have any more questions? I’m trying to think if I forgot to tell you anything. Let’s see. My brother and I come by pretty often. We take turns, and try to check in at least every other day, although sometimes we can’t make it. And what else? Well, we’d need you to start right away.” Ruby looked at Martha as though she was waiting for an answer.
“I think that sounds perfect,” Martha said. This was the easiest job interview she’d ever been on.
“Really?” Ruby asked. She clapped her hands together and smiled. “That is just great, just so great. You have no idea what a stress this has been.”
“I can imagine.”
“Would you like to meet him? My father?”
“Yes, that would be great.”
Ruby led her down a long hallway and they turned left past the kitchen. The walls were dark wood and the floors had dark oriental runners. Martha had trouble seeing, her eyes not adjusting to the lack of light right away.
“My father’s bedroom used to be upstairs, of course, but a few years back we converted his study into a sort of bedroom area. It’s just easier for everyone.”
Martha nodded, even though Ruby wasn’t looking at her. “That sounds efficient,” she said.
Ruby stopped outside of two double doors. She knocked lightly on one and then slid it open. “Hello, hello!” she sang out. Behind her, Martha saw a man in a leather chair with a blanket over his legs. His hair was neatly combed and he was wearing a deep blue sweater. He looked sort of tiny. He had the paper on his lap, and looked up slowly when they came in. On the other side of the room, a large black woman sat reading a book with a vampire on the front cover. She put it down when they walked in and stood up.
“Well, look who it is,” she said. “It’s Ruby.” Ruby smiled and looked down.
“Hello,” Mr. Cranston said. He looked back down at his paper.
“We were just having some reading time,” the woman said. She looked at Martha, and then back at Ruby.
“Jaz, this is Martha,” Ruby said, but her eyes stayed fixed on her father.
“Martha Coffey,” Martha said, extending her arm out. Jaz laughed and shook her hand.
“Nice to meet you, Martha Coffey. Are you the person the agency sent over?”
“That’s me.”
“Well, come meet Mr. Cranston.” Jaz led her over to the man, and Martha shook his hand, and he said hello again, but it was clear he just wanted to get back to the paper.
“Let’s give Mr. Cranston some peace,” Jaz said. They all walked out into the hallway and Jaz shut the door behind her.
“Well,” Ruby said, “do you want to just hang out here with Jaz for a while and she can fill you in on the details of the job?” Ruby looked at Jaz hopefully.
“Oh, chicken, that’s fine,” Jaz said. “You can get out of here.” She sort of swatted Ruby’s butt, which surprised Martha, and Ruby jumped and laughed.
“Thanks, Jaz,” she said, and she walked away quickly.
Martha and Jaz looked at each other in the hallway for a moment.
“So, that’s it?” Martha asked. “I got the job?”
“Oh lord, yes. That girl would’ve given the devil himself the job if it meant she could have her days free again.”
“Oh,” Martha said. She looked down at her naked feet.
“Oh, now, I don’t mean that you’re not qualified. We’re lucky to have you. Come on to the kitchen and we’ll have some tea and talk.”
The kitchen, unlike the rest of the house, was bright and inviting. The wallpaper was covered in colorful fruit, and the tabletop was a shiny marble. Martha took a seat on one of the wooden stools and waited as Jaz filled the red teakettle and arranged the teacups.
“I was Ruby and Billy’s nanny when they were little,” she said. Martha nodded and she went on. “And then when they were older, I just stayed on, to drive them places and make sure that things were in order. It’s funny, you know. Not what I had planned for my life, but that’s how it works sometimes.”
Jaz set down the mugs and a wooden box full of all different kinds of tea. Martha picked out a mint tea bag and put it in her mug, while Jaz filled it with boiling water. She blew on her tea and waited for Jaz to start talking again. She already liked her a great deal.
“It’s hard here, for Mr. Cranston alone in the house.