Nineteen: Harlow

NINETEEN

HARLOW

“ A s you progress through your career as a full-time nanny, you will want to watch out for this.” A woman in a ‘Top 10 Nanny Issues’ wagged her finger onscreen.

I was sprawled on my bedroom floor and watching her on to my laptop, too damn exhausted to take the extra few steps to the bed.

“Instead of laying it out,” she said, “let me ask you, are you suffering from irritability and annoyance with your boss?”

Yes.

“Do you find yourself wanting to throw something at the children?”

Only Olivia.

“What about stress eating and insomnia?”

Check, check.

“Perhaps feeling like the parents don’t appreciate you as a person and all you provide for their children?”

“Oh my god, just tell me how to fix this!” I shook the screen as if that would help her get to the point.

“You, my dear friend, may be suffering from Nanny Burnout.” She clasped her hands. “As uncomfortable as it may be, you need to draft ways to ask your boss for a break.”

I paused the video.

I didn’t want to waste a single second drafting a request; I needed to do whatever it took to get some time off. Now.

I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer.

Standing up, I stretched my arms and took a few deep breaths. Then I tiptoed down the hall and up the steps that led to Mr. Dawson’s private office.

I exhaled before knocking on the door.

Three, two, one…

“Come in,” he answered.

I obliged and found him sitting behind his desk in a white button-down shirt. The top three buttons were undone, giving me a view of his chiseled chest, making me remember that I’d seen it completely bare before.

“How may I help you, Miss Hawthorne?”

“There’s an event I would like to attend next weekend, so I’m requesting the time off in advance.”

“I see,” he said. “Is this event for professional development?”

Hell no. “Yes, it is.”

“Is it something that will benefit you taking care of my children?”

I nodded.

“Can you speak aloud , Miss Hawthorne?” He leaned forward. “I’m afraid I don’t speak horse.”

Okay, fuck you . “It’s extremely beneficial to me taking care of your children, sir.”

“How so?”

“It’s about establishing a good life with boundaries and fun.”

He stared at me for a long while, as if he were waiting for me to elaborate, but I kept my mouth shut.

“Okay,” he said. “Since you’ve asked me so nicely this time, I approve your request.”

“Thank you.” I froze my eyeballs to their sockets to prevent them from rolling.

“You can leave my office now,” he said. “You staring at me like that only benefits yourself.”