The house settled into its usual chaos. Millie watched it all with amusement.
“You know,” she said, “they really love you.”
The statement caught me off guard. I looked toward the living room. Billie and Hazel were arguing over fairy insurance policies.
“Kids get attached easily,” I admitted.
“They do.” Something in Millie’s tone made me glance over. She smiled softly. “But not that easily.”
I looked away first. The compliment made me uncomfortable.
Millie set down her glass. “Can I tell you something?”
“Of course.”
“I was nervous when Hazel told me Conrad hired you.”
I laughed. “That’s fair.”
“No, I mean really nervous.” She winced. “Hazel described you as a beautiful fairy. People talk around here, so it wasn’t long before I had the full picture. Single dad. Three grieving kids. Beautiful nanny.”
I stared. “Beautiful nanny?”
Millie rolled her eyes and gestured at my body. “Please.”
Heat crept into my face. I disliked how everyone seemed determined to notice my appearance.
“I thought it would be a disaster, just like all the other nannies. Trust me, I’ve seen them all, hauling the kids to their respective activities. The kids didn’t like them, and the nannies despised the kids. You could just tell.” Her lips curled into a slight smile. “But you’ve been wonderful for them.”
The words settled somewhere deep inside me. “Thank you.”
“I mean it.” She nodded toward the living room. “They smile more. Even Hazel has talked about how much happier Billie seems.”
My throat tightened.
“They talk more.”
I swallowed.
“I’ve been here for a few parties and play dates in the past. Believe me when I say that the house feels different. Good different.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Millie sighed dramatically. “Unfortunately, now you’ve raised the standard.”
I blinked. “What standard?”
“For future childcare.”
“Oh.”
“If you ever leave, the next nanny is doomed.”
I laughed. Millie took another sip of lemonade.
The girls laughed. Something crashed. Neither of us reacted. That alone told me we’d both spent enough time around children.
Eventually, Millie sighed. “You know what the funny thing is?”
