Page 16 of 7+Us Makes Nine

But during the nighttime hours, I could see why Jace wanted a live-in nanny.

“Miss Caffy?”

I heard the intercom in my room going off and it caused me to groan.

“Miss Caffy? You up?”

That voice sounded a lot like Michaela’s. She was the youngest. Jace and his ex-wife’s three-year old surprise daughter. The house was sit up with an intercom system we could all use to talk with one another around the massive home. But when I looked over that the clock, I saw that it was only two in the morning.

I slid from my bed and walked over to the wall, then pressed the button that led my voice straight into Michaela’s room.

“I am, sweetie. Are you okay?” I asked.

“Can I see you?” she asked.

“Of course you can. Want me to come to you?”

“Pwease.”

I reached for my robe and wrapped it tightly around my body. I walked through the living room and bypassed the kitchen, then took the steps as quietly as I could. I didn’t want to wake the boys. Or Jace. I didn’t want anyone to worry because it didn’t sound like Michaela was in trouble or hurt.

It simply sounded like she couldn’t sleep.

“Knock knock,” I said with a whisper.

Michaela was huddled underneath the covers of her bed.

Uh oh.

I knew what this was.

“Did you have a nightmare?” I asked as I walked into the room.

I saw her small head peak out from underneath the covers before she nodded.

“Sweep with me?” Michaela asked.

And without another word, I went and slipped into her cramped little bed with her. I held her close to me and felt her snuggle as deep as she could. I ran my hand through her thick head of dark curls, sighing as she wrapped her arms around me. Michaela was warming up to me the quickest, and that got me thinking. Was this the reason why he wanted a live-in nanny?

I made a mental note to ask Jace how long this had been going on.

“So I hear you had a slumber party last night.”

I looked over at Miss Gertrude and saw her grinning from ear to ear.

“How long has Michaela been having nightmares?” I asked.

“For a few weeks now. I haven’t been able to pinpoint why, either.”

“It’s a common stage for three-year old’s to go through,” I said. “I’m already working on ways to help her out with that.”

“You know what my mother did with me?” she asked.

“What?”

“Monster spray. Hah! Nothing but a bottle of water and some lemon drops, but to me it was monster repellant.”

“That was actually one of my ideas. Though I thought Michaela might be more of a vanilla-scented girl.”

---