Author's Note
: Sorry for how long this took, but I was having a bit of a block concerning this story line. So... I worked on some others until the block was smashed. Hope you enjoy this part. There will be more, I just don't know when. I plan on taking this right up until dad dies... plus a part or two after that event. I hope his death doesn't bum you out, but that happens to everyone sometime in their life.
Part 12 ~~~~~
Slater woke for the first time without someone in bed with him. He smiled as he heard the kids in the kitchen with their mother. He lay there wondering if he could go back to sleep when Karen was standing over him smiling. He smiled back at her.
"Time to get up, brother," she said softly.
"I know, I know," Slater said swinging his legs over the side of the bed onto the floor.
He rubbed his face with his hands then reached out and pulled Karen to him and hugged her. She put her hand on his head gently tousling his hair. He let go of her, she stepped back.
"I love you," Slater told her.
"I love you, too, brother," Karen said. She turned and left his room closing the door to the bathroom behind her.
Slater didn't hear the lock click but did hear the shower start. He shook his head, got up and went downstairs. He would use the bathroom down there to relieve himself. He was chuckling as he left his room. Once finished in the bathroom, Slater headed to the kitchen. The kids were just finishing their breakfast. The three of them said good morning to their older brother.
"Good morning to you all too," Slater said back.
Mom, stood there smiling at her oldest son with a frying pan in her hand. She pushed the eggs and bacon out on a plate in front of where Slater would sit. He smiled back at her.
"Thanks, mom," he said picking up his fork.
"You're welcome, sweetheart," Eileen replied.
Slater sat and began eating. He sipped his coffee, which his mom brought over to him. He smiled at her, she smiled back at him. He watched her as he ate. She was so beautiful, so young looking. He just couldn't keep her out of his thoughts and he knew he should. They had no future together, except as mother and son. The same went for his sister. They could be lovers for as long as either wanted, but there was no future between them either.
Karen came down all fresh smelling. She kissed her mom on the cheek as she sat down. She smiled at her brother. Mom pushed some eggs and bacon on to her plate and set a cup of orange juice in front of each of them. All three grinned.
"Where's dad?" Karen asked.
"He was up early this morning. He's out on the deck. He has a doctor's appointment today so we will be gone all this afternoon," Eileen said sitting down with the twins.
Both of them nodded as she ate. Eileen just sipped coffee from the mug in front of her.
"You two will have to watch the kids for me if that's okay with you?" she asked.
"Of course," Karen said as Slater nodded with a full mouth.
The twins finished their meal in silence as their mother just stared at her coffee. Slater and Karen looked at each other and frowned. Both were worried about their mother. They hoped she didn't fall apart when dad passed away. They knew he only had weeks unless his cancer went into remission, which would be a miracle.
When Slater was done, he took his dishes to the sink and rinsed them. He poured himself another cup of coffee and sat back at the table. Karen did the same when she finished only she got herself another glass of orange juice. Both sat at the table with their mother. She finally came back to now and looked at them as they watched her.
"Have you thought about nanny's?" Slater asked.
"No, not yet. I thought I would call this morning."
"Well, it's almost no longer morning," said Karen.
"Mom, I'll take care of getting them here for an interview, if that's okay with you?" Slater said.
"Oh god, that would be perfect," Eileen said pulling her son into her arms. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, mom," Slater said as she squeezed him.
Karen chuckled. Eileen let go of Slater quickly and stepped back.
"Sorry," said Mom.
"No problem," Slater replied. "Of course, I am expecting Karen to help me."
Karen growled at her brother. Slater chuckled. Mom giggled. Slater went and retrieved his tablet from his bedroom and started a search for nannies. He found a couple of local companies that specialized in nannies for young children. He also found a few, not many, women, advertising their services as nannies. He also found a site that gave him the local laws and regulations on nannies and what to ask and documentation they should provide when asked.
Slater found all nannies had to be certified by the state which provided them with an ID that said when they were last certified and would be recertified. He also found what type of state training they had to go through. He didn't know what his mother would like as far as the age of the nanny had to be.
"Mom, about what age would you want the nanny to be?" Slater asked.
"Well, no younger than you and Karen and no older than me, I suppose," Eileen replied. "I don't know what the children would respond to, so maybe closer to your age than mine."
"Okay, got it," he replied.
Slater sent twelve possible candidate profiles to the printer in his bedroom. Karen heard the printer start and got up to go get the printouts. Slater smiled at her as she disappeared down the hallway. She was a good sister and daughter. He loved her dearly even though she could be a hellion.
Karen came back and put the profiles in the middle of the table. Picking up the top one, Slater read the complete profile. There was a picture included on the page. He studied each as if he could discern the character of the person he was looking at. He was predisposed to be very protective of his younger sibling, he loved them very, very much, so he scrutinized each and every nanny very, very closely.
Karen sat waiting for her brother to read the first one so they could keep them in order. When Slater handed her the profile, she read it very carefully. After all, the nanny they picked would be looking after her little sister and brothers, she wanted only the very best for them. When Karen set the profile down, Eileen sat down, picked it up and scrutinized the document closely. She too wanted the very best for her children.
After reading the profile, Eileen put it face down on the table. By that time Karen had finished the next one and Eileen took it from her to read. An hour later all three had read the twelve profiles. Slater picked up the pile and sat there thumbing through them. He placed each into one of three piles he chose.
"Okay, I have three piles. The first is good, the second is might be, the third is no way. Karen, Mom, look through the no ways and see if you agree," Slater said.
Eileen was closest to the no way pile. She picked it up and went through them. Nodding she handed the pile to Karen. She too went through them. She sat there for a while with one profile in her hand, just staring into space. She then nodded and put the pile back.
"I agree with your assessment, brother," Karen said smiling at Slater.
"I too agree," Eileen said reaching over to ruffle Slater's hair.
"Okay, now the good pile," said Slater.
Karen and Eileen went through that pile. Eileen pulled two out and placed them below the might be pile. She then handed the rest to Karen. Karen looked through the pile mom handed her. She nodded, setting them back on the table. She then picked up the two mom had rejected. Shaking her head, she put one of them just below the good pile.
"Discuss?" Slater said.
"Not really, I was borderline with her, she might be okay after we talk with her," Eileen said.
"Okay, now go through the might be pile," said Slater.
Eileen picked up the pile and flipped through them. Nodding she handed the pile to Karen. Karen went through them, taking one out and putting it in the good pile. She put the rest back.
"Discuss?" Slater said again.
Eileen picked up the one Karen had moved. She read it carefully once again.
"She is borderline on how old I would want someone looking after my children. She might work, but those three might exhaust her if left alone with them. I think the might be would be the category of my choice for her."
"Okay, Karen?"
"Put her on top of the might be pile. If the others don't pan out I would say she would be the top pick of the might be ones."
"Mom?"
"Good enough," Eileen said.
Slater picked up the good pile and fanned them out. They had four solid candidates.
"Four. One-third of what I printed out. Good. I'll start arranging for interviews if they are available," said Slater.
"Good," Eileen said nodding at her son.
"Now is everyone available for the next couple of days?" asked Slater.
"I am," said Karen glumly.
"I am, also," said Eileen giggling at her daughter. "What's the matter, friends, not back yet?"
"No, they aren't and I'm a little upset, but I will survive," Karen said giggling with her mother.
Picking up the profiles, Slater tossed the no way pile in the trash. The other two he took with him to his bedroom, placed them on his desk and sat down. Looking over the good profiles, he picked up the phone and dialed the first of the four.
After talking with the agency or the individual, Slater had to appointments set up. Their top two picks were already engaged with a family and wouldn't be available until summer of next year. The two who were available were older than Slater but not by much. They had finished college and were studying for their masters. They would both be able to be live-in nannies if required.
~~~~~
On Tuesday afternoon, the first of their appointments showed up right on time. She was very personable. Slater thought she was pretty. She was blond, blue eyes and dressed appropriately for the job she was interviewing for. Jeans and a button up blouse. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her makeup was almost non-existent. Her name was Cami, short for Camille, Jacobson. She was 24 and had all the paperwork necessary.
The interview started casually. Eileen led the discussions, with Slater asking follow up questions. Karen didn't say much at the beginning. The three children she would be taking care of were out back playing, with dad keeping an eye on them.
"Okay, now for the hard questions," Eileen said smiling at Cami.
"I'm ready whenever you are Missus Carlson," Cami said smiling back.
"When will you be available to start?" Eileen said.
"Whenever you need me too. If you don't mind, I would also like to meet the children today and maybe your husband."
"Well before we do that, there are some things you need to know about. Slater, Karen, if you would please?" Eileen asked getting up and going outside.
"What did I say? I'm so sorry, if I upset her," Cami gasped.
"No, no, you didn't, Cami. Honest," Karen said softly touching Cami's arm.
"Then what?"
"Let me, Sis. Our father is dying, stage four cancer..."
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," gasped Cami.
"He has a couple of weeks, maybe a month, they really don't know. In two weeks, Karen and I are off to college. Karen on the west coast, me on the East. So that is when we would need you to start. By then Karen's room would be available for you to stay in. Plus I would be gone also as she and I share a bathroom."
