Page 7 of Echoes of Danger

“Can I get you something to drink?” I ask, needing to keep my hands busy.

“No, I’m fine, thank you,” she replies, her voice calm, but there’s a hint of curiosity in her eyes, like she’s trying to figure out what just happened.

I nod and sit across from her, focusing on the task at hand. “So, let’s talk about your experience with infants.”

She settles into the chair, smoothing her hands over her lap before meeting my gaze. “I want to be honest with you upfront,” she begins, her tone steady but sincere. “Apart from babysittingover the years, my only experience with infants is raising my own child. I was a single parent from the start, and he’s 15 now.”

I nod, processing her words. “Go on.”

“If I’m hired as a live-in nanny, he’ll need to move in with me,” she continues. “I understand if that’s a deal breaker, but I want to be clear about it before we go any further.”

Her eyes search mine, and I can see she’s prepared to leave if this doesn’t work out. But there’s something in the way she speaks, the way she carries herself, strong, capable, that makes my head spin.

I sit silently, weighing the options. On one hand, having her teenage son move in adds complexity to an already complicated situation. But on the other, something tells me this woman is exactly who I need, and maybe, who my daughter needs too.

“Fifteen, huh?” I ask, stalling for time as I think. “That’s a tough age.”

“It is,” she agrees, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “But he’s a good kid. He’s been through a lot, and I’m proud of the person he’s becoming.”

I look at her, really look at her, and I know my decision. “It’s not a deal breaker,” I say finally. “I already knew from your application that, if hired, your son would be coming with you.”

Surprise flashes in her eyes, quickly followed by relief. “Are you sure? I don’t want to complicate things for you.”

“I’m sure,” I reply, more certain with each passing second. “Now, is there anything I need to know about your past? Anything that will cause any issues?”

Delphi Mae Lewis hesitates, her gaze dropping for a moment. There’s something she wants to tell me, but I don’t want to force the issue. So, I wait silently.

She’s so damn beautiful, even in her uncertainty. Her long brown hair cascades down her back, the edges spilling over thechair she’s sitting on. Her bright green eyes, usually so vivid, are now clouded with worry.

“Maybe I’m not the best bet,” she says suddenly, her voice soft but filled with doubt. “My past isn’t a pretty place.”

“Maybe not,” I say, not moving from my seat. “But a person’s past molds them into their present self.”

“I hope not,” she smiles sadly, the weight of her words heavy. “I hope I’m better than my past.”

“I have to be honest with you,” I begin, leaning forward slightly. “I have someone looking into you.”

Her eyes widen in surprise, but she doesn’t interrupt.

“I almost stopped him when he mentioned he was going to do a background check,” I admit, “but I need to think of my daughter. He’ll find out everything there is to know about you and your son. I’m going to ask him not to tell me what he finds out unless there’s an issue I need to know about.”

Delphi’s eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see the conflict raging within her. Then, slowly, she nods. “I understand. I would do the same if I were in your position.”

“Good,” I say, relieved she isn’t pushing back. “This isn’t about not trusting you. It’s about making sure we’re all safe.”

“I get it,” she says, her voice more robust now. “And for what it’s worth, I’m not trying to hide anything. I just…hope my past doesn’t ruin this opportunity.”

“It won’t,” I assure her, though I know it’s a promise I can’t fully control. But something in my gut tells me I’m making the right decision.

With a nod that I assume was to herself, she retakes her seat.

“Honesty?” she asks.

“Honesty,” I respond.

“When I was fourteen years old, I was raped by the principal at my high school,” she says, not looking away from my eyes, her voice remaining confident and strong. “I was too afraid to sayanything. I honestly don’t think I would have ever said anything, but I got pregnant. About five months into the pregnancy, my parents noticed and took me to get an abortion, which I adamantly refused to do. My parents kicked me out, and I’ve been on my own since.”

She moves her hair over one shoulder and plays with the strands. All without removing her gaze from mine.

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