The Nanny's New Family. Margaret Daley

I don’t know what’s going on.”

      “Is he being bullied at school?”

      “I’ve talked with the teacher. She’s noticed he keeps to himself more. In fact, a few months ago he bullied another classmate. That’s when he started counseling. So far there hasn’t been another incident. I won’t tolerate bullying, and he knows it.”

      The feeling that the child was screaming for help kept nagging her. Was it grief? Something else? A stage he was going through? “What does he say?”

      “Nothing. He used to tell me everything. Now I can’t get anything out of him. I feel like I’m losing my son.”

      Not if she could do anything about it. This was why Annie had chosen to be a nanny and why she had been led to this family. “No, you aren’t losing your son. If it’s a phase he’s going through, he’ll grow out of it. If it’s something else, we’ll find out what it is and deal...” Her words faded into silence.

      Surprise flashed across Ian’s face.

      Did the word we’ll sound presumptuous? Ian was her employer. Yes, she would help with Jeremy, but he was the parent. Not her. “What I mean is as his nanny I’ll try to help you and him as much as possible. But you’re his father, and whatever you say is what I’ll do.”

      A gleam sparkled in Ian’s eyes. “I want your input. I need it. So I think you’re right—we’re a team. I’m determined, at the very least, to get my family back to the way it was when Aunt Louise was here.”

      Annie heard the sincerity in his voice. A team. It might be the closest she’d come to raising children as if she were their mother. The Hansens had been great to work for and had valued her input, but she’d always felt like an employee. As of late, she realized she wanted more, and yet she hadn’t dated much. She was always so busy with her own family or the children she was taking care of.

      “I won’t be going into work tomorrow until after we take the kids to school,” Ian said.

      “I thought that was something you wanted me to do.”

      “You’re right, but I want to go with you so I can introduce you to the teachers. If there’s a problem with one of them at school, sometimes I can go take care of it. But if I’m in surgery, that will be hard. I don’t anticipate trouble with the girls, but there might be with Joshua or Jeremy. I’ve already had to go to school for Jeremy four times this year and once for Joshua when he fell on the playground and hit his head.” He shook his head. “Probably one of many times he’ll have to have stitches.”

      “I like the idea of meeting their teachers. I want to find out what kind of homework to expect from them. That way we can get it done before you come home on the days I’m not taking them to lessons. I find if they tackle it after getting a snack when they come home from school they’ll finish quickly so they can play. It cuts down on whining later when they’re more tired.”

      “The other nannies didn’t want to help with their homework, which left me doing it late and yes, they usually complained and made the process longer.”

      Annie tried to stifle a yawn, but she couldn’t. “I think it’s time I go to bed. Six will be here in—” she glanced at her watch “—nine hours, and I still need to find some of the items I’ll need tomorrow.” She stood and stretched out her hand toward him.

      Ian rose, clasping hers and shaking it. “Thank you, Annie.”

      “For what?” She slipped her hand from his warm grasp.

      “Taking this job. I’m not sure what I would have done. I know you had several offers. What made you accept mine?”

      “I prayed about it, and like I said, I love a good challenge.”

      “You may regret those words.”

      Would she? If she became too invested in the family and Ian remarried, no longer needing her services, she might. She wanted to care but not so much she would get hurt.

      “Dad! Dad!” one of the girls shouted.

      He hurried into the foyer with Annie right behind him. “Why aren’t you in bed?”

      “Something is wrong with Jeremy. Come quick.”