Curveball Read online

  “Enough, you two,” Wyatt interjected. “Can we look at this rationally, like a family should talk about things? Wes, are you interested in the job, yes or no?”

  “Yes, I am, but…” Wes said before Wyatt cut him off.

  “No buts,” Wyatt told him. Wyatt turned to face Kristin.

  “Kris, are you okay with Wes taking the job? Be honest.”

  Kristin considered it all for a second and then turned to Wes and smiled.

  “Yes, I am okay with it.”

  “Even if it means I’m not around to help with…” Wes tried to add before Wyatt cut him off again.

  “No one asked you anything yet, Wes. Izzy, how do you feel about it? Are you okay with it, even if it means picking up some extra slack at home during senior year?

  “I’m okay with it, Grandpa,” Izzy responded. “Kris and Dad know I am always willing to help…”

  Wes guffawed when he heard this. “Always willing? What about…”

  Wyatt hit Wes’s shoulder with his Stetson.

  “Boy, I’m not too old to wrestle you to the ground. We all know Izzy means well and does her best, better than most teenagers do. We’re trying to work this out. Okay, so we’re all on the same page here. Wes, you should take the job. I know for me personally, I think it’s a great stepping stone for you. It keeps you in the game and who knows what it will bring. You know your mother and I will do all we can to support you and help. That’s what family does.”

  “Okay, I get it,” Wes conceded. “But what do we do about Molly? Kris isn’t going to be able to lift and carry her for weeks. Izzy has school, you have the farm and Mom to take care of, and I won’t be home most of the day. I don’t know how this will work.”

  All four contemplated the dilemma before Wyatt spoke up.

  “Have you considered hiring a nanny?”

  Wes and Kristin looked at each other before Wes replied.

  “No, we never even talked about it, but I guess it is something we should have considered at some point.”

  “Well, even if you were playing, you would be going back to work for training in April. Kris would have been back at work by then, so you were going to need a solution, even if it was daycare. Getting a nanny now might be the most practical step. She can come in and help out right away, and you will have someone that Molly gets familiar with as she gets older.”

  Wyatt sat down in the extra chair in the room and smiled.

  “What do you think, Kris? It might be the best solution.”

  Kristin considered the proposition carefully. She did plan to go back to work at some point, even though she felt unsure about leaving Molly. A nanny would be ideal, especially now when her abilities were limited.

  “I think it’s the best decision. We were going to have to do something eventually, and as much as I want to, I know I won’t be able to do everything I need to for Molly right now. I think we should do it.”

  “Okay, so it’s settled. Wes will call the team and accept the job, and then we can set to work on finding someone for you. Marcy Andrews runs the job staffing service in Chandler. She’s helped me find people to work on the farm. I’m sure she can give us some leads or tell us where to go to look at candidates and set up interviews. I’ll give her a call right now,” Wyatt said as he pulled out his cell phone and stepped out of the room.

  “I guess I should call Tom back,” Wes spoke. “Are you sure about this, Kris?”

  “I am Wes. It will be best for all of us, and it will be a lot stressful. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before.”

  “I know,” Wes said. “Now I’ll have to listen to my father gloat about how right he is all the time. I’ll go call Tom.”

  Wes left the room, leaving Izzy alone with Kristin.

  “Wow, that all happened fast,” Izzy said. “it will be good to have someone there with you during the day while you get better, and then to be with Molly while you are working. It seems like everything is working out for everyone.”

  Izzy fiddled with the package of toothpaste she had brought for Kristin, unscrewing the top and then putting it back on over and over.

  “What’s going on, Izzy?” Kristin said as she laid back into the pillow that was propping her up.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You may as well be nervously twirling your hair with what you're doing with that toothpaste. Something’s bugging you.”

  “Okay, but you can’t say anything to Dad,” Izzy said as she came closer.

  “You know what is between you and me stays that way.”

  “Bradley and I had a fight last night, and he ended up storming out of the house last night and went to the dance without me. I tried to text him this morning, but he never answered me. I think he’s mad.”

  “What was the fight about?” Kristin asked.

  Izzy turned her eyes up to Kristin and hesitated.

  “Well, while Molly was sleeping, we went downstairs to watch some TV. Bradley was in awe of Dad’s room. First, he wanted to have something from the bar, which I said no to.”

  “Good decision,” Kristin added.

  “Then… well, we started kissing, and you know… Bradley wanted to go further…”

  Kristin tried to control herself so she could remain calm.

  “And?”

  “And I said no,” Izzy told her. “I told him I wasn’t ready. That kind of ticked him off too, and after a few more minutes, he left and said he was going to the dance without me.”

  “I know you’re bothered that he hasn’t gotten back to you, Izzy, but he probably just needs time to cool off. You did the right thing and made the best decisions for you. Bradley should respect that if he cares about you.”

  “He’s the only real boyfriend I’ve ever had, Kris. I don’t want to mess it up.”

  “I get it, Izzy. You aren’t thinking about the long-term, but what was going to happen when you both go to college in the fall? Things were bound to change then.”

  Izzy stayed quiet for a minute.

  “Bradley is planning to go to Columbia. I thought about applying there too.”

  “Izzy, don’t go to a school just because Bradley is going there. Choose a school that is best for you and what you want. What’s wrong with Pittsburgh?”

  “You sound like Dad now, Kris,” Izzy chimed in. “He just wants me to stay close to home so he can keep his vision of me as a little girl that needs Daddy for everything. He doesn’t see me as my own person that can make mature decisions.”

  “Look, I’m not trying to be like your Dad,” Kristin explained. “I know you’re just about eighteen, and you are at a point where you should make more of your own decisions. Just make sure you make them for the right reasons.”

  Wes re-entered the room, with Wyatt trailing right behind him.

  “I talked to Tom and took the job. They are going to have a press conference this week, but I asked him if we could hold off on starting the job until after the new year. This way, I can help out at home and it gives us a chance to find a nanny.”

  “On that note,” Wyatt said, “I talked to Marcy Andrews. She told me she can have a list of candidates set up on Monday and will send the information over to you so you can choose who you want to interview for the job. Hopefully, you find someone that fits what you need.”

  “Wow, we sure got a lot accomplished today,” Kristin said.

  “I’ll say,” Wyatt added, “and all before lunch.”

  “Well, maybe you two gentlemen can go take a walk or figure out what you want to do for lunch,” Kristin said happily.

  “Why do we need to leave?” Wes asked.

  “I was hoping Izzy could help me get to the restroom, and she can wash my hair and assist me in getting dressed, at least into a nightshirt, and some underwear if you really have to know,” Kristin remarked.

  “I didn’t need to know,” Wyatt said with a flustered look. “Come on, Wes. Let’s allow the ladies their time. You can buy me some lunch.”

>   “Why do I have to buy you lunch?” Wes asked.

  “Because I raised you right, and because I only have a hundred-dollar bill in my wallet.”

  “You’ve been using that excuse for twenty years,” Wes said as they walked toward the door. “That must be the oldest hundred-dollar bill still in circulation.”

  8

  Kristin returned home on Monday and walked from the car to the bedroom without any difficulty. No sooner was she inside and in the bed when she asked for Molly to be brought to her. Izzy obliged, bringing her sister in from her feeding in the kitchen and placing her in between Kristin’s legs as she stretched out on the bed.

  “Hello, my sweet!” Kristin cooed. Molly gurgled back at the recognition of her mother’s voice, and Kristin let Molly grip her pinky and hold it. Kristin tried to bend down to give her child a kiss, but she winced when she tried to move that way and found it too difficult to do in the position she was in. Izzy recognized the dilemma and scooped up Molly and brought her up to Kristin’s face so she could kiss Molly and rub the baby's cheek against her own.

  The next few days were challenging as Kristin tried to do what she could around the house without lifting anything more than just a couple of pounds. She had plenty of visitors, with Wyatt and Jenny both stopping by frequently to check on her, get meals when needed, or help with Molly. Karen stopped by as well to see her friend, let her know what was going on at the library, and just provide support.

  Wes had started going out to the team offices on Tuesday, first for the press conference and then to begin planning, talking about roster make up, and the like, even if it was just for a couple of hours each day. He would go in the mornings while Molly was usually napping and when Jenny or Wyatt could come up and help Kristin until he got back home. Kristin and Wes also spent time going over resumes of potential candidates for the nanny position, turning aside several because they did not fit what they were hoping for, before settling on a group of four to interview. They sent the names back to Marcy Andrews, and she arranged for interviewees to come out to the Martin house in the days just before Christmas.

  Kristin had spent a lot of time going over the CVs of the nannies, looking closely at previous jobs, background, and experience. She made a list of questions she intended to ask during the interview and was thoroughly prepared. If they were going to have someone for this position, Kristin needed it to be a perfect fit.

  The first three candidates interviewed failed to meet Kristin’s standards. After each left the interview, she gave Wes her reasons why she did not want to hire them for the job. Wes did ask questions during the process as well, but he found himself deferring to Kristin more. In the fourth interview, a woman named Martha Stuart arrived right on time. Wes and Kristin had laughed often about the name and waited with anticipation to see who would show up on the day of the interview.

  Martha was a woman in her forties, her shoulder-length brown hair speckled with flecks of gray. The gray identically matched the color of her eyes, and she flashed an inviting smile from the time Wes opened the front door.

  Wes led Martha into the kitchen, where Kristin sat in one of the chairs with arms to make it easier for her to get up and down. Molly lay in the bassinet next to Kristin, wide awake and enjoying the cloth mobile that was clipped to the side. Martha greeted Kristin with the smile she gave to Wes and sat down across from Kristin, while Wes offered coffee or tea.

  Wes brought over the coffee percolator and mugs and began to pour coffee.

  “I have to say, you must get a lot of jokes about your name,” Wes said with a laugh.

  “Jokes?” Martha asked as she poured some half-and-half into her coffee. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  Wes looked at Martha, unsure if she was pulling his leg or not, as he sat down.

  “You know, Martha Stuart? Like the other Martha Stewart, the one on TV?”

  “Oh, I don’t watch much television,” Martha said as she sipped her coffee.

  “Well, she’s written a bunch of books too,” Wes added.

  “I’m not familiar with them,” Martha said with all seriousness.

  “But she was in the news…” Wes started before Kristin put up her hand to stop him.

  “Let’s just move on with the interview, shall we?” Kristin said politely. Kristin proceeded to ask the litany of questions she had asked the other candidates, presenting them with situations and how they would react, asking about previous employers, talking about transportation, possibilities of working late, other tasks they might be willing to help with and so on. Martha took each question in stride, answering them in just the manner Kristin was looking for. When she was done with her queries, she sat back, feeling confident that they may have found their nanny.

  Kristin asked Martha to come over and pick up Molly so she could see how they interacted. Martha was charming, doing her best to communicate with Molly, but Molly did not want any part of it. She fidgeted and fussed, made noise, and eventually started crying lightly. After a moment or two of trying, Wes stepped in and took Molly in efforts to calm her down.

  “She might be getting a little hungry,” Kristin excused.

  “Do you breastfeed her?” Martha asked bluntly.

  “I did before my surgery. Now I just pump, and we give her the bottles since I can’t lift and hold her yet,” Kristin answered.

  “I see,” Martha replied. Kristin thought she heard a tinge of condescension in Martha’s tone.

  “I do have a couple of questions if you don’t mind,” Martha said as she sat back down.

  “Of course,” Wes said. “Fire away.”

  “Is this going to be a live-in position?” Martha asked.

  Wes and Kristin looked at each other.

  “We hadn’t really considered it up to this point,” Wes told her. “We do have the extra rooms upstairs, so I suppose it could be if you needed it. You would certainly be able to stay if the weather was bad, or it was a late night.”

  Martha nodded at Wes’ answer.

  “Do you have a salary in mind?” Martha asked.

  “We do have a number that we think is fair.”

  “And what is it?” Martha chirped.

  “Oh, well, we thought twenty dollars an hour was fair since the hours needed might vary each day,” Wes told her.

  “Hmmph,” Martha grunted.

  “Is something wrong?” Kristin stepped in.

  “Well, there are a few things that would have to change before I would take the job,” Martha said as she got up from the chair.

  “First, I would only do nanny work, no other chores. If you need help like that, you should also hire a housekeeper. You clearly can afford it.”

  “I beg your pardon?” Kristin said. She felt her temperature starting to rise.

  “Secondly, I would need a higher salary. I think the minimum I would take is forty dollars an hour. Fifty would be more acceptable. Again, it looks like that shouldn’t be a problem for you.”

  “Excuse me, but just because my husband has made a good salary does not mean that we are willing to pay any price for something. Our lifestyle and livelihood are not part of the equation here.” Kristin now rose from her chair.

  “Ms. Arthur,” Martha interjected, “Mr. Martin is not your husband. I don’t see a wedding ring on your hand. That’s another reason why I could not live-in here. If you two are living together out of wedlock and have a child together, well…”

  “Okay, that’s enough!” Kristin shouted. “The interview is over. Thank you for your time, Ms. Stuart. We’ll consider your input and your candidacy. Have a nice day.”

  “Let me show you out,” Wes said to her.

  “Don’t bother,” Martha shot back. “I’ll find my own way out. Best of luck to you.”

  Martha grabbed her handbag and stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind her.

  “Can you believe that witch?” Kristin yelled, still worked up. “The nerve of her to look down on me, and on us.”

&nbs
p; Wes put Molly back in her bassinet and came over to comfort Kristin.

  “It’s fine, Kris. Let her go. She wasn’t right for the job anyway. Molly knew before we did. Besides, what kind of woman with the name Martha Stuart doesn’t know about THE Martha Stewart? That’s just wrong.”

  Kristin let out a laugh and began to feel better.

  “Seriously, Wes,” Kristin said as she slowly sat back down. “What are we going to do? None of the candidates have been good so far. It’s almost Christmas, and then the new year, and you have to start working more, and we aren’t any closer to having someone.”