“Paige, this is my daughter, Nova.”
“Hi, Nova,” Paige says, and immediately she bends down to Nova’s level. “I like your stuffed animal collection.”
Nova gnaws on her bottom lip and glances over her shoulder at her stuffed animals.
“Would it be okay for you to show me your friends?” Paige asks my daughter.
Nova glances from the nanny to me.
“Go ahead, you can show her your toys,” I say.
Folding my arms across my chest, I watch their interaction.
Paige is soft spoken with Nova and smiles warmly. She’s trying to ease my daughter’s fears. I get that.
But it’s not going to work.
Nova requires a firm hand and a strong, authoritative figure. Coddling her is the last thing to help the situation. She doesn’t listen, her mind constantly in a state of daydreaming and wandering.
“Which friend is your favorite?” Paige asks.
Nova doesn’t answer.
“She can’t answer you.” I remind Paige.
Her eyes tighten, and she smiles warmly at Nova. “I’ll be right back.”
Nova’s eyes are wide, and she drops to the floor to sit with her stuffed animals, her legs folded beneath her.
“May I have a word with you, alone?” Paige asks.
There’s a fire behind her gaze.
She’s going to bring trouble.