Read Online The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus - Free Book Online Page A

tightenmychintokeepthephonefromslippingoutfromunderone ear as I grip a boiling pot of beets in my hands. "I can't really look inside myself right now, because I am justcallingtofindhowtopreparecoquillessaywhat,fortheloveofChrist!"
    "I'm helping," Grayer says, a small hand coming up over theedge of thecounter, groping for the paring
    knifeI've justputdown.
    "Gottago."

    I lungefortheknife,sendingtwentycoquilles flyingontothefloor.
    "Cool! It's just like the beach, Nanny! Don't pick 'em up, leave 'em. I'm gonna go get my bucket." He
    scampers out of the kitchen as I drop the knife in the sink and crouch to collect the mollusks. I pick up
    one, thenanother,but as I grab for the thirdthe first slides out of myhand, across thefloor,and directly
    into a gray snakeskin high heel. I jerk up to see a redheaded woman in a gray suit standing squarely in
    thedoorway.

    Grayer comes skipping around the corner holding his sand bucket, but freezes behind her when he sees myface.
    "I'm sorry,canI helpyou?" I stand,motioningforGrayer tocome tome.
    "Yes," shesays, "I'm hereto do theseatingarrangement." Shesaunters past me intothekitchen, pulling
    offherHermes scarfandtyingitaroundthehandleof herslate-grayGuccibriefcase.

    Shekneelstoretrieve a coquilleandturnstohandittoGrayer. "Didyoulosethis?" sheasks.
    Helooksupatme. "It's okay,Grove,"I say, reachingoutandtakingitfrom her. "Hi,I'm Nanny."
    "Lisa Chenowith, general manager of the Chicago office. And you must be Grayer," she says, setting

    herbriefcasedown.
    "I'm helping,"hesays,usinghis buckettoscoopup theremainingseafood.
    "I coulduse a helper."Shesmiles downathim. "Areyoulookingfor a newjob?"
    "Sure,"hemumblesintohis bucket.
    I dump the shells in the colander and turn off the stove. "If you just give me a minute, I'll show you to

    thediningroom."
    "Are youcookingfortheparty?" sheasks, gesturingtothesinkoverflowing with pans.
    "No. t's his dinner," I say, scrapingburnedbeets outofthepot.
    "Whatever happenedtopeanutbutter andjelly?" shelaughs,puttingher briefcasedownonthetable.
    "Nanny,I wantpeanutbutter andjelly."
    "Sorry, didn't mean to start a revolution," she says. "Grayer, I'm sure whatever Nanny is making you

    will bedelicious."

    "Actually, pb & j sounds perfect," I say, pulling out the peanut butter from the fridge. Once I've seated Grayer in his booster seat at the banquette I lead her to the dining room, where the long walnut table hasbeenreplacedbythreeroundones.
    "Well, well," she murmurs as she steps in behind me. "She had them set up a whole day early. hat must have cost thousands." We both look down at the lavender-scented tables, festooned with shining silverware, sparklingcrystal, andgilt-edged chargerplates. "I'm sorryI won't behere."
    "You won't?"
    "Mr. X wants me back in Chicago." She smiles at me, then turns her attention to the rest of the room, admiring thePicassoover themantelandtheRothkoabovethesideboard.
    I follow hertothelivingroomandthenthelibrary. Shetakesin
    THE NANNY DIARIES
    each jewel-toned room as if appraising it for auction. "Beautiful," she says, fingering the raw silk drapes, "but a littleoverdone, don't you
    think?"
    Unaccustomed as I am to being asked my opinion in this household, I reachfor the right words. "Um ... Mrs. X has very definite tastes. Actually, since you're here, would you mind telling me if this looks okay?" I ask,bendingbehind Mr. X's desktoretrieve agift bag.
    "Whatis it?" sheasks, pullingher hairover her shouldertopeer
    inside.
    "It's a gift bag for the guests. I wrapped them this morning, but I'm not sure if I did it right, because I couldn't find the right tissue paper and the ribbon Mrs. X wanted was out of stock? "Nanny?" She cuts me off. "Is anyoneonfire?" "Sorry?" I say, takenaback.
    "They're justgiftbags. For a bunchofoldgeezers,"shelaughs, "I'm surethey're perfect. elax."
    "Thanks, it just seemed like it was pretty important." She glances over my shoulder at the shelf of family pictures behind me. "I'm just going to check in