Now and Again

by Natasha West

  ‘Mia!’ Juliet cried, running over to the child and taking the pen back as gently as she could. She’d taken her eye off the ball. This wasn’t like Juliet at all. She took pride in being conscientious.

  Mia looked at her work. ‘I was drawing,’ she told her.

  ‘I know, and it’s lovely. But we have to draw on paper in the future.’

  ‘I draw mummy,’ she said, proudly pointing at a circle with a few smudges in it. Juliet didn’t want to discourage her, so she said, ‘Oh yes. That’s very good. But I’m going to have to clean it off now.’

  Mia’s face fell. She was seconds from tears. Juliet had to act fast. ‘Tell you what, why don’t I take a picture of it to show Mummy before I clean it? That way, we can still keep the picture.’

  Mia thought it over. She nodded. Juliet took out her phone. She took a snap of the picture. ‘Tell you what, let’s get one with you standing next to it?’

  Mia nodded and stepped next to her work, smiling proudly. Juliet grinned as she snapped Mia and her artwork. The child looked so proud of herself, it was hard not to find it cute.

  ‘What the hell!’ yelled a voice, and Juliet turned to see Mike, tie skew whiff, face red. ‘Why the hell are you letting Mia draw all over the house?’

  Juliet was shocked into silence by the strength of his anger. By the time her brain could work again, Mike was ramping up further. ‘Unbelievable, I knew we should have looked into you properly. Letting some random into my house because my wife likes her, I must have been mad!’

  Juliet found her voice at last. ‘Mr. Powell, I only looked away for a second—’

  ‘That doesn’t explain why you’re taking snaps of the damage like it’s all in fun. Teaching my child that it’s alright to destroy property. Property her father worked hard to pay for!’

  ‘I, I was about to clean it, Mia just wanted—’

  ‘You’re sacked,’ Mike said coldly.

  Juliet was struck dumb again. Once she realised no one was going to jump out and tell her she was being punked, she put her phone away and turned to little Mia. She looked like Juliet felt, shocked shitless. ‘Mia, I’m gonna have to go now, but I want you to know I’ve had a lovely time with you, and I…’

  ‘What’s this?’ Amanda said, walking into the kitchen, looking at Mike and Juliet. ‘Are you going somewhere? I thought you were working till six, did I get that wrong?’

  Juliet looked at Mike expectantly. He could explain for himself what this was. He seemed happy to take up the mantle. ‘She was letting Mia wreck the place! I’ve sacked her!’

  Amanda blinked at her husband. She turned to Juliet. ‘What happened?’

  ‘It’s true that I did take my eye of Mia for a second and she wrote on the cabinet. I was about to clean it off, but Mia was proud of her work - she drew you, you see - and I was getting a snap before I cleaned it off.’ Juliet stopped there. She’d said it now, what had happened, and she felt better for that. If this was a fireworthy offense, at least she’d said her piece.

  Amanda frowned, and Juliet thought she was just as angry as Mike. But then she said, ‘Juliet, would you mind waiting for a second, so I can talk to Mike?’

  Juliet paused. ‘OK, sure.’

  Amanda looked at Mike. ‘Your office?’

  Mike raised an eyebrow, but he followed his wife. Juliet took Mia outside to play with her teddies. She’d gone rather quiet. It was quite out of character for the child, and that disturbed Juliet. She wondered how often Mike flew off the handle at the smallest problem.

  Mia sat down on a tiny chair and picked up an errant teddy from the lawn. ‘Teddy sorry,’ she said, handing Juliet the bear.

  Juliet took the bear, trying not to break down in tears. ‘Teddy doesn’t have to be sorry. Teddy didn’t do anything wrong,’ Juliet told her gently. ‘Do you think he needs a hug?’

  Mia nodded. Juliet gave the bear a small hug. ‘Would you like a hug as well, Mia?’ Juliet asked. Mia nodded. Juliet picked the girl up and held her. Mia squeezed her tightly.

  The back gate at the far end of the garden suddenly opened, and Riley walked through. ‘Oh,’ she exclaimed when she saw Juliet and Mia. ‘I thought no one would be… Well, anyway, hello.’

  Mia jumped down off of Juliet and ran over to her older sister. ‘Daddy’s angry,’ she told her with some urgency.

  Juliet wanted to die. This was the one thing she didn’t need in the middle of getting the sack. For Riley to see it.

  Riley looked down at Mia. ‘Is he?’

  ‘Yes. Angry at Joo-et.’

  ‘At what?’

  ‘She means me,’ Juliet said awkwardly.

  Juliet thought Riley wouldn’t want to get involved, that she’d make an excuse, like every other time they’d been forced into each other’s orbit. But Riley said, ‘OK, Mia. I’ll go and talk to Dad, see what’s going on.’

  Eight

  Riley thought she had it licked. The backyard would be the easiest way to circumvent everyone in the house; she could sneak right around the living room and dash up the stairs. But what do you know, Juliet and Mia were in the back, playing.

  Or maybe not. They both looked a bit… sad. And then Mia came running to her, something she never did. She was quite obsessed with her mother and would be around her legs all the livelong day. But Amanda wasn’t around, and apparently, Mia thought Riley could help with, ‘Joo-et.’

  Riley wasn’t sure what was going on and how useful she could be. But little Mia was relying on her. They didn’t have a close relationship, being that being around Mia meant being around good old Daddy, but Mia didn’t care about that today. So Riley didn’t either. She wanted Mia to know that if she needed her sister, she had her. She had to get in the middle of whatever this was, regardless of her history with Mia’s new nanny. ‘OK, Mia. I’ll go and talk to Dad, see what’s going on.’

  Juliet sighed. ‘Err, Riley, you may want to… I mean, there’s stuff going on. I don’t know if you want to be involved in it. I screwed up and…’

  Riley turned to her. ‘What actually happened?’

  ‘Mia drew on a kitchen cabinet, and your dad’s livid. He wants to fire me. I don’t know if Amanda agrees with him.’

  Riley waited for the rest of the story. But then it became clear that Juliet was finished. ‘Wait. That’s it? Mia drew on the cabinet? He wants to sack you because Mia did what literally every kid does the second they get a chance? Are you fucking kidding?’

  Mia tapped Riley’s leg. ‘Not say that word.’

  Riley tutted at herself. ‘Yes, very bad word. Sorry, kid.’

  Riley looked back at Juliet. She looked a bit flustered. As well she might. This was the longest conversation they’d had so far. ‘Riley, don’t worry about it. It’s not your problem.’

  ‘Well, Mia thinks it is. So, it is,’ Riley said, giving Mia a quick smile. ‘Back in a minute.’

  Riley jogged into the house before Juliet could argue further. She wasn’t sure what she could say, or whether it was even necessary. Amanda might be sorting it this very second. But if she needed backup, Riley wanted to be on hand. Juliet couldn’t get the sack. It was clear that Mia liked her already.

  She heard shouty noise coming from her dad’s study, and she knocked on the door. She didn’t wait for anyone to invite her in. Her father and Amanda spun around to look at her. Her dad looked peeved at Riley’s presence. Amanda looked relieved to see her. ‘Yes?’ her dad asked irritably.

  ‘Yeah, I heard what was going on. I just wanted to let you know that you’re a dick if you fire Juliet.’

  Amanda sucked a shocked breath in. But Riley wasn’t scared of Mike Powell. There was no reason to be. He didn’t support her in any sense; their relationship was practically non-existent. The only thing she needed from him was temporary accommodation. Which she would put on the line for the right cause.

  ‘Beg your pardon?’ Her dad said, shocked.

  ‘You heard me. Amanda, how many times has Mia drawn on the cabinets before toda
y?’

  ‘That’s what I was just telling your dad. Dozens,’ she said eagerly. ‘You only have to glance away for a second.’

  ‘Where does a two-year-old even get hold of a biro?’ Mike sputtered. Riley could tell he was on the ropes. She had him, and she pushed on. ‘Maybe you left one out? You’ve always got a pen in your hand. You’re telling me you never put them down and forget about them?’

  Mike was incensed. ‘I can keep track of pens, Riley.’

  Riley glanced around her dad’s office. She looked around the legs of his desk and saw what she wanted—a pen, sitting on the floor. She picked it up. ‘How about this one? Or did you intend to keep it on the floor?’

  Mike snatched the pen and looked at it. ‘This proves nothing.’

  Riley fixed her father with the strongest look she had. ‘Dad, Amanda has started back at work, and Juliet is good with Mia, it’s obvious. So just do us all a favour and let this one go, eh?’

  ‘We’ll put it down to a bad day,’ Amanda said. ‘Let’s open some wine. Juliet’s here for another half hour.’

  Mike looked around him at his wife and daughter, and Riley knew he had a choice to make. He could acquiesce, or he could try to keep it going and alienate everyone in the house. He had no allies. Even little Mia would be angry with him. It was a numbers game, and he simply didn’t have the troops to win this battle. He dropped his shoulders. ‘If everyone’s going to act like I’m a bloody ogre for caring about my house, then I suppose I don’t have a lot of choice.’

  Amanda looked like she’d just cut a wire on a bomb with no real expectation that it was the right one. She was shocked not to be blown to pieces. ‘Great. I’ll have a quick chat with Juliet, and then I’ll open a bottle.’

  She walked past Riley, giving her a quick arm squeeze. Not for the first time, Riley felt pity for her stepmother.

  After she’d left, Riley said, ‘Just give her a proper chance.’

  ‘She’s your friend, isn’t she? Is that what this is about?’ Mike sneered.

  ‘Is that what what’s about?’

  ‘You coming in here and fighting for her job?’

  ‘I’m not fighting for anything. Mia likes her. That’s all. And anyway, we aren’t friends,’ Riley told him. ‘I knew her for about ten minutes at school.’

  Mike shook his head. ‘Whatever you say. But if she messes up again, she’s out.’ He sat down behind his desk and started looking at some mysterious papers.

  Riley shook her head at him and walked out. She went to the kitchen where she watched through the patio doors as Amanda spoke to Juliet. Amanda was working hard, whatever she was saying. She was probably giving Juliet an apology on behalf of her husband that he would have maybe given himself at gunpoint. Juliet nodded a few times, and Amanda looked relieved.

  Riley went to the fridge to get a drink. Amanda walked in. ‘God almighty. I’ve been at work one day,’ she said, going to the wine rack and selecting a bottle. ‘I hope I don’t come back to this sort of thing every day. I don’t have the energy.’

  Riley smiled sardonically. ‘He just doesn’t trust anyone. Give it time. Once she’s proven she’s not going to be a problem, she’ll just become part of the furniture. He won’t even know she’s there.’

  Amanda uncorked her wine. ‘Is that how you feel?’

  Riley laughed. ‘I wouldn’t bother trying to fix that relationship, Amanda.’

  ‘Oh, no, I wasn’t…’ She stopped and sighed. ‘Will we see you at dinner?’

  ‘I already ate.’

  Riley looked out of the window. Juliet was walking around with Mia on her shoulders. They both looked happy. She was glad to have put out this fire. This morning she’d hoped Juliet might change her mind about coming to work here, and now she was saving her job. Quite a twist. But what are you supposed to do when your tiny sister asks you for help? She couldn’t do nothing.

  Maybe there was some other motivation at the back of Riley’s mind. But she ignored it very successfully.

  Nine

  Juliet was watching Mia drink imaginary tea from a tiny cup when Amanda came out. ‘Juliet, I’m so sorry,’ she said immediately. ‘Please don’t quit.’

  ‘Quit? I was fired,’ Juliet said, baffled.

  ‘You’re not fired at all,’ Amanda assured her. ‘Mike’s… just having a bad day. But I really, really don’t want you to quit because of this.’

  ‘So, he’s changed his mind?’

  ‘Oh, god yes. He’s super sorry,’ Amanda lied with such little skill that it was quite endearing. ‘He’d tell you himself, but he’s a bit busy now. Though he did say that he wanted us to give you a pay rise as an apology.’

  ‘A pay rise?’ Juliet goggled.

  ‘Yes, er, five percent?’

  Well, this was quite the turnaround. She’d been waiting out here to be given the final bullet in the back of the head, and now she was the one with the gun. Amanda was practically begging her to stay.

  ‘Did err… Did Riley talk to Mike?’ Juliet asked.

  Amanda nodded. ‘She did, yes. She was the one who made him realise how silly he’d been, actually.’

  ‘I see,’ Juliet said, not seeing at all. Why would Riley plead her case with her dad? She didn’t want Juliet here; it was quite obvious. But she had seemed rather set on correcting things when she’d come in. She had to have done it for Mia.

  ‘So, what do you think?’ Amanda asked, breaking up Juliet’s wonderings about Riley’s motives.

  ‘I’m not quitting,’ Juliet said quickly.

  Amanda let out the largest sigh of relief Juliet had ever seen, cartoon big. ‘Oh, thank you. Thank you!’

  Juliet didn’t want Amanda to feel so beholden. ‘Everyone’s allowed a bad day,’ she said with as much grace as she could muster.

  Amanda nodded. ‘Yes, they are. Speaking of which, I need a glass of wine. You’re here till six, is that correct?’

  ‘Yes, we’ll be fine. Go ahead.’

  Amanda scuttled back into the house. Juliet could find no ill will toward her for what had happened. Mike, however? She was going to have to watch him. Whatever Amanda had said, Juliet didn’t believe he was sorry. She thought there was a possibility he’d be gunning for her now. She really didn’t want to be shouted at like that again. Even though she knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, it was a hard thing to bear.

  ***

  Juliet was getting her coat on to leave. Day one was done. She hoped day two would be far less dramatic.

  Only the drama of the day wasn’t quite finished because Juliet had something she had to do now. She really didn’t want to. But it was the right thing. ‘Hey, Amanda, OK if I pop up and speak to Riley?’

  Amanda raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh, yes, of course. The third room on the left.’

  Juliet thanked her and jogged upstairs. She knocked on Riley’s door. ‘Yep?’ came a muffled reply.

  Juliet cleared her throat. ‘It’s me, Juliet.’

  The door swung open. Riley appeared, astonished. ‘Oh. Hello.’

  ‘I didn’t want to bother you, but I felt like I should come up and just say—’

  Riley wanted none of it. ‘If it’s thanks, don’t. Mia obviously likes you. Not to mention Amanda. She needs to be back at work or she’s gonna lose her marbles; she’s not cut out for the stay-at-home life. Given all that, I’d have to be a monster to stand aside and let you get sacked.’

  ‘I’m not sure I’d use those words,’ Juliet said. ‘And, anyway, there are other nannies.’ Juliet cleared her throat. ‘Maybe even nannies you didn’t… That you don’t know.’

  Riley gave an embarrassed little laugh. ‘Right. Yeah. That.’

  This was as close as they’d come to mentioning their history. It was a small relief. Juliet didn’t have the constitution for the level of denial they’d been practicing thus far. She couldn’t compartmentalise for toffee. ‘Yeah. That.’

  ‘Well, it doesn’t really matter what happened now, does it? It was a long time ago. We
were kids. I mean, we were practically Mia’s age, right?’ Riley said with a chuckle.

  Juliet had to laugh. ‘Good point. So, does that mean as adults, we can stop being awkward when we see each other around the house?’

  Riley gave a slow smile. ‘That would be nice.’

  Juliet nodded. ‘It would, wouldn’t it?’

  Riley sighed. ‘So from now on, we just greet each other like normal people.’

  ‘Normal people. Let’s give it a bash,’ Juliet agreed.