The Daddy Box Set

But Mom had other ideas.

The phone rang again. She wouldn’t stop until I picked up.

I groaned and accepted the call, pressing the phone to my ear. “Hey, Mom.”

“Did I wake ya?” she asked.

“No, I was just lying around,” I lied.

“With the boy? Ricky was his name?”

I rolled my eyes. She knew damn well that was his name. We’d only discussed him every Sunday for the past two years.

“Yeah, Mom. I don’t work for them anymore. Remember?”

“Did you get fired?” she asked.

I gritted my teeth. “No, I didn’t get fired. He’s five now. And since it’s school break, the family didn’t need me anymore.” Her memory wasn’t fading. It was the lack of attention she paid to anything that I said.

“Have you got another job lined up?” she asked before I finished speaking. Why did she bother asking me questions if she wasn’t going to listen to the answer?

“No,” I said, hesitating. I already knew what she was going to say, so I braced myself for her reaction. “I’m taking a break from working.”

“A break? What do ya mean a break?”

“Yes, a break. I need to clear my head before starting another job.”

She made a dismissive snort on the other end. Why the hell did I pick up the phone? Even from ten thousand miles, away she was mothering me. I should have turned my phone off. But Sierra wouldn’t appreciate a phone call this early in the morning. Mom had insisted I have an emergency contact in case I didn’t pick up the phone. Sierra had agreed to be that person, but I never let it get that far. I didn’t want to torture my friend with any of my mom’s accusations.

“What do ya need that for?” she asked.

“A break? I don’t know, Mom, maybe because I worked my butt off for two years. What’s wrong with taking some time off?”

“You need to keep earning money, love. You’re going to get lazy.”

I groaned. “I’m not going to get lazy. I’ve already found a few positions I’m interested in. I’ll contact them in a few days, all right?”

“No need for the talkback, love. I’m just trying to help keep you grounded.”

I dug my fingers into my temples. God, I wished this headache would go away. “I know.”

“You know you’re always welcome to move back home. There isn’t as much hustle and bustle as America, but I would love to see you every day.”

I had no desire to move back home with her. Not in a million years. The dull ache settled into the front of my head. And I knew it wasn’t just the hangover. She had a way of doing this to me.

“Tell me about your week,” I said, moving the subject away from me.

After the conversation with Mom, I got out of bed, took two aspirin, and washed it down with two glasses of water. I rarely drank that much, but I knew dehydration was about to settle in and I wanted to have a productive Sunday. Especially after the conversation with her. Bright and early next Sunday morning she was going to call and ask about the job hunt.

So much for my break. I could inform the prospective families that I had a particular start date in mind, but most long-term nanny positions were looking for their chosen candidate to start right away.

At least I had today to myself, and I would make the best of it.

After showering and changing, I went back to the computer and continued my job search. I had read a few listings before my phone rang.

Sierra’s face lit up the screen. I pressed the DECLINE button and went back to my job search. I didn’t want any distractions. Besides, she was working today. The Baker brothers would be happy I didn’t take up their employee’s time. She probably wanted to talk my ear off about the concert. I would stop by later and talk to her, once I felt better.

Later that afternoon, I gave myself a break from staring at the computer screen. I’d updated my resume and sent it off for five different positions. I wasn’t thrilled about any of them, but any job would pale in comparison to being with Ricky all day. The interview would be the deal breaker. Getting along with the child was paramount for me, and I wouldn’t mind going on a bunch of interviews to find the next kid.