“Oh, I didn’t mean to pry. I just assumed. You’re Amerie Keating, right? The author, I mean?” At the incredulous look I give, she quickly adds, “I only realized it when I googled you and Declan after the interview—just to see who I’d be working for, of course. You both came up on LinkedIn. And your books came up on the search results. Then I saw the cover ofWhat She Left Sleepingand realized I read it a few years ago.”
My brows lift. “You readWhat She Left Sleeping?”
“I did! It was brilliant. Creeped me out for days.”
“That was the idea,” I say, huffing out a surprised laugh. “But, um, thanks. It’s been a while since I’ve run into anyone who’s read one of my books.”
“That was your last one, wasn’t it?”
“Hopefully, with your help, I’ll be able to meet my deadline and actually finish my next one.” I step out of the kitchen, coming to a stop at the foot of the stairs. “Willow, are you ready? We have to go!”
“Coming!” she squeaks from the second floor.
Chelsea has followed me into the hall. “So, erm, about my daily duties. What will I be taking on?”
I clear my throat and shift Emmett a little higher on my hip. “Right, now’s a good time to go over that. I really just need an extra set of hands.”
She nods attentively, the same warm and eager expression on her face that she’s worn all morning long. I’ve opened the cupboard under the stairs where we keep Emmett’s stroller. Before I can even reach for it, she’s grabbed it for me, pulling it out so I can lay him down inside.
I smile in gratitude. “You’ll be here four days a week, Monday through Thursday. Most mornings, I’ll need help getting Willow to school. After that, maybe a few errands here and there, like stopping by the shops to pick up some groceries or the dry cleaners to drop off some clothes. That sort of thing. Then just some help keeping the house in order. Nothing heavy. Just staying on top of everything.”
She gives a hum of agreement, nodding along to every word.
“I’ll be home the whole time. Mostly upstairs trying to write, so you’d still be watching Emmett during the day. He’s a good baby and naps most of the time. I’ll obviously handle the feeding.”
Her eyes briefly flick to Emmett, who is gnawing sleepily at his fist. “Of course.”
“And then in the afternoons, once Willow’s back from school, your suggestions sounded great. She would love the park or library sometimes. Just something light to keep her entertained while I finish up work. Honestly, I want this to feel manageable for you. I’d like it to be a good experience for all of us.”
Chelsea’s smile deepens. “It sounds more than doable, Amerie. I’m honored to be here helping your family.”
Willow comes rushing down the steps in her pinafore dress uniform and tights. Her backpack is already strapped to her back, almost as big as she is.
“Ready!” she squeaks proudly.
We depart the house with Willow skipping a few paces ahead and Emmett dozing off in the stroller. Chelsea tells me about how she biked all the way over from Ashwick because she doesn’t have a car.
“Will that be your daily commute?” I ask.
“I don’t mind,” she says breezily. “Bit of exercise never hurt, did it?”
As we stroll through the neighborhood, she points out the clematis blooms in some of the front lawns.
“Lovely, aren’t they? But not nearly as striking as the ones in your garden.”
I glance over, surprised. “You noticed them?”
“In passing. They were hard to miss. You must have quite the green thumb.”
“More like the previous owner did. I’ve been letting them die.”
“Shame. Maybe that’s another thing I’ll have to give you a hand with,” she says. “Summer is around the corner. We’ll have all the time in the world.”
I can’t help smiling in response as we reach Willow’s school. I’ve had my reservations about hiring a nanny, and even about Chelsea and how overeager she has come across, but she’s been so easy to get along with that it seems silly to fight what could be a good thing.
She’s here to help, and so far she’s done nothing but be gracious and sweet. Willow seems to love her already, and she’s come up with plenty of ideas for how she can help, from taking Willow to the library to tending to the garden.
Can I really even complain?
