Page 31 of Primal God

“So you knewMãe?”

“I did. And I know João, too.”

Clara smiles, revealing her two front teeth are missing. “I miss João being here.”

“I bet you do. Maybe we can call him later.”

“I’d like that.” She turns and calls out, “It’s okay, Diego. Nanny W is nice!”

Diego crawls out of his tent but makes no moves to come closer. It’s okay. We’ll get there.

I give him a small wave. “Hi Diego. You sure have gotten bigger since I saw you last.”

He gives me a shy smile before going back into his tent.

I stand and find Dr. Santos watching me with a look in his eyes that I can’t decipher.

He clears his throat. “Isadora’s room is next to yours.”

I follow him out of the twins’ room to the nursery. Isadora is awake, standing in her crib. She’s a carbon copy of Clara, with her dark curls and deep green eyes. But what has me stopping is that she’s also a carbon copy of Raquel.

Her face lights up when she sees Dr. Santos, and she reaches for him.

“Papai!”

Dr. Santos crosses the room, scooping her into his arms, where he peppers kisses on her chubby cheeks, making her giggle. My chest aches, because I can imagine him doing the same to Raquel.

“Isadora is friendly,” he says as he turns to me. “She should do just fine with you.”

“Hi Isadora,” I say with a smile.

She looks at me, as if she’s trying to decide if she knows me. After a beat, she leans toward me, arms outstretched. I send up a silent thanks. Thank. God. This will make things so much easier.

Dr. Santos hands her over, and she immediately snuggles against me.

“Oh, aren’t you just the sweetest girl?”

Again, I find Dr. Santos watching me.

“Is everything okay, Dr. Santos?”

He clears his throat. “She didn’t like the last nanny.”

“Oh. Well, I’m honored she likes me then.”

“Indeed. I have some work to do in my office before I head out, but I’ll be back by seven. Please stop by after the children are down for the night, so I can give you the card.”

“Card?”

“Credit card. So you can pay for anything the children might need.”

He turns, not giving me a chance to reply, and walks away. Looks like we’re done talking.

“I guess some things don’t change,” I mutter to myself.

Carrying Isadora, I walk to the twins’ room, where they’re back to playing with blocks and action figures.

“Can Isadora and I play?”

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