Page 7

Me: Was Ada having fun?

Flora: When I walked in, Eliana was having Ada put her toys away.

Me: And she was listening to her????

Flora: lol Yep. I was shocked, trust me.

Me: Thanks, Flo. I appreciate you going there.

Flora: Of course. She’s safe. You don’t need to worry.

I couldn’t wait to get home to my little girl, but I felt better knowing Flora had seen her.

Chapter 7

Eliana

“Ada, do you need to go to the bathroom?” We’d been playing for a while, and she kept doing the pee pee dance.

“No.”

“Ada… your toys will still be here when we get back. Come on, let’s take a bathroom break.”

“Okaaay.”

We went up to the bathroom and I asked her, “Do you need my help?”

She was so darn cute with her, “I can do’d it.”

Smiling, I said, “I’ll be right here outside the door if you need help.”

Listening, I waited for her to come out and glanced down the hall to see the cracked door of Dean’s room. I planned to be nosey, but I heard, “All done, Ms. Elly. I need to watch my hands.” The way she said wash was too cute.

Reaching for the handle, I said, “I’m going to open the door, okay?”

“Okay.”

When I opened the door, she was moving her step stool to the sink. “Great job, Ada.” She smiled at the praise, finished washing and drying her hands, and moved the step stool back behind the door. “I’m proud of you for putting things away.” She smiled big.

Earlier, Flora had stopped by unannounced scaring me half to death. When I heard someone coming around the corner, I quickly grabbed Ada and moved toward the sliding glass doors of the dining room. Flora came around the corner apologizing profusely for scaring me but was happy to see I’d grabbed Ada and ran.

Nothing like a test on the first day to make you triple check everything you’re doing. She told me Dean was freaking out. It was natural for him to be worried since it was the first time Ada was being watched by anyone besides family.

Dean was going to be home soon, so I’d got Ada to clean up her toys. I hadn’t fed her dinner yet, thinking Dean would want to eat with her. She was in the living room watching Beauty and the Beast.

Ada was an absolute delight to watch, and we took to each other quickly. I’d nannied for two other families since being out of college. Each one was short term. I was hopeful being Ada’s nanny would be longer and give me a bit more experience on my resume for whatever I decided to do next. Still unsure, I was going back and forth between opening a daycare, being a nanny long term, or transitioning to teaching, but I knew I had plenty of time to decide.

Dean was thirty minutes late and there was no text or call. I tried to call him but didn’t get an answer so I called Flora. Normally, I wouldn’t mind staying, but I was supposed to meet TJ for dinner.

“Ms. Elly, I have a question.”

Walking over to where she was sitting on the couch, I said, “Yes, Ms. Ada?”

“Can I have some printsls until daddy comes home?”

I hadn’t a clue what she was asking for. “Can you show me what you mean? What are printsls?”

She smiled and wiggled herself off the couch. “Can you hold please the marote.”