What stood at the end of the driveway was exactly what I’d put there before dawn.
HELP WANTED
Looking for a live-in housekeeper, nanny, cook, laundress, and personal assistant.
Must work twelve-hour days.
Payment: Negative $2,000.
Jason frowned as he looked from the sign to his wife.
Two neighbors stopped in the street to read the sign.
« Why does it say payment negative two thousand dollars? » one asked.
« How can payment be negative? » the other said. « Do you expect the employee to pay you? »
I met his eyes.
« Because that’s exactly what your wife invited me here to be. »
His brow furrowed. « I don’t understand. »
« You will, » I said quietly. « Just give me a minute. »
Melissa rushed toward the sign, forcing out a brittle laugh.
I stepped forward.
« It isn’t a joke, sweetheart. Let me show you what my week looked like. »
I handed him the invoice Melissa had placed beside my coffee.
His face fell as he read it.
« Money’s been tight, » Melissa said quickly. « I told you I was handling it. »
Jason looked at her, something breaking behind his eyes.
« I asked you to cut back months ago. »
But I wasn’t done yet.
I reached into my cardigan and drew out my own itemized bill.
Childcare.
Cooking.
Housekeeping.
Laundry.
Shopping.
Seven days of full-time work.
Total due, six thousand eight hundred forty-five dollars.
I met Melissa’s eyes and kept my voice steady.
« Of course, you can deduct the two thousand you say I owe you. That leaves four thousand eight hundred forty-five. »
Her face crumbled under the neighbors’ stares.
« Is any of it true? » Jason asked her quietly.
Her silence answered for him.
