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I laugh because I think she might be joking. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not leaving you here alone this summer. Someone needs to make sure you don’t end up as theNanny Killer’s next victim.”
The same thought about the infamousNanny Killerhad obviously crossed my mind. There has been a series of local killings, all nannies, in the Newport area over the last five months. I’ve read through the incidents. All the cases are connected by some weird online forum and details sent via an email prior to the nanny showing up at an address. I stand up from the couch and walk over to Willa, placing my hands on her shoulders. “I appreciate you worrying about me, but I think the versions of theNanny Killerstories you read might be a bit distorted. Those magazines,” I say, pointing at the stack on the coffee table, “contain exaggerated news so they can make sales.”
Willa slips out from beneath my hands and leans in toward the coffee table, reaching between the stack of magazines. She pulls out aNewport Dailynewspaper. “Hales, this story isn’t exaggerated. It’s been on the news, too.”
“Look,” I say, walking over toward the door where my purse is hung up. I pull out my can of pepper spray. “I will be okay. I promise you. Trust the fact that I’m not the type of woman to run up the stairs if a killer were chasing me. I know I’m not the most aggressive or forward person you’ve ever met, and wouldn’t have thatNanny Killerscreaming for mercy like you would, but I can sniff out a bad situation.” I’m sure theNanny Killerhas been more than convincing to these other young women, but I can’tlet these incidents keep me from working with children, which I will be doing full time after I graduate with my degree.
“Haley, Haley, Haley, why are you so sweet and innocent? Why?” Willa groans, playfully stomping her leopard-print slip-on sneakers. “You are a whiz with psychoanalyzing everyone you meet within the first thirty seconds of speaking to them. But not everyone falls into the perfect personality categories like they’re supposed to. We live in a sick world. You, of all people, know this.” I wish I didn’t have to know this truth and I wish she didn’t either, but we can’t hide from reality.
Before I can get another word out, Willa is dragging her suitcase back down our short hallway, catching the wheels on the plush runner.
“You’re not really staying because of a job I might not get?” I argue, shouting after her.
She cackles and disappears into her bedroom. “Yes, my bestie, I am.”
“You were just looking for an excuse not to go home,” I holler to bicker. She was. She would much rather be here and closer to Jerry, her boyfriend, than a state away with her parents.
“Girl, you do not have to act like you’ve known me for seven years. It’s an annoying quality,” she jests. Some days, it feels like we’ve known each other for much longer than that. We’ve been through a lot together since meeting at freshman orientation.
Willa is aVirtuosoaccording to the psychology behind personality traits…always observing, planning, and thinking, has her hands in a dozen different projects at once and can’t sit still. I see myself fitting into theDefendercategory, which is described as empathetic, loving, devoted and often a perfectionist to a fault. According to science, Willa and I make the best kind of friends and roommates. So far, science has proven to be true for us.
I straighten the slipcover, firming the edges, and smooth out the slight wrinkles. It’s just about noon and my stomach is churning with nerves. I need this job to work out.
“Well, girl, we better get started on a grand plan for our summer of fun,” Willa hoots, shuffling back into the living room.
“Are you going to be working at all?” I ask, knowing she doesn’t have to work with how loaded her parents are, but Willa likes to keep busy. I want to enjoy the summer too, but I know jobs can get in the way ofgrand plans. I wish I could take a season off and just lay out on the beach without a worry in the world.
“I sure am. I just texted the boss. I explained my situation and told him it would mean a lot to me if I could keep my job. I pleaded just a bit, and in the end he caved.”
“Even though you quit yesterday?” I ask, raising a brow at her. She’s making it sound as if she had to jump through hoops of fire to regain employment. We both know that wasn’t the case.
Willa shrugs. “I don’t know. I guess my boss didn’t want me to leave,” she says with a hum. “He must have known I’d be back sooner rather than later.”
“You mean, your boss who is madly in love with you and didn’t want you to go home for the summer?” I tease her. “You and Jerry can’t bear to be apart for more than a day.”
They’re so cute together, it’s almost hard to watch, but only because I’m a little jealous I can’t find anyone like him for myself.
“See, I’ve got this whole adulting thing down to a cakewalk,” she says, tapping on the side of her head.
Willa took the last semester of school off to give herself a break, but before that she had doubled down on classes and earned more credits faster than I did. Her break led her to her waitressing job at the Cove where she met Jerry. After all’s said and done, we’ll both still graduate on time. I could have used abreak too, but I know it’s best that I focus on finishing up school before starting a relationship with anyone. I’m more linear than she is and like to follow order. She would rather watch life fall into place. Sometimes I wonder if the grass might be greener on her side.
“Thank goodness for that,” I agree with laughter. “I need to go give that woman with the nanny job a call. Wish me luck.”
Willa gives me an unsure smile and wishes me, “Good luck,” as if it’s a question.
“I’ll be fine,” I reassure her. TheNanny Killer…my God. Criminals must be running out of creative ways to get themselves locked up.
FOUR
SUNDAY, JUNE 4TH 12:00 PM
I close myself in my bedroom, feeling the warm breeze skate through the open window, carrying a sweet aroma from the lilac bushes in the small garden beneath us. I twist my hair behind my ear, pull my phone out of my back pocket and plop down on the edge of my bed. With a deep breath and crossed fingers, I tap on the voicemail and hit the redial button.
I don’t want to sound too desperate, I tell myself.I just really need this job and a paycheck.
Two rings and a click suck the wind out of my lungs. Willa’s warning and my general nerves about securing a job hit me as soon as the woman answers my call.
