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Chapter Thirteen

I took a few steps back and struggled for words.

"Come in," I finally said.

I walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. Nick sat beside me. Molly sat down on the sofa across from me. The pirate-tutu-princess hopped up beside her. The backs of her heels swung in the air.

"So," Nick said.

As if on cue, my baby monitor started going off. I glanced over at Nick.

"Could you?" I asked. Nick looked like he wanted to say no, but he stood up slowly.

"I'll be back," he said. I had no doubt. He was already studying Molly like he was the leader of a firing squad.

Once he was on his way upstairs, I leaned back.

"So what are your qualifications?" I asked.

Molly smiled and pointed to Shelby. "She's right here."

"I'm five," Shelby offered. She held up five stubby fingers.

"I have twins," I explained. "Preemies. They're a lot to handle. I'm looking for someone experienced---"

I trailed off. This was officially the weirdest interview I had ever had. Molly opened her giant purse and rooted around in it. I watched, curious. Finally she pulled out an IPod and a huge set of padded headphones.

"Jam on," she instructed Shelby. She put the headset on the small girl. Shelby's hands went up and pressed the earpieces tightly against her head. Molly pressed a few buttons and in seconds I heard the strains of the Beatles' I Am the Walrus. Shelby began to nod her head to the beat and Molly leaned forward, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

"Shelby and her twin brother Micah were born two months early," she said.

I glanced over at the little girl. A smattering of brown freckles danced over her nose.

"Where's her brother?"

A familiar flash passed through Molly's eyes, but it came and went so quickly that I couldn't pinpoint exactly what that flash was all about.

"My husband and son were killed in a house fire three years ago," she explained after a beat. I understood the flash; it was pain.

I almost responded with an 'I'm sorry,' but I knew how empty those words were when they came from people that hadn't experienced the pain.

"That's shitty," I finally said. The right corner of her mouth turned up.

"You're telling me," she said.

"GOO GOO G'JOOB!" Shelby sang out. It was so random I jumped.

"Sorry," Molly said. "She's into the psychedelic movement this week."

I ran a hand along my neck.

"So this is a live-in position?" She continued.

I nodded. "I need around the clock help," I warned.

"Understandable," she said breezily.

It all seemed too easy. I decided to go in for the kill like I had done with super nanny.

"My daughter's been diagnosed with some hearing issues. I need someone with a little experience..."

Molly glanced back at Shelby and pointed.

"Right here."

"What?"

Molly looked at me dead on, eye-to-eye. She had the same smattering of freckles across her nose.

"After the fire, Shelby stopped talking. I don't know how many child psychologists we went to that tried to pull all that Freud mumbo-jumbo crap. Finally one of them that wasn't in it just for the money suggested that Shelby had purposely shut herself down as a coping mechanism for grief. That one suggested I start with some baby sign language books. She signed for almost a whole year before she started talking again."

Molly folded her arms and leaned back in the couch. "I'm not claiming I'm freakin' Annie Sullivan, but I do have some experience."

It was a lot to absorb. For the second time in an hour I was rendered speechless. I searched for something to say.

"What's with the huge headphones?" I finally asked.

"They come in handy when I want to talk without her overhearing," Molly said. "Works like a charm."

It all actually sounded good. There was only one more thing...

"I hope this doesn't sound wrong," I said. "But a five-year old has to be a lot to handle. I don't know that you'll be able to devote attention to my children if she needs something."

"Shelby tends to be self-reliant," Molly answered. "Like her mom. But, I respect your concerns."

She stood up and I did the same. She scooped the headphones off Shelby's ears and tucked the whole thing in her purse. Shelby looked over at me as Molly took her hand.

"ARGH," Shelby said in pirate-ese. Then she began to do ballerina leaps as they both headed to the door.

"When will I know?" Molly asked, turning around. I almost bumped right into her. A piece of her hair smacked the side of my face. For as wild as it was it actually felt...soft. It took me several seconds to realize she was waiting for a response.

"Know? I...er. I'll let you know either way in forty eight hours."

She held out her hand.

"Thank you for your time."

I shook her hand; she had a strong shake.

"Thank you for coming," I said.

I stood at the door and watched them walk back to her car. It was right up there with Reva's in the list of cars that should have been demolished ten years ago. The door creaked as she held the passenger side open. Shelby scrambled up, her heels smacking against the door as she swung around to get in the backseat. Molly then had to slide in through the passenger side to get to the driver's side. A huge black cloud of smoke rose as the engine came to life.

I closed the door slowly...thoughtfully.

"So, I really liked the third candidate," Nick said. I looked over as he hit the last stair.

"She smelled like sauerkraut," I said.

"Yeah, but once you got past that..."

"I think I'll sleep on it," I said lightly. I started to walk up the staircase.

"J, don't do what I know you're going to do," Nick warned. I heard his footsteps behind me.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You know exactly what I'm talking about."

I stopped on the next to last step before the landing and turned.

"Nick, Ally and Joe are way too important to me. Trust me on this."

As crazy as that redhead had been, she had given me the best interview of the day. And I had two more nannies to interview in the morning that I hadn't told Nick about. Plus, even if I did choose her, it wasn't like I'd be stuck with her for life. I could give her a trial period. Every store had a return policy. I could give her ninety days.

It would still be time to find another nanny before the tour started if I needed to.

I walked into the nursery and checked on Ally and Joe. Both were sleeping peacefully. I turned to Nick.

"Thanks for your help," I said gratefully. He still looked like he wanted to give me a lecture, but he thought twice.

"Anytime," he said. There was a pause. "Let me know who you choose, okay? I better get home. Liv's hair has probably turned gray by now."

I smiled. The fact that Nick now thought of someone other than himself should have hell freezing over.

"I'll let you know," I assured him. He headed towards the nursery door and turned.

"Why do I have the feeling you already know who you're going to pick?" he asked. I smiled.

"Bye, Nick."

He left and I leaned over Joe's crib.

"What do you think?" I asked softly as he slept. I stroked his hair. "Sauerkraut lady or nutty redhead?"

His hand reflexively opened and closed twice.

"Yeah, that was my choice too," I said.

I just hoped it was the right one.