Unsuitable

“I also cared for my four sisters.”

Audrey smiled one of those polite grins that looked more like pity for a try-hard. Family didn’t count. Except that for him it did.

“When I was ten, Charlie—that’s Mum, remarried. She had four kids in six years, one set of twins. My stepdad was a long distance truck driver, he wasn’t around much and when he was, he was sick. He died of cancer the year my mum was pregnant with my baby sis, Pippa.

“When I was sixteen Charlie got sick. With all that I did a lot of child care. It was me who looked after the twins and Pippa. If I wasn’t at school, I had family responsibilities.”

He’d been too busy to be frustrated and angry about that at the time, but later, what a blow-out, but not something Audrey needed to know about.

“Charlie had to work and she went to hospitality college so she could get a better job. I changed nappies, I made up bottles. I washed, cooked, cleaned, and supervised homework. Mum worked shifts, doubles whenever she could.”

And those hard times when he’d had to choose family over friends made him who he was. He’d rebelled, as soon as he was out of school, three years of being bad tempered, resenting the girls, and Charlie especially, until he realised he was only hurting himself. He loved his family more than anything else in his life.

“I helped to bring my sisters up.” He stood. He’d hacked this up, there was no point sitting through further questions. “I know you probably think family doesn’t count in a résumé. I’m sorry I wasted your time.”

“Sit down Reece, you’re not wasting my time.” Audrey patted the couch cushion.

“You don’t want me.” Shit, that sounded pathetic.

“Why wouldn’t I employ you? You have all the right qualifications. Plus you’re catnip to Mia.”

No point not being honest now. “You want a woman.”

“I wan

t the best person for the job.”

“You’re saying that because you know that’s what you’re supposed to say. It’s politically correct.”

“Sit down, Reece. You’re blocking out the sun.”

He scrubbed at his head and looked from Audrey to Mia. Mia was making an O face again, then she said, “Mum, apple.”

Audrey focused on Mia. “We don’t have any apples. But you can have a mandarin. You like mandarins.”

“No. Apple.”

“Draw another picture and I’ll get something to eat in a minute.”

“No. Apple.”

“Mia, honey.”

“No.”

This was a useful distraction. “I’ll go. Really, I understand you’d be more comfortable with someone else. I don’t want to waste your time any longer.”

“Apple, Mum. Apple now.”

“You’re not wasting my time. Mia, in a minute.”

“No.”

“What do you like least about being a nanny, Reece? Do you prefer manny?”

Like a mermaid, he was trapped in the undersea world of this interview. He sat, but on the floor beside Mia, cross-legged like before. “I hate manny. Male nurses are still nurses, not murses. The words have the same etymology. It’s the function, not the gender.”

“Oh.” He’d spoken sharply. Audrey sat on the floor as well. She put out her arms to Mia, but Mia shied away, opting to stand on Reece’s shins, holding onto his shoulders.