Page 25 of The Nanny Goal

“Be careful.” The words rip out of me, and I’m crossing to her before I know what my feet are doing. “Here, want a friend?”

She drops back onto her bum, safely sitting on the couch.

I crouch in front of her and hold out the stuffed mascot. Big, dark eyes blink back at me.

“Hi, baby girl,” I say with a sigh, my heart squeezing. She’s so little. “I’m Emery.”

She stares.

“I know, I’m a stranger. But Shannon thought you might like this guy.” I wiggle his bagpipe, and the corner of her mouth twitches. “Do you know him?”

That gets a reluctant nod.

“Do you think he might want to jump off the couch, too?”

Her eyes light up, and she grabs at the toy. I shift back, and she walks him to the edge of the cushion, then sends him flying and laughs.

Charlie climbs up beside her again and jumps.

Behind me, Becca groans. “You are a terrible influence, Charlie.”

Inessa laughs and covers her face with her hands.

I tickle her fingers with the retrieved toy, and she clutches it against her chest for a second before shoving it at Charlie and babbling something I don’t understand.

Keeping one eye on her, I turn to Becca. “Does she mostly speak Russian?”

She nods. “She seems to understand English as much as I’d expect a toddler to, though. But she’s pretty shy.”

“That’s okay,” I murmur, my gaze dragging back to the little girl.

Inessa studies me right back, both of us unsure of what to make of the other.

I give her a small smile. “I think we’re going to hang out together tonight, okay?”

Before she can answer, I get a text message from my mom.

Mom

They’re going to admit her, but it’ll take a few hours. Alexei and his dad are in with her. Dad and I are going to a diner across the street from the hospital, do you want us to pick you up?

Emery

I’m with Alexei’s daughter…is there a plan for her?

Not yet. Do you want us to come back?

Some of the WAGs are here, too. I’m okay.

Sorry, honey. Your dad is hangry. You know how he gets.

Really, it’s okay. We’ll hang out here for a bit.

“Is there an update?” Shannon asks, dropping to the floor beside me.

I tell her the little that I know, then shrug. “How long can we stay in your conference room?”

“All night, if need be.”

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