The Nanny's Secret

hts blurring past. The conversation with K

the ground up, fueled by coffee and a relentless drive

ing billion-dollar valuations and marke

sweet, bri

shed across magazine covers.

'd chalked it up to me working too much, the stress of my late

acher's nervousness... it all pointed t

now. More time with Emily. Less t

liar companion, but

therton home. The house was dark, e

gone. Probably o

in. The silen

versized sofa. Not with her favorite interactive sto

hoops directly from the box into her

rt cle

y, ho

lly bright with curiosity, were dull. Fear fl

er hands on her apron. Kevin's distant cousin, someone

was too wide, too bright. It didn't reach her eye

, then at the clock. It was nearly t

oth. "You know children, Ms. Miller. When they want some

d at her fe

ou ask for cereal?"

ent, without looking at me. She

just peckish. I'll make her

d back to

small shoulders hunched. This wa

good day at sc

r smal

ay with you

eptible shake

agile. Her hair smelled faintly of something

g bath time,

on her upper arms. Sma

od ran

ned here?" I touch

flin

darting towards the bathroom door, as if exp

scrape-your-knee-on-

thing that made the ha

funny. It makes me sleep very, very deep." Her voice was a tin

sleepy

n Emily's behavior. The fea

t, a cold fury bu

my voice trembling slightly. "Mo

when we moved in. Kevin thought it was just for external threats. He didn't

ind out exactly what had