‘Don’t mind my wife,’ Robert says, jokily, ‘she’s been interviewing for a manager at work so she’s still in full-on business interview mode.’
I feign outrage and nudge him in the ribs. ‘I’m not that bad, am I?’
‘Just a little bit full-on,’ he says.
‘It’s fine,’ Sadie says, catching my eye and giving me a warm smile. ‘They’re your children. I’d be worried if you weren’t asking probing questions.’
‘See!’ I say to Robert. ‘It’s normal to ask questions.’
‘Is there anything you’d like to askus?’ Robert says.
‘Can I meet them?’ she asks.
‘Oh. What,now?’ The girls are currently upstairs watching a Disney movie to keep them occupied while we interview Sadie. I suppose it makes sense for her to meet them.
‘If that’s okay?’ she says. ‘I always find it’s helpful to see how we get on before discussing anything else. I mean, if we’re going to be spending every day together, it’s better if we click.’
‘You’re right.’ Robert turns to me. ‘She’s right, isn’t she?’
I nod. ‘I’ll call them down.’
‘That would be great. Maybe the girls and I could spend ten minutes or so together? Just getting to know each other a little bit.’
The more I hear Sadie talk, the more I think she would be absolutely perfect. I know it’s very early days, but you tend to get a feeling about people when you meet them. And the feeling I’m getting from Sadie is that she could be a great addition to our family. Potentially even life changing.
We call the children downstairs and introduce them. They’re shy, but Sadie takes charge and asks if the girls can show her their bedrooms. Eva hangs back and gives me a look that says she doesn’t want to, but Katie immediately starts telling Sadie about her favourite cuddly toys.
‘Do you like cuddly toys, too, Eva?’ Sadie asks.
Eva shrugs. Katie is already halfway up the stairs.
‘Eva likes music,’ I say. ‘Singing, dancing, that kind of thing.’
‘Do you enjoy musicals?’ Sadie asks her.
‘We sawWickedlast year,’ Eva says quietly.
‘Oh, I’d love to see that show!’ Sadie says. ‘Will you tell me about it?’
Eva nods and follows her up the stairs. They’re both chatting away to Sadie now. I turn to Robert and we smile at one another before heading back into the kitchen.
Fifteen minutes later, the girls bound back down the stairs, animated and laughing.
‘Such lovely children,’ Sadie says, following them down into the hall. ‘We had fun, didn’t we?’
Eva and Katie nod vigorously.
Once we’ve said our goodbyes, assuring Sadie we’ll be in touch, I close the front door and turn to Robert.
‘She was great, don’t you think?’
‘Yeah. Really nice.’
‘And the girls absolutely loved her! I mean, I’ve never seen them so relaxed around a stranger before. She’s a real Mary Poppins,’ I add.
‘Does this mean…’ Robert begins.
‘I think so.’
