Chapter 1:
Arizona Robbins tossed and turned in her huge King-sized bed. Her brain wouldn't slow down long enough for her to fall asleep, as she contemplated the last year. Once upon a time, Arizona was single, free and she felt young and sexy, accomplished and powerful, and loved her life in the city of Seattle. All of that had changed just over a year ago. Her brother Timothy was missing. The single father of one had disappeared off the face of the earth. Tim was a young ex-marine who fell in love with Ava, a girl just as young, who had big wings in a small town just outside of Seattle. Not long after the birth of their daughter Josephine, Ava left a short note and nothing else, packed up and left the pair of them alone. Tim, although heartbroken, had really stepped up to the plate. He occasionally had asked Arizona for help, particularly if he had to work, but otherwise grew up fast. He left the marines, got a job as a mechanic, started early and got home early enough to pick his beloved Josie up from school.
Then, one year ago, out of the blue, Arizona got a phone call that changed her life. Josephine's school called asking if Arizona would pick up little eight year old Josephine, as Tim never arrived and wasn't answering his phone. Although worried, she hadn't panicked too badly at first. Sure it was out of character for Tim not to be there to pick up Josephine, but he would never have left her there on purpose, and that he probably had a flat tyre or had to work late. But that night, Arizona called her parents and the police, as dinner time came and went without a phone call or any sign of Tim. A few weeks later, they found Tim's car by the side of the road, with all personal items taken, and still no sign of Tim.
At first, Josephine had stayed with Arizona's parents, who lived a few hours out of town on the farm. But it became clear that although they adored their darling granddaughter, they were simply too old to be parenting a young child all over again. Josie also missed her friends and her teachers and Seattle. Arizona had stepped up. She was far from ready for a child, and she was unprepared for the extent that her life would change. She took an indefinite sabbatical from her job as Head of Paediatric Surgery at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital, and used that time to spend getting Josephine accustomed to a new life without either of her parents. But it had also meant an end to nights out on the town, dates with beautiful women and certainly no sex, as she was too worried that having anyone around the house might frighten or upset Josie.
These days, she felt lonely most nights, and tonight was no different. Arizona craved human affection and the touch of a beautiful woman. She missed Tim, her best friend in the world, the one person she could tell anything to. She was also so ready to go back to work. She missed surgery, she missed her colleagues and her friends, and she missed the children she worked with, she missed saving lives. She needed to go back to work.
Arizona threw back the quilt on her bed and switched on her lamp. All she needed, to be able to go back to work, was someone to be able to be able to pick up Josie after school care, take her home and stay with her for the evening just in case Arizona's surgeries ran late. She could schedule her surgeries to make sure that she was home no later than eight o'clock on an average day, so she would be able to be home to tuck Josie into bed most nights. She could even have a live-in sitter; she had a small flat and the back of her property that she built for when her parents came to visit. Arizona got up and crossed the room to her desk and opened her laptop, and searched for the website for her local newspaper. Finding the link she needed, she began typing out an ad.
Nanny required for nine year old girl. Mostly evening work, additional housework help would be appreciated. Free and private accommodation can be included if desired. Pay negotiable.
And after adding contact information, she shut the laptop, turned off the lamp and promptly fell asleep, dreaming of strolling down the halls of Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital once again.