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I take a breath, thinking it over.Just having someone do the afternoon pickup would be a huge help.

“I think I can continue to manage in the mornings, if we decide this is mutually beneficial.”

Erin watches me with happy green eyes as I outline the salary, what I expect, and what I absolutely won’t tolerate.When I come to the end of my speech, her smile grows.

“I think that all sounds perfectly reasonable.”

“Can you start on Monday?Of course, I’ll have my brother run a quick background check to make sure there are no warrants out for your arrest, but as long as that checks out, you’re hired.”

“Awesome, but before I officially accept the job, can I meet the kids?”

“Of course.”I stand, both happy and relieved that she asked to meet them before accepting.It shows me that this isn’t just an extra paycheck for her.“Follow me.My mom is in the kitchen with them right now.”

We walk through to the kitchen, where my mom is just starting the dishwasher.

“Grandma made us pancakes,” Holly says with delight as she chews and turns to Erin.“I’m Holly.What’s your name?”

“It’s nice to meet you, Holly.I’m Erin.Those look like delicious pancakes.”

“You can have some,” Johnny offers.“Grandma makes the best ones.”

“As tempting as that is, I’ll have to pass for today.You must be Johnny.”I like the way she smiles at the kids.She’s warm and isn’t fake about it.

You can always tell when people don’t like kids and are only being nice because it’s expected.And my kids know the difference, too.

“Hello, Erin,” Mom says with a smile.“I’m Joy, Remington’s mom.I’m about to get out of your hair, Rem.I’m off to the salon.”

“Thanks for coming over, Mom,” I reply and kiss her cheek before she bustles off.

“Where do you live?”Holly asks Erin.

“In town, in an apartment above a garage,” Erin replies and leans on the counter, settling in to talk to the kids.“And I work with your aunt Millie at the coffee shop.”

“I want to work at the coffee shop when I grow up,” Holly decides.“I also want to take ballet classes.I have friends at school who do it, and it looks so fun.See, I can even do some of the moves already.”

Holly, ever the performer when new people are around, jumps off of her stool and starts to twirl about, her little arms up and over her head, and I see her heading right for the corner of the countertop.

Erin must sense it, too, because she starts to move forward just as I do to avoid the knock on the head, but we’re both too late.Holly collides with the corner, and her nose starts to bleed.

“It’s okay,” Erin says, completely cool, as she grabs a towel and holds it to Holly’s nose.“Hey now, it’s okay.I know that hurts.I’m sorry.We’re going to stop the bleeding and make it feel better.Johnny, will you please grab me a couple of ice cubes from the freezer?”

I’m still poised to jump in, but I can see that Erin has this under control, so I hang back and watch how she handles it.

“Owie,” Holly cries.

“I know, sweetie.”Erin drags her hand down Holly’s hair as she keeps the pressure on Holly’s nose.Johnny fetches the ice and hurries over with a few cubes in his hands.Erin expertly wraps it in the towel and presses it against Holly’s nose once more.“It’s already stopped bleeding.Now, this ice is going to help it feel better.”

Holly’s not crying anymore and is watching Erin with big, wet brown eyes.

“How’d you know how to do that?”Johnny asks.

“Well, I have a really big family, and someone was always getting smacked in the face and getting a bloody nose when we were growing up.That’s what happens when you toss footballs and baseballs and all kinds of things around when you’re not supposed to.It hurts like crazy, but this helps.”

“I can hold it,” Holly says as she takes the towel in her little hands.“Like this?”

“Yep, just like that.Good job.”Erin nods and steps back, still smiling at the kids.

“She isn’t always a spaz,” Johnny says.“She was just showing off.”

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