gorgeous little girl too. And they’ve been through a lot. His wife died a couple of years ago, and no way, I can’t risk sending the wrong person.”
“You could do it,” I suggested.
Tabs shook her head. “Ha! I wish. My days of nannying are over. And you know my sister is getting married next month, I have to go home to Aiken for the whole lead up. I’m taking a much-needed break from my business.”
Meredith slapped her palm on the table, making us both jump. “Josie could do it.”
“Do what?”
“Go to France and nanny for the sad, hot, Frenchie.”
My belly disappeared down to my feet. And then I barked out a laugh. “No way.”
Tabitha turned her head and stared at me, her brown eyes suddenly glittering with hope and excitement, like I was a fat trout at last light.
“No. No, no, no. Don’t look at me like that.” I shook my head. “She was joking.”
“No, I wasn’t,” Meredith chirped.
“Shh,” I hissed at her. “Are you crazy?”
Meredith popped a tortilla chip into her mouth. “Nope. I’m a genius.”
“Tabitha. It’s the drink talking,” I reasoned. “I have student loans. Rent to pay. I need to get my resume vamped up and out to other firms.”
Tabitha dragged her eyes off me to Meredith. “You are a genius, Mer.”
“No, she’s not,” I whined. “She’s dumb.”
“That was low, Marin, but I’ll let it slide.” Meredith popped another chip in her mouth like it was popcorn and she was settled in for the entertainment. “And please, let’s not forget, Josie, that your Pinterest board is covered in Frenchy French things.”
“That’s only because of my dad’s family heritage.” And mine, obviously. Meredith was right though, I had a whole board dedicated to all things French. Little old medieval towns, cobbled streets, old farmhouses, fancy chateaux, cafes, vignettes of French farm tables piled high with baguettes and fruit with sunshine spilling in from some old thrown back pale blue antique shutters. Okay, so for someone who’d never been, I could qualify as interested in going. But it was a bucket list item. It would happen some day. Not tomorrow for goodness’ sake.
“Please,” Tabitha pleaded. “Literally no one else is available on such short notice. It will be awesome, I promise.”
“Hold on, hold on,” I said. “Aren’t you getting a little carried away here? I’m an architect, not a qualified child minder. I don’t know the first thing about being a nanny and watching kids. I don’t even think I like kids—”
“That’s because you’ve only met my brother’s kids and they’re little shitheads,” Meredith explained gravely.
I pointed at her. “That’s a true story. But I’m being serious.”
Tabs suddenly grabbed my pointing hand. The look in her brown eyes turned her into a puppy. At the shelter. On Christmas Eve.
“Oh, no. Tabs.” I shook my head side to side. “Don’t give me the eyes.”
“You’d be doing me a massive favor,” Tabs pressed. “Saving my ass and helping my business. I’d really like that commission. It’s great money for you too. Especially while you look for another job. And I know you. I trust you. You’re responsible and loyal. I know this family. They need a good person. A nice person. They’ve been through a lot. Think of it as doing a really good deed for several people at once.”
Meredith leaned forward and took my other hand. “You need a fresh start. A place to lick your wounds and figure out your next steps. Somewhere you can’t wallow. You can send your resume out from France just as easily as from here.”
That was true at least. The thought of waking up every day realizing my dream had just been flushed into the sewer and I was going to have to dig around down there and pull it out and try to get the stench off was almost too much to think about right now. I’d worked so freaking hard. For so many years. I was fucking exhausted if I was being truthful. And worse, I realized, I’d been running without moving forward for quite some time. That was why this promotion mirage today had hurt all the more. Never mind the sleaze factor. That was just topping on the shit pie.
“What have you got to lose?” asked Meredith.
Nothing, I answered mentally.
I needed to leap off the edge and trust the universe.
It was France. Somewhere I’d always wanted to go. Somewhere I thought I’d go with my dad one day. He would want me to go.