I had just finished culinary school and was excited to use my newfound skills and knowledge. I saw an ad for a family that wanted a live-in chef. Though that was not what I planned to do with my new skills It looked like a great opportunity. The pay was great, rent free, and a nice part of the city. I interviewed and got the job with my first client live-in client as a personal chef for a nice family of 3.
I was 26 years old, and things were looking up. I was now living with a very nice but also very busy family that needed my help to take care of all the meals, snacks, and anything else food related for in the home and school. The mom was 38, the dad was 40, and their son John was a freshman in school.
The dad was a very busy and successful businessman, he was hardly ever home as he traveled a lot for work. He was more of a serious kind of guy. The limited time he was home he was always busy with something, so he was not very involved with the family.
The mom was a stay at home mom, and she was very close with her son, very involved in his life. She wanted him to become an actor so badly, so she was constantly helping or I like to say forcing him to practice for roles, commercials, or dragging him to countless auditions, etc. She wanted him to be an actor much more than he wanted to. Though she would also go out every Friday night for "girls night" and would come back quite late usually.
John was a very nice and sweet boy. Very well mannered, smart, but a little bit timid. His mom was quite controlling of his life, he never argued or fought back with her. Though he was quite a bit younger he was already just as tall as me which I guess doesn't say a lot at 5'5" 110.
After a couple weeks of working for them, we started getting comfortable with each other. Their son was taking a real liking to cooking so I started letting him help me prep and cook so he could learn but also do something he enjoyed.
Though it did cross my mind that it could be possible he took an interest in cooking with me because he thought I was pretty, I convinced myself that it was probably more likely that he just enjoyed cooking since I was much older than him. Since I lived with them I did not really have much time to go out, so I would exercise there at the house to stay in shape. I would exercise in the living room and I noticed he would usually hang in at the breakfast counter doing "homework" which gave him a clear view to me exercising. I figured what's the harm? That's how boys are right? I also noticed he always seemed to find an excuse to be passing through the hallways just as I would leave the bathroom after taking a shower. Coming out in my robe I was not worried, I knew what he was curious, but harmless.
After several months of being with the family I could clearly see how unhappy John was with his mom pushing the acting on him so much. I really felt bad for him since he was such a good boy but was being forced down a path he had no passion for.
I tried to do the best I could to help him enjoy his time cooking with me since that was when he seemed the happiest. He even started coming with me to get groceries. It was a fun adventure for him, and I enjoyed the company too.
When my last week of staying with the family finally arrived, I felt saddened that it was going to end. I could tell John felt the same way. They were moving to another state, and this was the last weekend I would be here with them but especially felt sad for their son who would be missing out on the fun of cooking together which I knew brought him joy.