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“That’s cute. I like it.”
“It’s different, but that’s my Maggie. Where’s Sam?”
“I’m not sure—” My mind had blanked.
“I’m right here,” Sam said, jogging down the stairs.
“I hope it’s okay. I thought I’d pick her up on the way home from shopping.”
Sam kissed her cheek. “That’s not a problem.”
Miranda smiled down at Maggie. “It means more time with Miss Maggie here.”
“Why don’t you grab your overnight bag?” Sam said to Maggie.
“I’ll help her,” I said, wanting to escape his mother. She was nice, but I wasn’t used to mothers liking me on sight.
I sat on Maggie’s bed while she debated adding more toys to the overnight bag she’d already packed with Sam this morning after breakfast.
After limiting her to three toys, Maggie finally made a decision and ran back downstairs.
I followed more slowly, not sure what to expect. Miranda was at the door, holding Maggie’s bag and saying good-bye to Sam.
“You be good,” Sam said, hugging Maggie.
“I will,” Maggie said, eager to go.
“It was nice to meet you,” I said to Miranda.
“Nice to meet you too. You’ve been a godsend for Sam.”
“Good. I’m glad.” I hadn’t realized Sam had talked to her about me.
Maggie surprised me by hugging me tight, and then they were gone.
Sam closed the door and smiled at me. “It seems weirdly quiet without Maggie here.”
For the first time, there was no buffer. No threat of Maggie running down the hall to interrupt. It was just us.
“You want to go to the lodge earlier than we planned? It will give us more time to ski.”
I shrugged, my heart ticking up in anticipation. “Sure. Why not?”
He stepped closer. “You could be more excited.”
The truth was, I was nervous about being alone with him. I worried I was making the wrong decision or stepping over some boss-employee line we shouldn’t be crossing. “I wasn’t expecting your mother to stop by.”
“I think she wanted to meet you.”
Unsure what to do with that, I asked, “What did she mean I was a godsend?”
“You’re reliable, and you take Maggie places. Everything the other nannies weren’t.”
My face heated. “I just figured it would be fun to get out. Besides, she loves the library and the music classes.”
Sam walked into the kitchen. “How was pottery yesterday? She wouldn’t stop talking about it during bath time.”
Following him, I said, “She painted a ceramic piece. I wanted to get a feel for the place.”
