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“Well, Mr. Stone, that is sometimes the nature of this job. Families need me, and then they don’t.”

“You ought to be matched well for us then. The last five nannies needed an emergency exit from this household. Each one had different excuses, I mean reasons.”

I wanted to laugh, but I wasn’t sure if what he said was a joke or if he were serious because his expression didn’t change.

He grabbed a folder from behind the mantel clock, my resume no doubt, printed out and probably annotated. He flipped through it slowly, then looked at me.

“I have rules, Miss Wilde. They’re non-negotiable.”

“Of course. I’d expect nothing less,” I said.

“Sophie has a schedule. Some might find that a little harsh for a seven-year-old. Math tutoring on Mondays, spelling and English on Tuesdays, she goes to the coding club on Wednesdays, and she sees her therapist on Thursdays. On Fridays, she catches up on all her homework for the next week. Dinner is at six and she is supposed to be in bed by eight. Lately she hasn’t eaten; most of the nannies got frustrated by that and would wait until she finally ate. I have put my foot down, and if that is the case, she goes to bed hungry. Eventually, she will figure it out. Now, to be clear, she does not need a friend. What she needs is supervision and help to get her prepared for school, because next year, regardless of whether she likes it, she is going to school. I’ve allowed her plenty of time to figure herself out after our loss,” he said, looking directly at her.

I glanced at Sophie. Her head was down, and she was watching the carpet as she swung her feet a little faster.

“Now, there will be absolutely no disrupting my work schedule.” Everett continued. “I am on calls throughout the day and most evenings, and I cannot have noise carry through the house. No loud music, no visitors. Under no circumstances is she to bother me during the week unless I am on my meal break. Your room is at the end of the hall, two doors down from Sophie’s. If she needs something in the middle of the night, she will knock on your door,” he said, his jaw tightened. “Now moving on, come October there will be absolutely no Halloween nonsense. No costumes, no candy bowls, and no decorations. Are we clear?”

I glanced over at the pumpkins by the window.

“I know what you’re thinking, but I’ve been so busy I forgot to cancel those; otherwise, they wouldn’t be here. Now, are there questions?”

I had about a hundred questions. I wanted to know why five nannies had quit, although judging from this interaction, I had a good idea. Why a man who was so adamant about no Halloween hadn’t taken the time to cancel the pumpkin delivery, I wouldn’t know. I glanced at Sophie, wondering why this little peanut was sitting here if her bedtime was at eight, and why she was greeting strangers at the door and letting them into the house by herself.

“What is Sophie’s favorite dinosaur?” I questioned.

Everett blinked and looked at me. “What? Miss Wilde, I am serious. I don’t have time for games.”

“I am not playing games. Now, what is her favorite dinosaur? If I am going to be spending my days with her, I should know the important stuff.”

He took a breath and looked at Sophie.

“Ankylosaurus.” Sophie muttered, not looking up. “They had armor and a tail like a club.”

“That’s smart, they have a built-in defense system,” I said.

Everett stared at me for a long moment. He was probably used to people fidgeting under that stare of his, or maybe looking away, shrinking themselves. I wasn’t doing either.

“The pay is five thousand every two weeks. Hours are six until nine, Monday through Friday, and sometimes the occasional Saturday and Sunday, when I am out of town for business. You will be in charge of all meals and cleaning, and making sure the fridge is adequately stocked, along with taking Sophie to all appointments. You’ll start tomorrow.”

I nodded and crossed my arms. As much as I needed the money, I would not bend to him that quickly.

“Well, Mr. Stone, as wonderful as all of that sounds, I haven’t said yes yet, have I?”

He raised his eyebrows. “The agency said you were available immediately.”

“That’s correct. But Sophie hasn’t finished telling me about her dinosaurs.”

Sophie looked up at me, her eyes, so much like her father’s, locked onto mine. She held my gaze, and I could tell she was trying to figure out if I’d be different or the same as all the rest.

Everett’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he immediately reached for it, but his hand stopped halfway. He looked from me to Sophie as his phone buzzed again.

“Sophie,” he said, his voice different now, not softer but more like he was holding something back. “It’s past your bedtime.”

“But Daddy…”

“Now, Soph.”

She slid off the couch and walked toward the hallway, then stopped next to me and looked up with those serious eyes.