When the Wind Chimes - Mary Ting Page 0,27

a rainbow-colored horn sat in the opposite corner. On the bed were two more stuffed unicorns, and pink and white throw pillows. We both loved unicorns, so I had that in common with this child already.

“I just want to make sure—there’s only one daughter, correct?” I asked from the doorway. “I should’ve asked you how many children in this household before.”

“Yes. This room belongs to Roselyn.” Mona opened the shutters to let in a flood of sunlight on the hardwood floor, across the white rug, and onto the marble bathroom floor.

I furrowed my brow. “Roselyn? Does she attend Poipu preschool?”

I’d gotten the phone number from the board, but maybe the parents put the number in all preschools. I would if I were desperate to find one quickly.

“Yes. She’s four years old, soon to be five. A very sweet, lovely girl.”

One child, about Tyler’s age. How bad could it be, right?

“Let me show you the backyard.” She went past the hall, down the stairs, and through the kitchen.

“Wow,” I muttered under my breath.

The front yard was breathtaking with the view of the ocean, but the backyard was another island on its own.

Palms trees lined either side of the walkway. A three-tiered gray stone fountain gurgled in the center. Past a garden of Hawaiian flowers was a grand swimming pool with manmade boulders and a super cool water slide.

Tyler would love to swim here.

“It feels like a whole new world out here.” I followed Mona alongside a dining table with a fire pit in the middle. “I love the built-in barbeque,” I said.

Then I followed her under an awning, past a set of sofas with outdoor pillows, and between a pool table and a ping pong table.

“You can vacation here instead of going to a resort.” I chuckled.

“This is very true. Come. I forgot to show you one more place.”

She took me to a room next to the kitchen. The bed was made, but the cell phone on the nightstand and the robe on the bed suggested someone slept there.

“This is my room. Nobody touches my room.” She gave me a pointed look. “If you were offered the position, you’d be sleeping in the other spare room. Come.”

Wait. What? Sleeping in the other spare room? Had I heard her correctly? I wanted to ask her questions but she hurried along.

We scurried through the kitchen to the other side, near the garage and closer to the front door. This room was just as nice as hers. It also had an adjoining bathroom and a spacious closet.

I’d be sleeping in this room, she said, so the family was looking for a live-in nanny. Watching the child was one thing, but having to take care of one twenty-four/seven was another.

Standing on the threshold I asked, “I don’t know—did you require—did you request a live-in nanny? I don’t remember.”

She tilted her head and fluttered her eyelashes. “I don’t recall. It’s only for two weeks, so you might not be required to stay every night. The parents might be home on some days. And Roselyn is easy to care for. She’s truly a joy.”

“What are my duties?”

“Give her snacks. Spend time with her. Read her stories. Make and feed her dinner. Give her baths. Not much to it.”

“What about taking her to and picking her up after school?”

“The family driver does that.”

Lucky little girl.

I leaned back on the doorframe. It was only for two weeks. While she was at preschool, I could paint and help Abby at the gallery.

“You’ll get paid four thousand,” she added, and squeezed past me into the hall.

“Excuse me?” I rushed after her.

“Did you want more?” She halted by the sweeping staircase and squinted as if disappointed.

I flashed a glance at the towering Christmas tree and said, “Oh, no. I-I didn’t know if you were offering me the position. Wait, are you?”

This woman was confusing.

She met my eyes with a stern gaze. “Yes, I am offering it to you, or else I wouldn’t be showing you the house.”

“But you don’t know anything about me. I didn’t even give you my resumé.” Why was I trying not to get hired? Four thousand dollars was a lot of money for two weeks. Maybe I should change professions.

She crossed her arms. “Kate, I need to find someone fast. And I know enough about you. My sister is a retired cop, and my younger brother is one currently. I asked them to look you up for me. I learned enough to know you can be trusted, and