Worth Taking The Risk (2 page)

“I wont allow you to tell me how to dress. You are not my mother.”

Maggie winced and shook her head. “That I’m not.” then she walked out of my bedroom.

I stood there, no tears, no anger, no happiness. I learned to become numb about the pain that the death of my mother, brother and twin sister caused. With a sigh I slipped on the dark blue jeans and a long sleeve shirt. It was hot outside but wearing this reminded me of my sister. Maybe I am trying to be like her, maybe I learned that been simple meant a lot more, perhaps I believed I wouldn’t be the selfish bitch or maybe I wished I was the one who died instead.

I didn’t use make up. I grabbed my hair into a tight pony tail and slipped on some sandals. All ready to go.

Maggie was in some deep conversation with my dad when I got to the kitchen, she immediately shut up and gave me a plate with eggs and bacon. My dad shook his head. I know what they were talking about: me. This turned out as a routine. She insisted that I should see a shrink, that I wasn’t dealing well with most of my family’s death. But most importantly that I felt guilty for some wicked reason she believed in.

No there was no guilt. Perhaps a tiny drop, but that’s normal.

We ate in silence. Once I was done and had placed my plate in the sink I walked over to my dad. “Wish me luck daddy.”

“Break a leg.” He winked but the smile he gave me didn’t reach his eyes.

I gave him the same smile. “See you around Maggie.”

The woman behind the counter smiled and nodded.

I went to my car and left to the Gaynor’s home. . .the other side of town. The rich side of town. After an hour of driving I finally found their house, and I have to admit it was impressive. House was a small word for the place was a mansion in the whole sense of the word.

I reached the door bell and waited patiently. Emma Gaynor came into view. I had to frown a little, wouldn’t there be servants around the house? Emma Gaynor smiled sweetly at me and pulled me inside.

“You must be Keller Adzharia, I’m Emma Gaynor.”

I shook her hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Gaynor.”

She waved a dismissive hand at me. “None of that, call me Emma. Mrs. makes me feel old. “

I nodded.

“Have you had breakfast?”

“I ah-”

“That’s okay we were about to start, come to the dinning room.” I did as told and followed the lady.

The dinning table was huge. Plates were served, cups were filled. But only one seat was taken: the head of the table. Richard Gaynor.

“Honey this is Keller Adzharia, our new sitter. I’ll bring a plate for you.” Emma walked into the overly sized door that I assume led to the kitchen.

“Take a seat please. You can call me Richard. Thanks for accepting the job, it means a whole lot to us.”

He talked like a teenager. I frowned then remembered where I was and smiled. Emma Gaynor came back into the room and placed a plate full of salad. Yeah delicious breakfast. I had the urge to roll my eyes.

“We made a contract.” Richard broke the silence after a while.

“A contract?”

“Yes. We want you to only take care of Mitch.” Emma cut in.

“No side jobs. Of course we’ll pay you fairly well.” Richard put in.

“Why do I need to work full time?”

“My son had an accident. He uses crutches, his left leg is badly injured. He needs his therapies and we need someone to give them to him.” Emma said in a sad voice.

“Wouldn’t it be more suitable to get a nurse?” I asked.

“My son has a temper. Plus I’m friends with Markus Brooks, he recommended you. Then out of coincidence my wife saw the announcement on the newspaper.” Richard shrugged.

“Mr. Brooks recommended me? What about Michael?”

“They might drop him off now and again.” Richard shrugged. “Now here’s the contract, you can read it over.”

And I did. Pretty much it said I was going to be working for them around a year, my payment, etc.

“Three hundred a day?!” I exclaimed.

“Is that not enough?” Richard raised an eyebrow.

“What? This is way too much.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re taking care of our son, that has no price.” Emma smiled warmly at me, it reminded me so much of my mom that I stared at her until she started to shift uncomfortably.

I cleared my throat. “Okay, can I meet the kid?”

They both chuckled and nodded. I frowned. What’s so funny?

They lead me to the top of the stairs then they knocked on a pair of huge brown doors.

“I don’t want to see anyone!” The ’kid’ yelled back…he didn’t sound much like a kid.

Emma rolled her eyes and opened the door anyways. He had nothing to do with a kid. He had brown hair that reached down to his neck. He was probably way taller than me, and sure as hell older…maybe not by much. Seating in front of a canvas, brush in mid-air, Mitch Gaynor was glaring daggers at us.

Chapter 3

The boy was staring at us with an annoyed face. He set down his brush and the paint he held on the other hand on a small table beside his canvas. Mitch took a hold of his crutches and got up. Walked over to us, gave a small cynical smile that in a matter of seconds turned to a thin line that caused all of his features to harden, then he slammed the door on our faces.

Yeah he’s pissed, and so am I.

“He has a temper.” Emma winced.

No shit. I was about to say that but I changed my mind. “I don’t think I can-”

“You already signed the contract.” Richard smiled a little.

“When do I start?” I gave up on trying to change what already was.

Emma’s face brightened. “Today! We have places to go, meetings, interviews and dinner. I’m afraid you’ll have to make your own food, there’s still a little bit on the fridge though. This three weeks are vacation for Lewis, our cook.” she paused. Wait so no maids? “Tomorrow I’ll explain the exercises Mitch has to follow. And can you please make sure he eats? He’s grown quite skinny since the accident. Oh and-”

“Honey I think the girl can manage. Stop dumping stuff on her.” Richard chuckled. “Well then we’ll be off. Ah before I forget, we’ll give you a check at the end of each week.”

I nodded. “Thanks for the job and the generous payment.”

“Oh its nothing, darling. The nurses asked for a lot more. I’ll go before I start babbling again. I look hideous when I babble and I hate that. Please take-”

“Emma you’re babbling now.” Richard gave his wife a warm loving look and pulled her away.

“I’m sorry its just that my baby-”

Richard kissed her right at the start of the stairs. For the fist time I noticed their clothing. He was wearing a black suit with a light blue t-shirt, no tie. Emma wore a dress that matched the color of his shirt, light blue. The dress was long, really long. You can barely see her heels which were silver. Matching silver accessories and her hair was pulled into a bun with a bunch of glittery pins on it. They look magically perfect for each other. They’re around their fifties but right now, as she giggled and he smirked, they looked sixteen all over again.

Once the sound of their voices faded into space I let myself take a deep breath and let out a frustrated groan. If I can’t get along with this guy in one week, I’ll go bury myself in a mental hospital. Cause? Emotional breakdown and a near murder intent.

Well if I’m going to try and work this out I might start with a positive attitude and be polite. I knocked Mitch’s door. Once. Twice.

“Go away mom!”

I knocked again and again. The door opened.

“Ma I told you to go- oh its you.” Mitch said annoyed.

“Hi, I’m Keller Adzharia. Your new…” I trailed off as I saw him check me out. God I had the urge to slap the be-Jesus out of him. “Your new sitter.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Not according to your parents.” I shot back and was pleased to see him speechless for about ten seconds.

“Look Keller Adza-Whatever if you stay out of my way I’ll stay out of yours.” Mitch leaned on the door for support.

I was about to make a pretty mean comment but caught myself just in time. Taking a deep breath to steady myself I looked up at Mitch whose hand was waiting for mine.

“I’m getting paid to get in your way. Deal with it.”

His jaw clanged. “My company wont be very fun.”

“Not here for fun either. So deal with it little boy. Lunch will be at two. Want me to bring it up to you or are you coming down to get it?” I said in a flat unemotional tone I used when the kid I was taking care of tried to be the boss. In a sense they were, but you wont tell that to a nine year old if you want to conserve your dignity and your job.

The smirk was lost as soon as it reached his lips. If you put some sense into it, it sounded bad.

With an exasperated sigh I tried hard to keep my face composed. “You know what? I’ll bring your food to you. If you need anything just yell my name or help or something.” And I walked away.

I could feel his eyes on my back. Then the door slammed and I let out a bunch of curses that would’ve gotten me a two month lock up.

While it was time for lunch I roamed the house, exploring. If I’m going to be staying in a place like this I might as well get to know it. I would’ve rather a guide but I doubt Mitch would like to walk around the house in crutches or would refuse just to piss me off. This house had a lot of dead ends, not forgetting how big it was. I would’ve expected to se a big family that could fill up
the empty space. But it was nothing like that. There were only three Gaynor’s, I think, and I doubt Richard and Emma can bring another to the family.

I lost track of time that when I checked my watch it was already two thirty. I hurried down to the kitchen and looked around the fridge. I grabbed some chicken pasta, bread and put it inside the microwave. Then ran upstairs and banged Mitch’s door. He opened up and gave me an amused and cynical smile. Then all that was replaced by a frown.

“Why are you panting?”

“Because I lost track of time and- just take the damn food. What do you want to drink?” I ran a hand over my forehead.

Mitch’s face hardened. “I have water up here. I don’t need to be pampered.” he snapped.

“You already are. And a: Thank you, Keller, for being nice enough to not let me starve. Would be nice.”

“Ha. I will never say ‘thank you’ to you.” Mitch slammed the door on my face.

Rich kids think they can do whatever the fuck they want. Buy whoever they fucking please and make other’s life miserable. Oh but they make a slight wrong move and they go home running to mom and dad. They cant take care of themselves and still think they’re superior. But I wont have it. Hell no. Either he stops been angry to everybody for what happened to him or I’ll have to beat some since into that thick head of his. Damn it I think Maggie is right, I have to see a shrink. Anger issues. Yeah that’s it.

I took a deep breath and turned to the stairs.

“Just to let you know my parents are paying you to do what they please. And do check the shrink, I don’t want a psychopath in my house.” Mitch startled me.

I turned around to see him with an amused face, leaning against the frame of the door.

“What are you-I said all that aloud?!” I sort of panicked at my usual outburst. The ones I had before and a year after my family died.

“Definitely go see the shrink.” With that he slammed the door for the hundredth time.

“I might just do that.” I said to empty space.

No. Why the hell am I talking to myself?! No, I’m not crazy. This guy is just pushing the right buttons to unsettle me.

Chapter 4

Finally I’m going home. During my first day of baby-sitting Mitch all he did was to infuriate me. He slammed the door on my face countless of times. Yelled at me just because and refused to let me take the dishes, why? I didn’t even asked. Maybe I’ll even loose my voice for so much yelling back. I might be working for his parents but that gave him no right to yell at me because he felt like it.

I drove above the speed limit and was home half an hour early. “Dad I’m home!”

“In the kitchen, honey.”

I dropped my bag and keys on the couch and headed to the kitchen. My dad was trying to boil something. Dad looks so at ease right now, but there are times when he has this troubled look and wont even register that you’re there. Sometimes he talked to himself, there were also times when he will call me Hester out of nowhere. It hurt me because I’m not her, even though I try to be.

The year after my family’s death I went on a rampage. Went to parties, got drunk, used drugs, slept around. Thank god Maggie became sort of the new mother to both of us. I went to treatment for a whole solid year and was checked for any disease, since Maggie knew I had slept with more than one boy. It’s embarrassing now that I remember. Dad also did his share of treatment but he couldn’t take it and got out. Some days the psychologist called but my dad refused to answer.