2. Refused To Fail

2

REFUSED TO FAIL

“ T hanks for doing this with me, Mom,” Phoenix said on Monday.

He was still trying to figure out how the hell his life took such a turn.

Tomorrow would be three weeks since Maryn’s accident. Fourteen days since she’d died.

His decision to take Maryn off of life support had been the hardest thing he’d ever had to do in his life.

Then to come home and tell Elsie that she’d never talk to her mother again.

During the time Maryn was in the coma, he’d been asked to produce any legal documents giving him the right to act as proxy in her medical decisions. The minute he was told that, he knew things weren’t going to end well.

Good thing Maryn had been on top of it and he had a copy of it all at his house to show the hospital.

He just hated that he might have to do it.

“I’m sure you don’t know what to ask,” his mother said. “I can stay longer. You know that.”

“I know,” he said. “But you need to get home to Dad.”

“Your father is busy and not missing me as much as you think.”

He laughed. “Dad always misses you. Who is doing all the cooking right now?’

His mother grinned. “I’m sure he’s eating a lot of takeout, but thankfully he has a few very healthy places and I ordered it for him to be delivered. Family-style meals.”

That was his mother. Always caring for her family. All nine of her kids and her husband. She was an empty nester right now, but his two youngest siblings were still in college and would be home during breaks.

With Thanksgiving coming up in a few weeks, he knew she had to get home for that and anyone else who returned for the holiday.

He couldn’t even think of that right now.

“I’ve appreciated the cooking that you’ve done here for Elsie and me. Appreciate even more the meals in the freezer that will come in handy.”

He had to buy a freezer chest because his mother was making so much and labeling them well. Keeping Elsie entertained and busy helping out too while he was running his business and trying to figure out how the hell to do it all.

His mother suggested a nanny and he wasn’t sure how he was going to be able to afford it.

But when he ran the numbers it wasn’t that horrible. He was getting survivor benefits for Elsie that would cover a lot of it. But when he’d finally gone through all of Maryn’s paperwork over the weekend, he’d found the life insurance policy and just about shit himself.

Yep, he should have figured his best friend would have set her child up for life. Maryn trusted him to do the right thing. He’d seen the million-dollar policy taken out the same year he started his business. Once he sold Maryn’s house and transferred all the other investments into Elsie’s name, things would be good for the little girl to let it all ride.

For now, he just needed to get her care so that he could get back to his business and where he knew it could be. Then he’d support the little girl on his own.

He refused to fail for not just himself but his best friend.

“I can’t have you starving,” his mother said.

“That’s the least of my worries, but I should be providing a healthy diet for Elsie. I’m used to being the fun uncle that took her out to eat.”

“And she wants that,” his mother said. “But you can’t give in all the time.”

“This is going to be so hard. I’m not sure how to know the right person for Elsie.”

“You just have to go with your gut,” his mother said. “You’ve always made everything work in life.”

Because he busted his ass to get there just like his siblings had done. His parents were supportive and wanted everyone to succeed at what they enjoyed.

He wasn’t so sure he enjoyed a whole hell of a lot right now.

And for a man that dealt in hard data and facts, going with his gut didn’t sound like the thing to do.

“I hope it happens this time too. I wish we were interviewing more than two people, but I can’t wait for more applicants.”

He’d posted the position at the end of last week. Of the ten resumes he’d gotten, five weren’t willing to live at his house. For now, he’d rather have that and give up his privacy. If he had to compromise on it, he would, but was sticking to his guns now.

Of the remaining five, when he called, three backed out and said they wanted set hours Monday through Friday.

Shit, if he was going to give set day hours during the week, he wouldn’t be offering them the guest suite above his garage that he never used and spent the past week getting it set up as best he could.

So that brought him down to two. One appeared to be much older based on her experience.

“Let’s just see how it works out,” his mother said. “You need to be honest about Maryn so that the person understands the challenges they may face in Elsie’s life.”

“I planned on it,” he said.

When his doorbell rang, he got up to answer it, and the first applicant was standing there. “Jessica Brown?” he asked.

“That’s me,” Jessica said. “But I go by Jessie.”

He put his hand out and shook the middle-aged woman’s hand. No wedding rings, which he’d expected if the person was going to live here. He’d have to figure out rules on visitors too at some point.

“Nice to meet you,” he said. “Come in. I’m Phoenix Westerly. This is my mother, Carolina. She’s helping me conduct the interviews.”

“You’ve got a beautiful home,” Jessie said.

“Thanks,” he said. “Why don’t you come into my office.”

He led her to the right and had her sit on the couch. His mother and he took seats so they were all facing each other.

“Oh, this is going to be so formal,” Jessie said, grinning. “I thought it was more like a babysitting interview.”

He held his frown back. He didn’t need someone who thought along those lines. “Much more than that. My best friend recently passed away and I was left custody of her daughter, Elsie. A nanny seems to be the best option to help me care for her. I’m looking for someone to bring her to school and back, and be available if the school calls and I’m not around. Cook her dinner and get her in bed if I’m working late. I don’t often work on the weekends, but it could happen.”

“So this wouldn’t be set hours or days off?” Jessie asked.

“I’d like to give the weekends off, but during the day when Elsie is in school, you’ll have that time to yourself.”

“Nice,” Jessie said. “But I’d have to live here? Is there a separate house on the property?”

“I’ve got a guest suite over the garage,” he said.

“Oh,” Jessie said, frowning. “Not sure how I feel about living in the same house.”

So far he’d already decided this wasn’t going to work anyway but would humor Jessie with a few more questions.

His mother jumped in and asked some things that he wouldn’t have thought of and it at least prepared him for the next one.

“Well,” he said. “That was a flop.” Jessie had left and was climbing into her Uber. “I guess I should have said they needed a driver’s license.”

“She said she’d get it back in six months from her last DWI,” his mother said.

He rolled his eyes. “I just don’t know how this is going to work. I need a miracle. I’m afraid this next person is younger and most likely will have a social life or won’t stay if she’s in a relationship. I don’t need someone temporary either.”

“You might have to take what you can,” his mother said. “Or pivot and not have someone live here.”

“I know,” he said.

Thirty minutes later the doorbell went off again and he opened it to see a younger woman standing there. Had to be in her twenties easily. His first thought was how attractive she was with her light brown hair and blue eyes. She was on the shorter side, dressed professionally, and had a wide inviting smile on her face.

“Crystal Winston?”

“That’s me,” she said, putting her hand out. “Phoenix Westerly?”

“Yes,” he said. She was dressed in nice pants and a button-down shirt. Flats on her feet. Jessie came in in jeans and a T-shirt. He didn’t realize the difference and might not have if Crystal hadn’t made an attempt to take this seriously. “Come into my office. This is my mother, Carolina. She’s going to be helping me with the interview.”

“Oh,” Crystal said. “You’ve both got a city name. I visited a city with that name in Mississippi once with a friend.”

His mother laughed. “Well, it’s not just the two of us. My husband is Austin and Phoenix is the oldest of nine. All my kids are named after cities.”

“That’s neat,” Crystal said, smiling. A genuine smile. “I’m the baby of six kids. I know what it’s like being in a big family.”

His mother looked at him. To her that would be a good sign. “Your resume says you are currently working at a daycare?”

“I am,” she said. “I enjoy working with kids. I babysit on the side. I’ll be honest and say it’s hard to make ends meet with one job. I like being with kids though. Not just watching them. That’s not fun. Maybe I’m a big kid myself, but it’s much better to interact with them.”

What he wanted to hear. “What are some of the things you like doing?”

“I’ve watched all sorts of ages at the daycare center, but the more activities the better. Keeping them engaged is the key. I like just about anything and am willing to try it all. I find letting the kids have the freedom to choose and express themselves helps them make educated decisions even at a young age. They have to learn somewhere.”

“They do,” his mother said, nodding her head. They were raised that way so his mother had to be eating this up. “Do you know how to cook?”

“I do,” she said. “We all had chores as kids and cooking was one of them. I like to bake more. Maybe that is something that can be done with the kids? One or two? Maybe more? You didn’t say. Can I ask for some background on the children or child that might be in my care?”

She went right to the kids and nothing else. Another positive sign.

“Just one child. Five years old.” He explained about Elsie. “So it’s an odd situation and we are all adapting.”

Crystal’s eyes got a little misty. “That is horrible and I’m sorry for your loss and what you both must be going through.”

He was touched to hear that. And see the sincerity in her eyes. She was young looking but much more mature than he expected.

“Thank you,” he said. “We are getting through it as best as we can.”

“I’m sure. It will be a long road. I had a child in my daycare who lost their father.”

His mother asked a few questions on how Crystal handled that and within twenty minutes, he knew he had his miracle.