had gone on a totally different career path after that, applying to get onto the police force. Again, she’d been interested in doing a job where she could help people and be a positive role model, and she felt she could do that as a police officer in the city of Buffalo. She had gone through the initial physical training and study—and then realized that law enforcement wasn’t for her.
Just six months ago she had decided to pursue her latest passion: cooking. All her life she had liked to cook, to make meals and desserts for family and friends. After hearing a radio show where a woman had talked about how people should turn their passion into a career, the proverbial light-bulb had turned on in her brain. She loved to cook. She should become a chef.
Salina had done her research and learned that it would cost a small fortune to go to a respected culinary school. But there were other ways to achieve her dream. If she could be hired as an apprentice, she could learn the ropes from a master and gain the skills necessary to become a chef and open her own restaurant one day.
“Can’t guess?” Emma asked.
“Well, I know it’s not going to be police work,” Salina said, smiling sweetly. “Is there a community pool that needs a lifeguard?”
“I’ve gotten you a job as a nanny,” Emma told her, since she clearly couldn’t guess.
“A nanny?” Salina asked. “I’ve never been a nanny.”
“That’s why I said that it was sort of in a field you’ve worked in before. A colleague at my law firm needs someone immediately. His nanny had to go to Mexico for a family emergency, and he’s left in a bind. He needs someone right away.”
“But I’ve never been a nanny,” Salina repeated.
“But you’ve worked in day care. You worked in day care for four years. That’s a long time, and that’s relevant experience.”
Salina frowned, but realized that her sister was right. She did have experience, and she could work as a nanny, even if she hadn’t officially done so in the past. “Who needs the nanny? Is it someone I met before?”
“Jake McKnight,” Emma replied. “And yes, you met him.”
Even before Emma said that Salina had met him, a vivid image of Jake McKnight came into Salina’s mind. She had met him at the same charity event where she’d met Donald Martin, albeit briefly.
What Salina remembered was that he was a very attractive man, and one who had stayed at the charity event for a very short time. Initially, upon meeting him and shaking his hand, Salina’s interest had been piqued. In fact, she had been surprised at her instant interest in Jake McKnight. Perhaps because it had been such a long time since she had been involved with anyone—the last guy being an aspiring musician she had met at a friend’s party in Buffalo—she had been particularly susceptible to an attractive face, not to mention a body that was clearly fine. But after that initial handshake, Jake turned away from her and greeted the next person, and so on. As Salina had watched him, she had come to the conclusion that he was the brooding sort. He hadn’t been smiling, but he had made the rounds at the event, greeting everyone, and then he quickly left. Salina had gotten the impression that he was not the kind of guy who liked to socialize.
“I met him at that charity event,” Salina said.
“That’s right,” Emma said. “Jake’s a really nice guy, and had the misfortune of losing his wife two years ago. It was a tragic accident. Slippery roads, and her car skidded off the highway into a ditch, hitting a tree. Jake was devastated.”
“Oh, how awful!” Salina said. Now she understood why he was brooding. To lose someone you loved so unexpectedly and in such a horrible way, had to be absolutely heartbreaking.
“Like I said, he’s in a bind,” Emma explained. “His nanny is from Mexico, and apparently her mother is gravely ill. She had to leave immediately, and with Jake being a single parent, he needs help. He can’t very well bring his daughter to the office every day. He had to today though, which is how I got to know about his issue. I told him that you were looking for work and that you had extensive experience in day care. He was immediately interested. This will be a win-win situation. A good temporary job for you, and a lifesaver for him.”
Salina was relieved to hear the word temporary. As much as she had enjoyed working in day care, despite the emotional downfalls, she didn’t want a career in child care anymore. She loved kids, but her goal was to become a chef.
“How temporary?” Salina asked.
“Probably two weeks,” Emma said. “That’s what he said. His nanny got on a plane two days ago. I get the sense that she’s going to be in touch with him to let him know exactly how much time she needs, but two weeks was her best guess. He did say that her mother was gravely ill, so if she passes away, who knows? I suspect it could be anywhere from two weeks to four, depending on how much time Maria might want to spend with family dealing with funeral arrangements and so forth, if it comes to that.”
Salina considered her sister’s proposition. “I agree that this might be a great temporary job for me, but what if I get a call about permanent employment?”
“You can cross that bridge when you get to it,” Emma told her. “Probably within the time that it would take for Maria to go to Mexico and return, you wouldn’t be starting your new position yet. And if you don’t get a job in the meantime, at least you’ll have some income.”
Salina nodded, but she wasn’t entirely convinced. “How old is his child?”
“He has a little girl, and she’s four. From what I witnessed of her in the office, she is very well behaved.”
“Four. That’s such a darling age,” Salina commented. The problem however, was that with four-year-olds—cute as a button and typically loads of fun—you got attached to them more easily. At least, Salina always had.
“You’re going to do it, right?” Emma asked.
Did Salina really have any other choice? She would be helping out her sister’s colleague and herself in the process. “I—I guess.”
“You don’t sound excited,” Emma commented.
“It’s not exactly what I had in mind in terms of employment, but like you say, I’ve had some experience in day care, so I’m sure I can do an adequate job. And as long as it’s only temporary, and I don’t have to worry about my true career goal being derailed.” And if this job helped to put extra money in her pocket so that she could fund culinary school, all the better.
“Great,” Emma said. “I told Jake you would call him this evening, arrange to meet him immediately.”
“What?”
“I told you, he’s urgently in need of someone. There’s no time to waste.”
“Where does he live?”
“He’s in Manhattan,” Emma explained. “Actually, United Nations Plaza. The Trump World Tower residences there.”
“That’s a nice address,” Salina said. And even though she knew she shouldn’t, she couldn’t help thinking about Donald Martin, a man with money who had felt that he was entitled to something extra from her. Salina didn’t like the idea of possibly meeting another wealthy man who had expectations of something on the side for his pleasure.
“Don’t worry,” Emma said, and Salina knew that her sister had read her thoughts. They were close that way, and could often gauge what each other was thinking. “Jake is a true gentleman, and in fact, he hasn’t even dated since his wife’s death. He has totally thrown himself into work. Jake’s not going to do anything crazy.”
Salina nodded. “Course not. You know him, and you wouldn’t recommend me for the job if you thought there was anything untoward about him. I just couldn’t help thinking about Donald for a moment. I guess that I may be a little jaded.”
“I