Just for Now: Escape to New Zealand Book Three

by Rosalind James

  “I’m a rugby player,” he answered briefly, still looking at her. “You didn’t know that?”

  “No. I don’t follow sport.”

  “You didn’t look me up online, before the interview? That isn’t why you’re here?”

  “What?” She was staring at him now. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

  “Look.” He sighed and set her CV down. “I’ve tried to do this discreetly, but somehow, most of the candidates have turned out to be attractive young women. I advertised because I needed a temporary nanny and housekeeper. Not a girlfriend, and definitely not a wife.”

  Jenna sat with her mouth open for a moment, then shut it with a snap. “And astonishingly enough, I came here today, on the bus, in the pouring rain, to interview for a job as a temporary nanny and housekeeper. Not to . . . what? Audition to be your girlfriend? Sleep with you? Maybe you should look in the mirror. You aren’t that good-looking.”

  She forced herself to stop before she said anything even ruder, and stood up to leave. All she’d lost was her time and some bus fare, she reminded herself, taking a couple calming breaths to prepare for a dignified exit.

  As Finn rose to join her, those eyes even harder now, the front door banged and excited voices rose in the hallway.

  “Daddy! We got so wet!”

  Jenna turned in surprise as two familiar little figures rushed into the room, then skidded to a stop, staring at her.

  “Jenna!” Harry rushed forward and gave her a hug that Jenna reflexively returned. “Why are you here? Did you come to visit us? Where’s Oscar?”

  She smiled down at him and reached out to smooth his hair. “No Oscar today. I came to see your dad, but I was just leaving, buddy.”

  “Hi, Jenna!” Sophie came forward for her own hug. “Did you come to talk to Dad about being our nanny?” she guessed. “He said he was going to talk to some ladies while we were gone. Are you going to stay with us? That would be so cool.”

  “Afraid not,” Jenna told her. “Your dad and I were just realizing that it wouldn’t work out. See you soon, though, OK?”

  “Wait,” Finn protested. “What’s going on here? How do you know my kids? I thought you weren’t working as a teacher now.”

  Jenna turned to him. “I see them quite a bit at the Domain, when they’re there with Nyree.”

  “Jenna knows all about birds, and dogs, and extinct animals, and everything, Dad,” Harry told him. “She’s very, very good at discussing.”

  Finn looked down at his earnest son with a smile. “I know how much you like to discuss animals. Why don’t you two say goodbye to Jenna and run back with Nyree now, though?”

  “But why aren’t you going to be our nanny?” Sophie asked with disappointment. “We’d like you best.”

  “It’s not going to work,” Finn told her firmly. “Say goodbye, now.”

  Both children looked mutinous, but obeyed at last. After they had left the room, Finn turned back to Jenna, his expression even more skeptical. “You got to know my kids. But you don’t know who I am.”

  “No. And frankly, I find myself caring less and less. Good luck finding your elderly nanny.”

  “Look.” He followed her out of the room and watched as she pulled on her boots and retrieved her raincoat and umbrella from the hooks that lined the entryway. “If that’s true, I’m sorry I insulted you. It’s just . . .” He ran a hand through his close-cropped brown hair. “It’s awkward, you know. Because the person has to live in the house with me. I know what I look like, and that I’m no prize. But for some reason, whether you believe me or not, I’ve met a fair few young women this past week who seem to be looking for more than a job.”

  Jenna nodded stiffly. “No point in my telling you I’m not interested. You can’t prove a negative. But you have great kids. So, really, good luck with the nanny.” She reached out a hand to shake his.

  “Let me ring for a taxi,” he suggested, looking a bit shamefaced now.

  “No worries. I’m already wet.” She gave him a brief smile and left the house.

  Finn shut the door behind her. Sighed and ran his hand through his hair again. Why did Nyree have to leave, anyway? That was selfish, though. Her mum needed her. Hip replacements were no picnic. But this was too hard. He must have sounded like an arrogant prat just now. Jenna really hadn’t known who he was. He looked at himself in the hall mirror and grimaced. She was right. No prize.

  “Daddy, can we talk to you for a minute?”

  Finn looked up with a frown. “Isn’t it bedtime?”

  “Yes.” Sophie picked up the TV remote and turned the set off.

  “Oi,” Finn protested mildly.

  “This is serious,” she told him as she and Harry came to join him on the couch, one on either side of him.

  “Right, then,” he agreed. “What?”

  “We don’t like Mrs. Donaldson,” Harry burst out. “She’s mean.”

  “Mean? She’s been here less than a week,” Finn said. “What has she done?”

  “She smacks,” Sophie told him.

  “Smacks? Smacks what?”

  “Daddy. Us,” Sophie explained in exasperation. “Well, me mostly. But Harry once too.”

  “What? She smacked you?” He had a hard time believing it. “When? How?”

  “When Harry wasn’t ready for school. When I wouldn’t eat that smelly fish she made last night. She gets a really mean face, and she smacks.”

  “Like this,” Harry explained. He stood up, pushed up his glasses, and frowned menacingly at Finn. “Then she smacks on the bottom.” He illustrated on himself. “And we don’t like it. Nyree never smacks.”

  “No,” Finn agreed grimly. “Right, then. I’ll put you to bed, then I’ll talk to Mrs. Donaldson. She won’t be your nanny anymore.”

  It was a good thing there was no practice tomorrow, he thought worriedly. But then what was he going to do?

  “We have something else to say,” Sophie told him. Clearly, she was the spokesperson tonight.

  “We want Jenna!” Harry burst out.

  “Harry,” Sophie frowned him down. “I was supposed to explain.”

  “We want Jenna to be our nanny,” she told Finn. “For these reasons.” She opened the notebook she was carrying and turned to the latest page. “Reason One: Jenna is nice. Reason Two: Jenna knows all about animals.”

  “Yeh,” Harry interjected again, impatient with his sister’s list. “And the other reason, Jenna smells very nice. And we like her. We want her to be the nanny, please, Dad.”

  “She can’t kick a ball very well,” Sophie pointed out fairly. “I don’t think she can help me with soccer practice. Not like Nyree does. But maybe you could help me instead.”

  “Right. Your points are noted,” Finn said. “But you know, Jenna may have another job now. Or she may not want this one. I’m not sure she likes me as much as she likes you.”

  “That’s because you made the Scary Face when she was here,” Harry said. “You just have to smile, Dad. Then she’ll know you’re nice, and she’ll want to stay with us. Please?”

  “Please, Dad,” Sophie added. “Please ask her.”

  Finn exhaled. “I’ll think about it, all right? Now let’s get you to bed.”

  Talking to Mrs. Donaldson was easy. She started out hostile, but when he reminded her of the legal ban on smacking, most of the wind went out of her sails. A week’s severance and a taxi waiting while she packed took care of the rest. Calling Jenna the next day, though, proved a much tougher proposition.

  “Look, I know I got offside with you,” he told her at last. “But I’d like to try again. I talked to the head of your school in Wellington and she gave you a glowing recommendation. Rang your other references too, with the same result. You were right, and I was wrong. Can’t say fairer than that. So could you come back and talk to me again? I’ll send a taxi for you,” he went on hurriedly. “Have a heart. I’m in a right mess here.”

  “I’ll come talk to you ag
ain,” Jenna said warily. “As long as all that other business is over.”

  “My being irresistible. Done and dusted. You told me, and I got it.”

  She laughed. “I suspect we both find each other resistible. But I’ll come talk to you. For the kids’ sake.”

  “You’re a teacher, eh,” he asked when Jenna was once again sitting across from him in the lounge. “Why aren’t you teaching now?”

  “Taking a year off,” she explained. “I’ve been living in Wellington, as you saw, for some years now. I decided after last year, though, that I wanted to find someplace new to live. I’ve been traveling and working for the past six months.”

  “Working where? That’s not on your CV,” he pointed out.

  “Cafés. I can give you references, if you like, but they’re not really to the point. Short stints, anyway, with a bit of travel in between. It’s been a nice change. But I’ve decided I want to settle in Auckland and get another teaching post for the new year. And this could be a good interim position before I start that again.”

  “Not too glamorous,” he said dubiously. “Kids, cooking, washing, shopping. Not much cleaning, at least. I have a firm that comes in every week to do that. But still.”

  She noticed his assessing look. She could say with fair confidence that he wasn’t seeing anything glamorous enough to give him pause. At least the weather, and her hair, had cooperated. But she was afraid the plaid skirt and loose jumper didn’t do much for her. She’d wanted to appear serious, but she suspected she might have crossed the line into dowdy territory. That was probably good, though. She didn’t want him to think she was trying to appeal to him, or stalking him.

  Because she had looked him up by now, of course. Not a movie star after all, but New Zealand’s closest equivalent. A star player for the Auckland Blues and a senior All Black, a member of the country’s international rugby team. No wonder he had women applying to live in his house. He would be a major matrimonial prize, even with two kids.

  “Believe me, being a Year One teacher isn’t very glamorous either,” she assured him now. “And I actually like to do those things, odd as it may seem. I do have a few questions, though. Where is Sophie and Harry’s mum, if you don’t mind my asking? Would I be handling visits with her?”

  “Nah. She passed away a few years ago. It’s just me.”

  “Oh,” she replied, taken aback. “I’m so sorry.”

  “You’d have respite help, though,” he hastened to point out. “Because I’ll be gone a fair bit, as I said. Aussie, South Africa, as well as traveling in En Zed. Argentina and Europe as well, later in the year. The last trip, the Northern Tour, that’s a full five weeks. There’d be extra pay, of course, when you were with the kids all the time, and we’d make sure you got your days off. Nyree’s cousin helps out with that.”

  “That sounds fine. About cleaning, though, I did want to tell you that I believe in kids doing some chores. Not to make my life easier,” she smiled. “It’s always easier and quicker to do it yourself, as I’m sure you can imagine. But I don’t think it’s good for children to have someone picking up after them. I’d be expecting them to keep their own rooms tidy, and to help with clearing the table, taking out the rubbish, those sorts of things.”

  “Fair enough. Because I do worry about that, them becoming spoilt. I didn’t grow up with all this.” He gestured around him at the historic villa, restored to gleaming, if comfortable, perfection. “I can’t pretend we’re short of a dollar, but I try to make sure they appreciate what they have, and that they know how to work. And as I’m gone so much, I’d need your help with that. I don’t think Nyree’s had them doing much for themselves.”

  “I’d say that you’ve both done pretty well, though,” she said, “based on what I’ve seen of them. It sounds like you and I are on the same page there. What about cooking? Anything special I should know, or any questions you have? I’m a pretty reasonable home cook, I think, but not a gourmet one.”

  He laughed. “Don’t think any of us would appreciate gourmet cooking. I take a fair bit of feeding, I should tell you, when I’m home.”

  “That works for me. I like my cooking to be appreciated.”

  “Does this mean you’ll take the job?”

  “I’d love to,” she decided. “When do you want me to start?”

  He looked a bit harassed. “Today, if you can. You don’t have a car, is that right?”

  “That’s right. I’ve been traveling light. Just me and a couple bags. And yes, I can start today. I’ll just go back and pack up.”

  He exhaled in relief, then stood up and shook her hand. “Take a taxi back here, and I’ll reimburse you. I’ll be home the next couple days, at least. That’ll give you some time to settle in, before you’re on your own with the kids. And Jenna. Thanks.”

  Chapter 3

  “This is your room,” he told her a couple hours later, setting her bags down inside the bedroom door. “Sorry there isn’t an ensuite. You’ll have to share a bath with the kids, I’m afraid.”

  “No worries. I’ve lived in New Zealand for seven years now, remember? I know about sharing the bath.”

  He smiled. “I confess, I’ve never understood the American fascination with bathrooms. Why everybody in the family needs their own.”

  “I agree with you, actually. This will suit me fine.” Jenna looked around the comfortable room. A queen bed with nightstand sat against one long wall, while French doors opened onto one of the villa’s many brick patios, the garden showing green beyond. Closet and drawer space wasn’t overly abundant, but she didn’t have many clothes anyway. And a desk and chair, she saw with pleasure, would provide her with her own workspace.

  Finn scratched his cheek thoughtfully. “Nyree doesn’t live in all the time. So this is all a bit new to us, too. We’ll have to work it out as we go along, I reckon.”

  “She just stays over when you have games?” Jenna guessed.

  He nodded. “But as we’re into the All Black part of the season now, more travel, this way seemed better. Let me show you the rest of the house.”

  He began to conduct her through the grand old villa, and she saw with relief that the ground floor contained a small powder room as well as the large full bathroom with its original, massive clawfoot tub and separate shower. That was the one part of sharing bathrooms that could be a problem with young children, she suspected.

  “Sophie’s room.” He opened the door to the bedroom across the hallway from her own. It was decorated in a pleasant mint green, with accents of yellow and white. “Nyree helped us choose the colors a year or so ago, when Sophie wanted something more grown-up.”

  “You did a good job,” she said admiringly. “And it’s easy to see where Sophie’s interests lie. Besides the obvious clue of the bookshelf. Soccer posters, and the All Blacks.” She looked more closely at the framed poster of the team doing the haka, the pre-match Maori challenge so strongly associated with New Zealand rugby. “Where are you?”

  She looked where he pointed at his image, taller than most of the players, near the middle of the front row. “Wow. Prominent. And I have to say, you look pretty mad. Scary, too.”

  He smiled. “My game face. I try not to show that around the house too much, scare the kids.” He led her out of the room, opened the next door. “Harry, obviously.”

  Jenna laughed. Harry’s room was painted a light blue. But the walls were nearly obscured by maps and posters of animals taken from wildlife magazines and the National Geographic, and low shelves held collections of large and small animal figurines. She saw a farm set, a jungle set, and plenty of dinosaurs. Another set of shelves held Legos, she was glad to see. So Harry had more than one interest, after all.

  “And finally,” Finn told her, opening the door of the room next to her own. “Guest room.”

  “Do you have a lot of company?” she asked. “Entertain a lot? I should have asked that sooner. I don’t have much party planning experience, but I could try.”

&
nbsp; He smiled ruefully. “Other than the occasional birthday party for the kids, or my family coming up for a visit, I’m not much for that. One of the benefits of being a single dad, I reckon. Nobody expects anything.”

  “Oh,” he realized. “I should say. I’m up the stairs here.” He led the way up a carpeted set of stairs at the end of the hallway, and into a large bedroom and ensuite bath set at the top of the house, with large windows offering views over the neighboring houses and trees. “Not that you’ll need to do anything with this. The cleaners come on Fridays, and they keep it from getting too disgraceful.”

  “I’d say you’re very neat,” she told him. “Hard to imagine this ever getting disgraceful.” Other than a book on the bedside table, the room was almost painfully orderly.

  “I don’t like clutter,” he admitted. “I can live with the kids’ things,” he went on hastily. “Toys, and that. Not rigid about it, I hope. But I like my own space to be clear.”

  She nodded. Help the kids straighten up before he got home, check. She wasn’t worried about the kitchen. She knew she’d be keeping that clean.

  “Kitchen and laundry?” she asked now. “And we should talk about what you like to eat.”

  “Had this all redone ages ago, the first year we lived here,” he told her when they were standing in the huge, sunny kitchen, with a large rectangular table set into the windowed nook at one end. “Nyree consulted.” He smiled. “I should say, Nyree planned.”

  “Well, Nyree did a great job,” Jenna said. “Anyone could cook well in this kitchen.”

  Nyree planned? she wondered. Not his wife? She viewed the modern appliances and granite countertops with approval. “Now. Favorite foods? Likes and dislikes?”

  “I like pretty much everything. Not too fond of Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, but that’s about it as far as vegies. And any kind of meat. I eat heaps of that, I should warn you.”

  “I can imagine. OK. I can work with that. What about the kids?”

  “They’ll eat most things. Except what I cook.” He made a wry face. “They’re not keen on my efforts. I’m not either, tell you the truth. We end up at the pub a fair bit, when Nyree hasn’t cooked. Or eating leftovers.”