeling this is a common topic here.
“Come on in, honey,” she says, opening the screen door for me. “Let's chat a bit before Hunter steals you for the rest of the day.”
“I'll go get my cars ready,” Hunter says over his shoulder, already running down the hallway.
I follow Dixie inside, noting the cozy living room with a plush gray sectional couch and a large TV on one wall.
“Let's go to the kitchen. I hope you like sweet tea lemonade. I just made a fresh pitcher,” she says, tossing me a smile over her shoulder.
