Live-In Position

by V. S. Tice

  LIVE-IN

  POSITION

  By V.S. Tice

  A 48fourteen Publishing eBook

  48FOURTEEN

  PO Box 17132

  Sugar Land, TX 77496

  http://www.48fourteen.com

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental or are used ficticiously.

  Live-in Position.

  Copyright © 2011 by V.S. Tice.

  Cover Illustration by Sean Samborski.

  Novel Edited by Kate Wright.

  All rights reserved including the right to manufacture in any format, sell, or distribute copies of this book or portions of this book.

  For information, address

  48FOURTEEN,

  PO Box 17132,

  Sugar Land, TX 77496.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-937546-00-7

  ISBN-10: 1-937546-00-4

  For Mike -

  My husband, my Antichrist.

  I love you.

  To Glenda -

  Without you, this story would

  never have come to life.

  Focus Apple.

  Chapter One

  I GLANCED FROM the road to the Map Quest directions as I drove from Tacoma to Seattle—First Hill to be exact. My phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Sophia, are you on your way?” Miranda whispered.

  “I just got off Exit 172 and should be there shortly. What’s wrong?”

  “Everything,” she groaned. “He finds something wrong with every single one of them. This is your chance to run while you can.”

  “Then what? You’ll get married and still live with the Bishops? I don’t think Benji will like that too much.”

  She sighed.

  “I’ll be there soon.” After closing my phone, I picked up speed. My Jeep was old but reliable, though I couldn’t push it much harder. Turning onto 12th Avenue, a perfect tree-lined street welcomed me. Through the trees I could see a few visible houses—a glimpse of large windows encased in stone or brick and some clay tiled roofs peeking between the large evergreens that were meant to offer the rich privacy.

  “Crap!” My sightseeing made me miss the hidden driveway.

  Pulling to a stop and climbing out of the car, the house loomed over me. It wasn’t like the homes I’d worked in before, the ones that always felt homey—children’s toys in the front yard, a swing set placed near the house. This yard offered, as far as my eyes could see, neatly trimmed bushes, carefully plotted shrubbery and greenery, along with grass cut with perfected lines. My nerves collected in the pit of my stomach as I approached the front door.

  “Rand wasn’t lying,” my words echoed around the vast driveway.

  Before I could knock, Miranda opened the door looking flustered. She pulled me in for a quick hug. “Brace yourself.” Her whisper tickled my ear. Squeezing my hand gently, she stepped back and showed me to the large dining room.

  “Miss Ashwood, I presume?”

  Nodding slowly, I took in his appearance. He was at least a foot and a half taller than me. Height matched with the broadness of his shoulders, he was definitely swoon-worthy. I wondered why Miranda hadn’t mentioned how beautiful he was before.

  “I’m Dr. Bishop,” he said, extending his hand.

  There was a small shock at our touch as his long fingers wrapped around my hand. The feeling shot to the pit of my stomach.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled, pulling away quickly.

  “Yes, well, let’s get started, shall we? Please take a seat.” Dr. Bishop motioned to a chair across from Miranda. I sat down and clasped my hands on the table in front of me, still trying to rid myself of the lingering effects of his touch.

  “Looking through your resume it seems you’ve only had one live-in arrangement, and it was for an infant.” He looked up from my information for confirmation. “You do realize this is a live-in placement with a six year old child?”

  I nodded.

  “So your other placements have been daily arrangements on an intermittent basis?”

  “Yes, mostly for mothers who were just returning to work and needed something until their children started school.”

  He looked at me intently.

  I’d seen his pictures in many magazines, but somehow they didn’t do his appearance justice. Those printed works did nothing to convey his smooth skin, high cheekbones, strong jaw, and pale red lips that weren’t full, but they weren’t too thin either. Then there was his hair. In photos, his auburn hair was always rather tame, but in person it was an unruly mass fighting against his frosty, calm, collected mannerisms I was witnessing today.

  “And you prefer that type of arrangement?” He eyed me closely with his hard green eyes.

  “Well, I did. However, that was while I finished college. Now that I have –”

  “So you plan to do nothing with your college education?” His face shifted into a look of disapproval.

  Instead of cursing him out with a dose of “to hell with you, mister,” I collected my thoughts before I answered. “I intend to use my childcare experience and education while I’m employed. However, I also have a creative writing degree I’ll be putting to use as well. I would like to be a published author and believe I can work on this during my own time.”

  “So, you have a degree in creative writing and childcare?” Confusion plagued his handsome but stoic face.

  “I majored in creative writing, my passion, but as I got more involved with childcare I decided to minor in it.” I shrugged. “I also have certifications…in CPR, first aid, and –”

  “Daddy?”

  I stopped. A sweet, pale-skinned girl, with curly red hair and the roundness of a baby in her cheeks, entered the room. Her hair hung in large ringlets over her shoulders. With her blue and white striped dress, she reminded me of a porcelain doll. Nothing looked out of place on her. A small smile crept over my lips.

  “Victoria, I’m busy at the moment. I will come see you later.” He didn’t bother to look at her during his dismissal.

  “I apologize, Daddy.” Her face fell.

  My defiant nature kicked into action. Standing, I walked over to her.

  “Hello.” I held out my hand.

  She looked around me toward her father. Her stiffened posture relaxed with a sigh of relief.

  “Nice to meet you,” she responded quickly and gently shook my hand.

  My knee protested against the floor as I knelt to her level. “My name is Sophia.”

  “I’m Victoria.” She smiled wide.

  “That’s a beautiful name. It’s nice to meet you, Victoria.”

  A throat cleared behind me, and I made a silly face. Victoria hid her giggle.

  “If you don’t mind, I have a schedule to keep,” Dr. Bishop snapped from behind me.

  Winking at Victoria, I straightened back up to a standing position. “Sorry.” With an empty apology, I walked back to my seat.

  “Well, you’ve met my daughter.”

  I nodded. “She’s lovely.”

  Ignoring my compliment, he continued on. “This states you are familiar with three languages.” His eyebrow rose in challenge of my information. He was calling me a liar.

  “Je me demande comment familier vous sont véritablement?” he sneered as he questioned.

  “Connaitre suffisamment d’obtenir grâce a une conversation.” Narrowing my eyes, the spark of insult flamed. “O quizás prefiere Español?” I paused. “O italiano? Il mio Italiano è un po' arrugginito.”

  I raised my eyebrow back at him, mimicking his earlier challenge. He lightly cleared his throat and glared
. With a quick look at Miranda’s face, I could see the defeat. Clearly the interview was over.

  “I believe you’ve already come to your conclusions about me, and in so doing made your decision, so if you would please excuse me.” Standing, I forced a smile and nodded to Dr. Bishop before giving Miranda an apologetic look.

  A few steps away from freedom, a voice called out from behind me. “Are you coming back?”

  I turned on my heel at the sound of Victoria’s voice. Standing on the staircase, she gave me a look caught between panic and excitement.

  “Um, I don’t know.”

  Her face fell.

  “Hey, there are other people to interview, so you have to give them all a fair shot.” I took the few steps to reach her. “Okay?” I lightly lifted her chin so she would look at me while I spoke. My heart broke at her disappointment.

  She nodded, and I gave her a small smile before heading back toward the door. I ended up face to chest with Dr. Bishop. His scent, a mixture of crisp linen and cologne, filled my senses and made my stomach flutter.

  “Victoria, please go to your room.” His voice was dismissive and stern.

  Blinking a couple of times, his strict voice snapping me out of my current trance, I took a few steps back and around him, heading out the door. Once I was in my Jeep, I released the scream I’d been holding.

  “Well, way to screw that up, Sophia,” I grumbled at my reflection in the review mirror before I drove away. Grabbing my cell phone, I quickly texted Miranda, apologizing for the way the interview had ended.

  Hours later while sitting in front of the television with my father watching baseball, Miranda responded to say I was forgiven and hired. It took three readings of the text before it sunk in. Excitement coursed through my veins. I had a job and it was one that would allow me to bring my children’s book to fruition. Mid mental happy dance another thought dampened my mood.

  I would be subjected to the Antichrist’s utilitarian demeanor on a daily basis. Crap!

  “Do I even want to know what’s going on in that head of yours?” My father pulled me from my musings.

  “Do you ever really want to know?”

  “No.” He looked back to his baseball game with a broad grin.

  “I got a job so I’ll be out of your way soon.”

  “You aren’t in my way, Soph.” He didn’t take his eyes from the television.

  “Yeah right, now you don’t have to sneak Carla into the house anymore.”

  He finally looked at me, eyes wide and lips in the shape of a perfect O.

  “You should so see your face right now,” I teased.

  “You, you know about...?”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Of course, the question is why you thought you should hide it from me. I’m happy for you.” I got up and kissed his forehead.

  “Well, with your mother, I just…um…Thanks.” He sat a little straighter. “So, um, this new job, it’s a live-in thing?” My mom died five and a half years ago, and I knew my dad was concerned that I thought he was replacing her.

  “Yeah, I’ll be taking care of a six year old girl, though her father could possibly be the Antichrist.”

  “I’ll be sure to stop by the church and get you some holy water before you move out,” my father snorted.

  “Good, I might need it. Can you see about a crucifix while you’re there?”

  “I’ll ask Father Thomas what he can do.” My father’s large grin was endearing.

  I kissed the top of his head again. “I’m going to bed. Good night!”

  “Night, Soph.”

  The next morning, I woke up to another message from Miranda.

  “Call me as soon as you can.”

  I stretched out on my bed, listening to some of my cramped joints crack, and then called her back.

  “Hey Soph.”

  “Rand, what’s up?”

  “The agency will be sending you the contract in a couple of hours, and once you get it, I’d rather you call me if you have questions, okay?”

  “Sure,” I yawned out. “Sorry, still waking up. I’ll just give you a call as I go over it. How’s that?”

  “Perfect,” she breathed, relieved.

  “Is there something else?”

  “Well, can you start in a week?” she asked quietly.

  “I thought you still had three weeks with –”

  “Technically I do, well I did. But…I figure I could have you here with me for a week to learn the routine and then, well I could cut out earlier than I had –”

  “Wait, does the Antichrist know?”

  A moment passed while she processed my question.

  “The Antichrist?” she choked. “Yes, I talked to him already. Honestly Sophia, he isn’t that bad. He’s a little stiff and tense, but once you get familiar, you really won’t have much interaction with him at all.”

  “He’s never around? Like never?”

  Miranda had told me about Victoria’s mother not being around, having left her at a young age. I assumed Dr. Bishop would try to compensate.

  “Umm…not really, and I’m really not supposed to discuss anything with outside people. You’ll understand once you go through the contract, get here and experience the routine Victoria keeps.”

  “Okay,” I sighed. “Once I get the contract, I’ll let you know.”

  “Thanks, Sophia.”

  The agreement outlined the terms of payment – a monthly salary of three thousand dollars, much higher than I’d ever been paid in the past – as well as the terms that would be renewable annually.

  “Hey, did you get it?” Miranda answered excitedly.

  “Yeah, but Rand, I don’t need a car,” I blurted.

  “Sophia, just take the offer. Don’t tell him you don’t want anything. Just take it, please. It will be easier,” she pleaded.

  “I have a car,” I protested.

  “No, you have an ancient Jeep Wrangler that he’s not going to allow Victoria to travel in,” she countered.

  “Okay, but providing my food?”

  “You’re going to cook it.”

  “What other items could be necessary?” I asked quickly.

  “Umm...not too many, but sometimes the family goes on vacation and you’ll be asked, which means required, to go with them. They’ll pay for travel costs and that sort of thing. Your typical duties and responsibilities will be the same, though some adjustments may be made since it’s a vacation.”

  I sighed. I guess it was better to get more than less.

  “I’ll see you in a week.”

  Chapter Two

  MIRANDA HAD FORGONE her Sunday evening off so she could help me get situated in the Bishop home. Most of her things had been moved into her fiancé, Benji's, place.

  “This is going to be great, Sophia, I promise.” She beamed at me as we lugged my boxes to the bedroom. “Just wait till you see the nanny suite.”

  “The nanny suite?” I asked.

  She pushed the door open. I put down a box in a decent sized room with a couch, a chair, and a television. There was even a small kitchenette.

  “Follow me,” Miranda motioned to the next doorway with a tilt of her head. Inside that door was a large bedroom, with a four-post bed.

  “I asked Mrs. Baker to help me clean the suite and put new sheets on and everything for you.” She set a box on the floor next to the suitcase.

  “Geesh, Rand, this place is huge.” I circled, taking the room in.

  “Welcome home,” she laughed. “I know you expected just a bedroom, but you get the living room, this bedroom with a balcony,” she moved to a set of French doors and pushed them open “as well as a large bathroom.” She motioned toward a door behind me.

  I hesitantly made my way to the door, turned the knob slowly, and pushed it open.

  “The light switch is on the left just inside the door,” Rand called out.

  My hand quickly found the switch and illuminated the room with bright light. My mouth dropped open
. The gleam of the bathroom light off of the large jet tub looked like a halo. Am I drooling? The glass shower beckoned my attention with the tantalizing center ceiling shower-head. Sigh.

  With a bathroom like this, I may be able to handle daily life with the Antichrist. Wait, am I selling my soul for a bathroom? I glanced around the large white and lavender tiled room, once more. Yes, I think I am.

  “Holy crap, Miranda. You’ve been living it up for the past three years.”

  “I know, right!” she giggled. “I think the one thing I hate to leave, next to Victoria, is that shower,” she sighed. “Maybe Benji will install one for me.”

  “I’m sure if you promise to let him watch you shower, you can have whatever you want.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her.

  She shrugged. “Probably. He’s a perv.”

  After thirty-five minutes of carrying boxes, we began to unpack.

  “So…how’re you holding up?”

  Rand looked at me curiously.

  “I mean you’ve been with Victoria since she was three, right?”

  She nodded. “It’ll be hard, but I’ve already found another family that needs help with a little girl on a part-time, non-live-in basis.”

  “Hey, you can always call us, and we can visit with you.” I tried to sound reassuring.

  “Oh, I doubt it.” Miranda shook her head.

  “Huh? Why?” I stopped unpacking.

  “Sophia, Victoria’s schedule is intense, especially for a six year old.”

  I furrowed my brow. How bad could a six-year-old’s schedule really be?

  “Follow me.” She walked from the closet out to the living room.

  “Have a seat.” She motioned to the couch. “I was going to wait, but I might as well get started.” She sighed and sat next to me with a binder in her hands. “I put this together to help you out.”

  Taking the binder into my lap, the weight of it pressed against my thighs.