This is another little story I had playing around in my mind so I thought I'd write it out before Season 6 starts. This takes place very shortly after the end of Season 5 and I will be continuing it without trying to work in the real details of the upcoming season. I hope you enjoy and please let me know what you think.
I only own my OC! Darn.
"It wouldn't be any of my business and I really wouldn't want to know," she said honestly, wondering if her answer would offend the hard woman sitting across from her, who was obviously sizing her up.
Gemma stared at her carefully, trying to decide if she was being honest or just trying to say what she thought she wanted to hear. She leaned forward and tried a different approach.
"You're telling me that you wouldn't have any issues working for a motorcycle club?" Gemma asked with skepticism in her voice. She needed to know if this Laurel was legitimately there for the nanny position or if it was her way of weaseling her way in to snag herself a Son.
"With all due respect Mrs. Morrow, I wouldn't be working for a club. I'd be working for Mr. and Mrs. Teller," Laurel answered as politely as possible. She sat at an angle from Gemma with her hands crossed on her lap, trying her best to control her nerves. She had only been in Charming for two months and had heard a few rumours about the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, but nothing that scared her away from the idea of working for one of its members. She had, however, heard from several people how tough Gemma Morrow was and she was quickly understanding how she got this reputation.
Gemma sat back and crossed her legs while keeping her eyes fixed on Laurel. It threw her for a second to hear her refer to Jax as Mr. Teller but she appreciated her professionalism while being interviewed. What she didn't appreciate was the hint of attitude behind that answer.
"Why the hell would you want this position anyway?" she asked. This was the fourth woman she had interviewed that week as a potential nanny for Abel and Thomas and so far all of them seemed incompetent. With Tara in prison and the boys' hospital daycare privileges revoked, Gemma had been the one to step up and take care of her grandsons, which she was honoured to do. But with things piling up back at the garage and Jax's struggle to get Tara released from prison, she had talked him into getting a nanny for the boys until they could get things settled and back to normal, or at least some semblance of normality. She assured Jax that she would take care of the interviews and promised to pick someone who he could trust with his boys and who wouldn't get scared off by any of the clubs' business.
Laurel smiled and took Gemma's question as a positive sign that she liked her answers so far. "Well, I've been working as a nanny for the last 11 years and I really enjoy it," she said fondly. "I'm new to Charming and when this position became available I figured it would be a good fit." She looked around the living room just then, noticing the tidy pile of toys tucked into a corner, the toddler table and chairs set up between the couch and television and several close up pictures decorating the walls. She spotted one in particular, a spontaneous family portrait, and felt at ease while looking at the parents who obviously loved each other and the two boys that they clearly adored. Surely, this was a loving family that she would be happy to work for, regardless of the rumours she had heard.
"What brought you to Charming?" Gemma asked bluntly, wondering why anyone new would want to move to her small town.
"Honestly?" Laurel asked with a small laugh of embarrassment. "The name." She smiled and looked at Gemma who was obviously going to ask what she meant by that.
"The name," Gemma repeated, wondering if Laurel was some head in the clouds freak who came here looking to find herself a prince. "What the hell does that mean?" she went on, feeling like the one nanny candidate who had potential just blew her chances with that last comment.
Laurel smiled but grew nervous at Gemma's reaction, knowing that Gemma was probably thinking that she was some sort of flake. "I know it sounds stupid," she began. "But when I looked up agencies to apply to in California, I came across the one in Charming and I figured that it sounded quaint," she said, remembering how she first laughed at the name of the town but became interested in it once she began doing some research. "I've mostly worked in large cities and figured that a small town would be a nice change of pace."
Gemma lowered her eyes to her lap, finding the leather bound binder that Laurel handed over when they first sat down. She looked at her resume, reading off the locations that she had worked in over the years. Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Sacramento, Manchester, and Liverpool... Shit, she did get around, Gemma thought. Looking over the letters of recommendation and references that Laurel provided, she could tell that Laurel was very qualified and that the families she worked for highly recommended her. Gemma raised her eyes to find Laurel looking back at her, a polite smile barely hiding the fact that she was anxious to hear her response. Gemma took in a slow, deep breath and appraised the young woman that sat in front of her, not at all caring if she was being rude while doing so.
Laurel had long caramel coloured hair reaching halfway down her back, currently flowing over her shoulders, revealing large soft curls. She had it parted down the middle and intricately woven into waterfall braids all along the sides. Her big green eyes were attentive but kind, and didn't seem to shy away from Gemma's gaze. With high cheekbones and a small mouth, she looked delicate, causing Gemma to wonder if she would be capable of handling her two grandsons, not to mention the obvious attention she would be getting from many of the members of SAMCRO.
"Why'd you work in so many different places?" Gemma asked, referring to the long list on her lap.
"I just sort of went where the work was," Laurel answered, recalling how after her parents died she felt the need to travel and get away for a while and experience what the world had to offer.
"And you worked in England? What, you got sick of the states?" Gemma went on, noticing that Laurel's last two years were spent overseas.
"No, well, a friend of mine from Windsor was a nanny as well and she thought it would be fun to travel around and work in Europe for a while, before we got too old for it," Laurel explained, watching Gemma paying close attention to her. She went on. "I really enjoyed it over there but my visa was only good for two years, so I had to come home."
"Is that where you were born? Windsor?" Gemma asked.
"No, but it's where I grew up," Laurel answered simply.
Gemma didn't say anything but instead waited for Laurel to continue. When a moment of silence passed, Gemma cleared her throat and closed the binder, making up her mind about Laurel.
"I'll give you a week," she began, watching Laurel's face light up. "To prove yourself," she added strictly, not wanting Laurel to get her hopes up.
Laurel was thrilled to being given a chance at a new position. While she was working abroad, she had heard of how hard it was to find a job in the states and was worried that she would have to find a part time position to hold her over for a while when she first got back. At the moment, being given a trial period was as good as hearing she was hired.
"Thank you," Laurel said with enthusiasm, standing up and extending her hand to Gemma. "I won't let you down," she went on, squinting briefly at how cliche her last comment sounded. She smiled anyway and waited for Gemma to stand up as well.
With pursed lips and an outstretched jaw, Gemma put down the binder she was holding and stood up, stepping forward to reach Laurel's hand. By the looks of her, Gemma had expected Laurel to be weak, but her firm handshake suggested otherwise.
"Come on. I'll show you around," Gemma offered as she took her hand back and stepped past Laurel on her way towards the hallway. Laurel followed behind, letting out a deep breath with relief.
"Bathroom," Gemma said, waving to her left. "Jax and Tara's room. You won't need to go in there," she explained before leaning in and closing the bedroom door. "This is Abel's room," Gemma exhaled, letting Laurel take a quick look inside from beside her. She continued her clockwise tour by walking towards Thomas's room. "This is Thomas's room. Now," she leaned against the door frame and crossed her arms, with Laurel joining her in the entrance to the room. "There may be a few times when Jax might need to stay out later than expected. So that futon couch opens into a bed," Gemma explained pointing to the beige couch across from Thomas's crib. "Hope you're okay with a flexible schedule," she partially questioned.
"Yeah, that won't be a problem at all," Laurel answered, well aware that things come up and schedules can change. She had spent the night plenty of times in the guest room to take care of her charges when parents were out late.
Gemma watched Laurel looking around Thomas's room and again, carefully looked her over. Laurel reached up to just below Gemma's shoulder while only wearing ballet flats. Good height, Gemma thought, considering she was wearing heals herself. Her eyes trailed downwards, taking in Laurel's average, slender frame under her black dress pants and white, short sleeved blouse. To Gemma's pleasure, she didn't look as wimpy as she first thought, making her feel a little more comfortable with her. Never trusted skinny bitches, Gemma playfully thought with a small scoff.
Laurel looked up at the sound that Gemma made and pulled back slightly when she realized that Gemma was checking her out.
"So when do I start?" she asked, taking a step back to allow Gemma to lead the way towards the kitchen.
"Come by tomorrow morning at 7:30. You'll meet Jax and the boys then and we can discuss what you'll be doing," Gemma instructed over her shoulder on her way to the kitchen.
"Okay," Laurel answered. She stopped and trailed back a few steps to where Gemma had been sitting earlier and grabbed her binder. On her way back to meet up with Gemma she smiled and held up the book. "Forgot this," she explained.
"Any questions?" Gemma asked, starting to feel more comfortable with her decision to hire Laurel.
"None that I can think of now but I'll be sure to have plenty tomorrow," she answered with a small laugh, knowing that her first day would be overwhelming. There was always a lot to take in on the first day of working with a new family and she knew that tomorrow would be no exception.
"Alright. I'll see you at 7:30," Gemma said, ushering Laurel to the front door.
"Thank you again," Laurel said sincerely, nodding to Gemma before stepping out the door.
"Umm hmm," Gemma answered. "Dress comfortable," she added before Laurel got to her car. She acknowledged Gemma's suggestion with a wave as she got into her silver Ford Focus and backed out of the driveway. "Hope she can handle it," Gemma muttered to herself.