Train Me Daddy

Veronica felt like this was an elementary concept, and she got annoyed every time she had to explain it to him. However, she could hardly blame him. He had grown up in a moderately well off middle class family, and he had really never wanted for much at any point in his life.

Veronica, however, had not always been so lucky. Growing up, her family often had to go without food, or heat or water for extended periods of time. Veronica knew the true worth of money, and all material possessions. She was grateful for everything she had, and she knew better than to let things go to waste.

She knew that the families she gave a break to really did need it, and that they were in situations just like the one she had been in. For her it was the least she could do, but for them, it definitely made a huge difference.

It seemed that no matter how many times she tried to explain that, though, Calvin just couldn’t wrap his head around the concept.

“Okay,” Calvin said, a look of surrender on his face. “I totally get your need to help people out, okay? I do. I just think that maybe you need to be thinking about yourself a little more.”

Veronica wanted to protest, but she knew it was pointless.

“Whatever you say,” she sighed, just wanting the conversation to end at this point. She picked up her fork and took another few bites of her food.

“Veronica,” Calvin said, and Veronica set down her fork again and looked back up at him.

“Yes?” she replied, her voice sharp and quick.

“I think I have a solution for you,” he said, and Veronica blinked in surprise.

“A solution?” Veronica leaned forward a little, resting her forearms on the table. Calvin hated when she did that, too, but she was honestly at the point where she didn’t care.

“Yes,” Calvin said, and a small smile began to form on his face. “You know my friend Jason at the firm?”

Veronica thought for a moment, and finally remembered who the man was.

“Yes,” she finally spoke up.

“Okay,” Calvin’s eyes lit up a little. “He is an assistant to this big-time lawyer, a guy named Frank Davenport.”

Veronica frowned a little, not quite sure where this narrative was headed.

“Well as his assistant, Jason spends a lot of time with him,” Calvin went on. “And Jason tells me that Davenport is looking for a babysitter. A babysitter that he is willing to pay a good deal of money for their services.”

Veronica’s eyebrows raised.

“Is that so?” she asked speculatively.

“Yes,” Calvin confirmed. “And I took the liberty of telling Jason to tell Davenport that I had a wonderful recommendation.”

“Calvin,” Veronica frowned a little. “You shouldn’t have done that without even talking to me about it first.”

“I know, I know,” Calvin reached across the table and took Veronica’s hand in his own. “I just got a little caught up in the moment. But tell me, what do you think about it?”

Veronica thought for a moment, her eyebrows meeting in a frown. It really was a good opportunity. By making the money, she could afford to cut down prices for her other clients, and at the same time, appease Calvin. Maybe then they could be as happy as they were earlier in their relationship.

If anything, she could at least give it the old college try, and if it didn’t work out, they would just have to find another solution.

“I think it would be a great idea,” Veronica spoke up.

“Great!” Calvin exclaimed, baring his bright teeth in a smile. “Because I already set you up for an interview with him. It’s tomorrow morning at nine, before you have to go in to watch the Jackson’s kids.”

Veronica was a little taken aback, and the irritation must have shown on her face.

“I know, I know,” he held up his hands in a gesture of innocence. “I really should have talked to you about it first. But I really think this will be a good thing for the both of us. And I know that if this guy sees you, and you talk to him about how good you are with kids and how much experience you have, you’re sure to get it.”

Veronica’s mind was more than a little overloaded, and she shook her head as she tried to process all of it. She stood up, placing her napkin on the table.

“Look,” she said, her voice a harsh sigh. “This is a lot for me to have to think about, okay? I just need a little bit of time to think it over, apparently before nine in the morning.”