Chapter 3
Fiona's reaction made me pause for a moment.
Betty explained, "Fiona is my niece. She grew up in the Turner family and has been childhood friends with Seth."
Fiona set her bag on the sofa and sat down with confidence.
"So, you're the baby nurse who got Luke to stop crying?" she asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"What about your education?" she pressed.
"Mr. Turner already knows," I said.
"I'm asking you, not him," Fiona pressed.
"High school," I replied.
She smiled. "So, how much does a baby nurse with only a high school diploma earn per month?"
"That's something Mr. Turner would know," I said.
"I don't think you're worth more than 1.7 thousand a month," Fiona said.
She crossed her legs. "What about you? Any thoughts?"
I didn't bother to respond and kept soothing Luke in my arms.
Luke: [This lady is scary. I don't like her.]
Luke shrank back into my arms.
Fiona reached out to take Luke from me.
"Come on, let me hold you," she said.
But as soon as Luke's hand touched hers, he burst into tears.
Luke: [No, no! I'm scared.]
With a loud wail, his voice echoed through the living room.
Fiona's expression shifted. "What's going on? I didn't hurt him."
I quickly scooped Luke back into my arms and patted his back.
Luke stopped crying right away.
Fiona watched, annoyed.
She turned to Betty. "Mrs. Turner, are you seriously trusting your grandson to someone who only finished high school?"
"But..." Betty started.
"Seriously, what if something goes wrong? What if she doesn't know basic first aid?" Fiona pressed.
"She is..." Betty began, but was cut off.
"I know someone. She's a licensed baby nurse in Amroka, worked for Hollywood stars in Losvagios, and she's got all the credentials," Fiona said.
She pulled out her phone.
"Want me to call her for an interview tomorrow?" Fiona pressed.
Betty hesitated.
I held Luke close and said nothing.
Luke mumbled something quietly in my arms. [I don't want a new person. I want this lady.]
The sound of keys at the door caught everyone's attention.
Seth was back.
He stood in the entryway, scanning everyone's faces.
"What's going on?" Seth asked.
Fiona immediately stood up and flashed her best smile. "Seth, I was talking about this. I have a friend..."
"How's Luke doing today?" Seth asked.
He walked past Fiona and came straight to me.
"We switched his formula. His bowel movements are normal today, and he slept two hours more than yesterday," I replied.
He glanced at Luke in my arms.
Luke was gnawing on my finger.
"Keep her," Seth spoke to Betty, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Fiona's smile faltered for a moment.
"Come on, Seth, I think..." she began.
"Fiona, decisions about Luke are mine to make," Seth cut her off.
He headed upstairs.
Fiona stood there, giving me a cold, lingering look.
That look was icy.
I knew I was on her radar now.
By the third day of my trial, I was officially hired.
My monthly salary was ten thousand dollars.
That was eight thousand dollars more than what Fiona thought I was worth.
When Seth handed me the contract, I noticed a small note in the margin.
[If the baby's health continues to improve, your salary will increase by 10% each month.]
"Mr. Turner, you're generous," I said.
Seth said, "That's what you're worth."
Without changing his expression, he said that and walked straight to his study.
I signed my name.
Louisa helped me get the guest room ready. From this moment on, I'd be living with the Turner family.
"You're lucky," Louisa said as she made the bed. "Mr. Turner rarely gives anyone special treatment."
"He cares about Luke," I replied.
"That's not the same. He never bothered to remember the names of the other baby nurses," Louisa said.
She paused and looked at me. "Seriously, how did you pull it off?
"I've watched Luke for three years, and all he did was cry. Then you show up, and suddenly, he's a different kid."
"Maybe it's luck," I replied.
I had no idea how to explain it.
I could hear babies' thoughts, but that was a secret I'd never told anyone.
Growing up in an orphanage with dozens of kids, I could always tell which baby was hungry, which one needed their diaper changed, or who wasn't feeling right.
The head of the orphanage said I had a real gift and pushed me to become a baby nurse.
But I never had the money for college.
At eighteen, I started working, first as a maternity nanny, then a housekeeper, and later as an assistant at a preschool.
My resume was empty, but what I could do was something that no school could teach.
Luke's voice drifted in from the next room. [I'm hungry.]
I set down what I was holding and went over to him.
Over the next two weeks, everyone could see how much Luke had changed.
By the fifth day, he was sleeping through the night regularly.
On the eighth day, he'd gained 0.8 pounds.
By the tenth day, he was smiling at people.
On the twelfth day, when Seth came home from work, Luke reached out his arms, wanting to be held.