Page 52 of Eleanor & Grey
Because that was all I’d ever wanted to be: happy.
Just like the dragonflies buzzing by, every now and then Greyson East would cross my mind, and without any more thought than that, I’d smile. I never thought too deeply about him being on my mind. I just let the thoughts linger for however long they needed to. I learned to appreciate him somehow coming back to me, in a way. The best part of memories ishow they can reappear from the most random things. I’d think of him when I saw red licorice, or whenever I flipped past a kung fu movie on television, or when I thought about the most defining moments of my life. He’d always show up during those moments of reflection.
I’d always be thankful for the memories and the way he’d held me up during the darkest moments of my life when all I had wanted to do was drown.
I also made a promise to myself that if life ever brought us back to each other, if the stars aligned and somehow our paths crossed once more, I swore, like the waves on the shore, I’d completely crash into him.
Part 2
21Eleanor
Illinois, 2019
Riley Larson was turning five years old in two months, and I hadn’t stopped thinking about it. I’d been thinking about her turning five since the day I met her. Most people were excited when a child turned five. It meant they were off to school to learn and grow and become more of the person they were meant to be. To me, though... to me it felt like a kiss of death.
Because, when Riley turned five, that meant she was off to kindergarten, and what was the point of a nanny when a child was in kindergarten all day?
For after-school activities? That was when a parent brought in a babysitter, not a nanny. Soon enough I’d be replaced by a thirteen-year-old girl who would gladly accept twenty bucks to watch Riley.
I’d been dreading the day Riley’s mother, Susan, asked me to meet up with her for brunch to talk while her husband had a “Daddy and me” day with Riley. Nothing good ever came from brunch conversations with your boss, except for the bottomless mimosas I was gulping down to tame my nerves.
“I really am sorry, Eleanor. You have been nothing but a saint to our family since we took on your services five years ago. I mean, heck, you’ve been with us since Riley was four months, and there’s no way we could’ve survived without you. It’s justthat with Riley going off to kindergarten next year...” Her words trailed off as she readjusted herself in her chair.
She was so nervous. I assumed it was her first time ever having to let someone go. She was struggling to actually say the words.
“I get it, Susan, really. You don’t have to feel bad.”
Her eyes watered over, and she clasped her hands together. “But Idofeel bad. You’ve been such a big part of our family for so long, and letting you go is just so hard.”
“Well, you could always get knocked up again.” I was joking, but like, really,Get knocked up again, Susan.
She laughed a “never in the history of ever will I do that again” kind of chuckle before downing her mimosa.
“But honestly, at least we have quite a few more months before school starts,” I commented. I’d take any silver lining I could find, and having that buffer would give me some time to search for new employment.
Then Susan ripped that gem away from me. She cringed. “Actually, Eleanor, we’ve decided to cut ties earlier. I was able to get Riley into a 4K program this semester, and then in the summer, we’re taking a family trip to Italy. When we get back, we figured it might be best to just bring on a babysitter to look after Riley.”
Oh.
That’s a low blow, Susan.
She’d used the devastatingBword.
I’d been wiping her kid’s bum for how many years? And she wasn’t even going to give me a few months to figure things out?
I tried my best to not allow my emotions to overtake me, but I wore my heart on my sleeve. If I was upset or hurt, people could read it on every part of my body. I had no poker face. What I felt was what you saw, and what you saw was what I felt.
I’d gotten that trait from my mother.
“Oh, that’s... wonderful. That will be so great for all of you,” I said.
She frowned. “Yes, I think so. But here...” She went rummaging through her purse and pulled out an envelope. “I wanted to give you this, you know, to cover the short notice of the job ending.”
She handed me the envelope, and I thanked her. “Really, that means a lot to me.”
“Of course, sweetie. It’s the least we can do. Also, there’s a little slip in there with a reference to one of my family’s closest friends. They are looking for a full-time nanny for their girls. I already called her and mentioned your name. They are interviewing for the position next week, and I gave you the strongest recommendation. It might be something worth looking into.”
A bit of relief filled me up as those words left her mouth.
