“What can I do to help?” she asks.
“Nothing,” I say quickly. Her whole expression closes off.
“Oh,” she says. “Okay. Well—”
“You can watch the kids,” I add. She smiles a little, but she still isn’t looking at me. Whenever she does look at me, the look is heated. I wonder if she’s angry with me or just upset over the entire situation. I try to ignore her, but she’s staring at me, watching me. I turn and look at her.
“Once I’m done mashing these potatoes, I can walk you through their bedtime routine.”
“Alright,” Kacee says. She steps hesitantly out of the kitchen. When I don’t say anything, she follows the sounds of Evie and Jackson washing their hands down the hall. While I mash the potatoes and whip them for dinner, they finish the game they set up earlier, which keeps them occupied while I work. It’s the first time in a long time I’ve made dinner without two small children constantly underfoot, tripping me.
“Dinner’s ready,” I call when I’m done, setting the last plate on the table. Jackson and Evie sprint over.
“Hey,” Kacee exclaims before I even can. “Don’t run. You don’t want to trip and fall.”
Evie and Jackson both laugh and slow down, and I glance at Kacee, genuinely considering she might actually be good at this.
“Since I don’t have your resume yet, can you tell me what your qualifications are?” I ask as Kacee places potatoes onto Jackson’s plate. Kacee’s face goes red when she realizes I’m staring, but she focuses entirely on what she’s doing while she answers.
“I got my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education,” Kacee explains, still with her head down, giving way too much attention to scooping mashed potatoes. “I’m certified in CPR and first aid, and I’ve got my basic skills assessment and a professional nanny certification. I’ve also taken certification classes in infant care, kid’s nutrition, children’s fitness, and positive discipline. I speak three languages, and I—”
“Which ones?” Evie asks.
“Don’t interrupt,” I scold. Kacee holds out a hand, and Evie passes her plate for potatoes.
“English, German, and Spanish,” Kacee answers. “I spoke German a lot with the last family I nannied for.”
“What happened to them?” Jackson asks with a mouth full of potatoes. I raise my brows at him, silently telling him to swallow his food before speaking.
“They moved back to Germany,” Kacee tells them. “It was too far for me to go with them.”
“Did they have kids, too?” Evie asks, after making sure to drink her water so I won’t glare at her, too.
“Three kids, around your age,” Kacee answers. “Lauren, Emily, and Lucas. They loved to play hide-n-seek.” She gives them a sweet smile a
nd wink. I feel memorized watching her with my kids, which is a foreign feeling for me and I’m not sure how to process this all.
“They sound nice,” Jackson says, before turning to his corned beef like a rabid animal. Kacee picks up his plastic child knife and hands it to him. He uses it to spear his beef and tear it with his teeth.
“We’re working on his manners,” Evie says like a little mother, watching her brother with thinly veiled disdain, and Kacee laughs. It’s such a genuine, sweet laugh, I have to force myself not to smile in response.
Kacee continues to be charming at dinner, helping Jackson cut up his food while asking Evie to tell her about the new book she’s trying to read. I almost feel like a spectator watching my children warm up to this new person. After hearing her qualifications, it’s clear she knows what she’s doing. After seeing her with Evie and Jackson at dinner, it’s clear she’s passionate about her job.
Once everyone is finished eating, I stand and place the empty plates in the sink. “Alright, bedtime routine,” I say with a smile. Evie and Jackson groan. “Yeah, yeah. Go brush and wash yourselves, then you can pick your books.”
“Okay,” they both happily reply, heading toward the bathroom. Kacee finishes washing and drying the last plate and sets it in the stack I’ve already made. I hold out my hand, and after a moment’s hesitation, she places the dishtowel in it.
“They brush their teeth and wash their faces,” I explain, folding up the dishtowel just for something to do with my hands. “Then they each pick out a book for me to read. Evie’s been picking longer books though, so I just read a few chapters per night.”
Kacee stares at me, then nods.
“What?” I ask. She shakes her head.
“No, it’s just—” She hesitates. “That’s the most words I’ve heard you say at once.”
As I stare at her and that’s when she realizes what she’s said. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s fine,” I interrupt her before she can work herself up. She seems like she might be the type. “I’m not chatty. It’s not personal.” I toss the folded towel on the countertop and head for the bathroom, where there’s suspicious silence. Sure enough, Evie and Jackson are hiding behind the shower curtain. I smile and yank the curtain back, hauling them both up in my arms. They come willingly, shrieking with laughter.