Page 29 of Justice II

I brought up the agency’s website.

“Of course not. But if she’s no longer working for the Banks family, that means she’s available again.”

He leaned toward the laptop as I clicked through their services. The number was right there, beside a button asking whether I needed care for a loved one.

I picked up my phone.

“Thank you for calling Ellis Care Staffing. This is Claire. How can I help you?”

“Hi, Claire. I’m hoping you can help me find a caregiver for an older woman. It would be for my great-grandmother.”

“Of course. Can you tell me a little about the care she needs?” Claire asked with a bubbly voice.

“She has trouble with her memory, and she’s very particular about who helps her. We’ve had a hard time finding somebody she’ll accept.”

“We work with families dealing with that,” Claire said. “Does she need assistance with her personal care?”

“Yes. Bathing and getting dressed. I would like a certified nursing assistant, preferably a woman. She’d be more comfortable with that. Someone who’s had recent experience.”

“All right. What else would you need help with?”

“Meals. She needs somebody who can actually cook. Oh, and patience,” I added. “She can get upset and say things she doesn’t mean. I need somebody who can handle that without taking it personally.”

“That is very important,” Claire said.

“She’s used to having things done for her, but she doesn’t like feeling as though she’s being managed. I need somebody who can help without making everything an argument.”

I had watched Skye do exactly that with Rita. Remembering it while sitting in front of Kyle made me dig my nails into my palm. The physical pain distracted me from the emotional pain.

“Would this be for a few hours a day?” Claire asked.

“I’d like to discuss full-time care. Possibly live-in, if the arrangement works for everyone.”

“And when would you be looking to start?”

“Soon. We’re trying to manage within the family right now, but we need somebody reliable.”

“Understood.”

“There are also children around,” I said. “She has grandchildren who spend time with her. I need somebody comfortable with them being in the house.”

“Are you looking for childcare as well?”

“Her care would be the priority. I just don’t want somebody who gets irritated every time a child asks a question.”

Kyle shook his head at me. I turned my chair away from him.

“She likes company,” I continued. “I want somebody who’ll talk to her and take her out when she’s up to it. So she would need a driver’s license.”

“We can include that in the request.”

“And somebody discreet. This is a private household.”

“We expect professionalism from all our caregivers.”

I lowered my hand from my face.

“That’s good to hear.”