Page 11 of Nanny for the Doctor

At least I know he had a good time with Heather. When I picked him up, he didn’t want to leave, hoping to challenge her to another game of Uno.

I’ve only had a few hours of sleep between on-call shifts at the ER, and I’m mainlining caffeine at this point. It’s my second cup of particularly strong coffee, and I’d have a third if I weren’t already running behind.

Taking a large gulp, I see an older car pull up in the driveway outside. Frankly, I’m surprised the thing is still running with the amount of rust and noise that surrounds it.

“Oh, good. The nanny is here.”

“Dad, do I have to be with a nanny all day? Can’t Aunt Heather watch me?”

I sigh. I’ve explained this three times already.

“No, bud. She’s not always available. I’m sure you’ll get along great with the nanny. And if you don’t, I can always get a new one. Plus, you’ll be at school for most of the day, so it’s only a few hours.”

Henry doesn’t answer after that, going back to his cartoons, so I set down my mug, exhaling hard.

At this point, I’m not sure if it’s the double shifts or parenthood that’s making me so tired.

I approach the front door down the hall, grabbing my bag and bringing it along so I can get going as soon as possible.

Just as I hit the entryway, the bell rings, and I open the door wide to greet whoever this high-class agency sent me.

I expect an older woman, since I’ve asked for someone available all day, but that’s not what I find when I swing open the door. In fact, I see Johnny’s younger sister looking up at me, as confused as I am.

“Mae? Hi. Did you come here from the hospital?”

Mae is wearing jeans and a T-shirt like she did when I saw her there, but this time, I don’t have the benefit of work distracting me from how good her body looks.

“No. I’m…shit. Um.” She looks through her phone and then back up at me. “I’m supposed to be here for a nannying job. Doyouneed a nanny?”

My eyebrows raise as I stare at her in shock. “You’re who they sent?”

“Wait.” Mae closes her eyes for a second, shaking her head. “It’s really you? You’re the high-end, last-minute nannying job?”

“I guess I am.” I sigh, holding the door for her and gesturing inside. “Come on in. I have to get going.”

I grab my bag off the floor, getting a particularly nice look at her butt in those tight jeans when I do.Gutter. Get your head out of the gutter.

Swinging the bag over my shoulder, I switch places with Mae so she can come inside.

Her eyebrows raise. “Where are you going? I just got here.”

“I’m aware, Mae. I need to head into work. You got here just in time for me to avoid being late.” I call back for Henry over my shoulder. “Henry! Come say hi to the nanny. It’s Johnny’s sister.”

Returning to Mae, I pull on my coat. “Just drop him off at school. The details are on the kitchen counter. I’ll be home late. I may need to work another double. Okay? Great. Thanks for the help.”

Mae just stares at me like a deer in the headlights.

“What?”

“That’s it? You aren’t going to introduce me? Or give me a tour or something?”

“Henry’s a big kid. He’ll be fine. Plus, I know you. Just text if you have questions.”

She huffs out a breath, crossing her arms over her chest. “Reed, you can’t just answer the door and go. It’s really tough for kids to get used to a stranger, especially a nanny. And it’s worse if the parent isn’t around to help with introductions.”

I sigh. I don’t have time for this. I’m already running behind and have to attend the morbidity and mortality conference. They’re mandatory, and this time, we’ll be discussing the woman who died on my shift.

“You’re not a stranger. You’re Johnny’s sister.”

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