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| Lisa Vasalle |
The first day in Nantucket, we unpacked and I left with the kids to the beach by the house while Mom stayed back and set up the house. It was a great day. The next day Sunday, was a great day. Then comes Monday. The mom had told me she had booked "Missy" while she was looking for a nanny and wasn't sure if she could find a nanny she liked and one that would travel. Because she booked "Missy" for 6 weeks, she wasn't going to cancel on her. This sounded okay to me. It would ensure I have some downtime, and I could comfortably explore the Island with the kids and Missy the nanny who was a local.
Right away I sensed a problem with Missy. This was her eight time babysitting for the family, including seven weeks last summer. They had last seen Missy over Memorial Day Weekend. Watching them reunite, it was immediately clear not just how much they regard her, but that the relationship I thought was so great paled in comparison.
The family had rented me a jeep and Missy had her own car. Missy assumed possession of my jeep. Initially it seemed because she could zip us over to wherever we were going without GPS. She knew where friends lived, picked them up, dropped them off and knew where to park, whether downtown or an outlying beach. Missy is anything but laid back. I can't imagine she is always like this. If they aren't building castles or burying each other in the sand, they are running obstacle courses and jumping in the water, jumping waves. Downtown at home is about making birdhouses, seashell necklaces, kites. Not knowing the area and having limited knowledge of the kids, I feel like she is making me look foolish.
I honestly told the mother I felt inadequate and she told me not to worry about it, that everyone was happy and I was new here. She suggested I take the day for myself (Thursday). I did this. I took the jeep, went to one of the places we picked up lunch before, got my kind of food, bought a book and went to a beach. I sat and read and cooled off in the ocean. The day was going perfectly until I got bit by a jellyfish. Never happened before. I was alone and panicked. I was in so much pain. I somehow got my folding chair and bag together and made for the parking lot. I couldn't find my keys. The keys were no where. I went back looking for them but I was in so much pain, I had a huge breakdown, partly the pain, partly just feeling like an ass. I called the mom's cell- no answer. I called the house- the father answers. I calm down and explain the key situation. He says he will come out. I've only dealt with him three times and he must have JUST arrived.
He arrives at the beach, walks me to his car and goes to look for the keys. He gets help from two random kids on the beach. thirty minutes later, he is driving me back to the house with the jeep still there but the keys in my hand. He asks me if I am okay. I ask him if this is supposed to hurt so badly. He stops downtown at a pharmacy and gets some stuff and comes back and tells me what to do with it. He says, "otherwise, if everything going okay?" He's just being nice but polite, I'm sure he didn't want to hear it, but I burst into tears. I didn't end up saying anything. I tell him everything is fine, I just feel out of place and miss home. He looks kind of shocked at my outburst, but not mad.
We pull up to the house and the kids come running out and ask what happened. The father just said I got bit and had a scare. He suggested they let me go rest in my room. He then turns to me and says, "we're going out to my favorite place for dinner tonight at 7. I hope you'll join us". Later on there is a knock at my door and it is Missy. She acts completely sympathetic, brings me tea and chips and some magazines. She tells me if I let myself sleep, I will wake up pain free. She offers me benadryl for the swelling. She's being so nice that I tell her about the invite tonight. She asks me, "do you have the right attire?" I immediately feel foolish. Do I? I think. She tells me, "oh don't worry, he was probably just being nice, he's a nice guy". I say, "so I shouldn't go". She laughs and says, "you need to sleep. We're going by boat to Hyannisport tomorrow, it's going to be a long day!" She says this with enthusiasm.
The next morning Friday, I am out in the family room straightening up things, setting out a Gods-eye project for the kids. The kids come downstairs and ask about my bite. They give me hugs. They are excited about my project and work on it. We have breakfast outside. Then Missy shows up and asks me, "Are the bags ready?". I have no idea what she is talking about. She says she told me we were going on her friend's boat to Hyanissport today and we were supposed to be ready. No one has said anything to me and I haven't seen either parent. I scramble to get things ready. And she takes point to make mention of last night at a certain restaurant...where she had joined the family in my place!
How do I deal with Missy? I want to hurt her!
