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Amy shook her head. “I don't know. I woke, and she was there. I reached for her, and she flipped. She's never done this before.”

Dane gently wrapped his arms around Vicky, sitting on the edge of the bed and cradling her. “It's all right, sweetheart. Daddy's here. You're safe now.”

Vicky clung to him, sobbing.

Dane rubbed her back, whispering to her.

“I'm sorry,” Amy whispered. “I must have scared her somehow or woken her.”

“Don't be sorry. At least we know her voice still works.”

“Dad…” Jodie appeared in the doorway. “Is she all right?”

“Vicky's fine, honey,” Dane said. “She just had a nightmare. Go back to bed. I'll come see you once she's settled.”

Jodie yawned and rubbed her eyes. “OK.” She turned and wandered back down the hallway.

Dane hugged Vicky. “Did something scare you, honey?”

Vicky pointed to Amy's bloodied bandage.

Amy felt sick. This
was
her fault. “I'm sorry. I cut myself. But it's OK. Daddy got a doctor out and she fixed me.”

Vicky shook her head.

Dane hugged her. “Sweetie, I promise. Amy's going to be just fine. It's a small cut. Dr. Janice fixed it.”

She looked at him and frowned slightly.

“Daddy's doctor friend from work, remember? I took you to see her when you had an earache last summer. She gave you some drops and some banana medicine to stop the hurting.”

She nodded slightly.

“So when Amy broke a glass and cut herself, I called Dr. Janice. She came out and looked at Amy's wrist. She made it better. I promise. Amy will be just fine.”

Amy reached out a hand and rubbed Vicky's fingers. “Do you want to sleep in here tonight?”

Dane frowned and raised an eyebrow.

Amy looked at him. “That way she can make sure I'm all right and it's just tonight.”

Vicky nodded, sliding under the covers beside her.

“OK, but just this once.” Dane tucked her in and kissed her forehead. “Night, sweetie.”

Vicky pointed to Amy.

Dane chuckled. “No, I'm not going to kiss Amy goodnight or tuck her in. She's already tucked in quite nicely.”

Amy pretended to pout.

Dane grinned. “Goodnight.” He headed out and shut the door.

Amy turned onto her side and looked at Vicky. “Want me to leave the light on?”

Vicky nodded. She took tight hold of Amy's hand and closed her eyes.

 



 

Dane came into the kitchen, his mind going over the events of the night before. Both girls were dressed and at the table, eating. He did a double take. Up, dressed,
and
eating? Was Amy some kind of miracle worker? He peered at Jodie's bowl. That wasn't oatmeal. “What have you got?” he asked.

“Honey circle things,” Jodie said. “Vicky has jam, marmite, and marmalade on the same piece of toast.”

Oh, yuk. That is even more disgusting than before.
He raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

Jodie mimicked his gesture. “Yes, really. And we got chocolate milk. With a straw.”

Dane looked at Amy. “Sweet stuff? I thought we'd had the conversation about that.”

“They've promised to clean their teeth afterwards. The straw means the milk doesn't touch their teeth and they're eating without a fuss.”

“What about you?” he asked, noting there wasn't a plate in front of her.

“She always eats without a fuss,” Jodie said. “Amy's a girly swot.”

Amy looked shocked as she reached for the toast. “I'm a
what
?”

“Girly swot, nerd, teacher's pet, goody two shoes…”

“I know what one is, thank you.” Amy poked her good naturedly. “I just didn't think that eating breakfast made me one.”

“Why do you think we don't usually eat?” Jodie laughed.

Amy winked. “I thought that was just to wind your Dad up.”

“Well, there is that as well. But mainly because we don't want to be girly swots.”

Dane chuckled, grabbing the last piece of toast. “Does that make me one as well?”

Vicky nodded slowly.

He sat down. “And you're a cheeky monkey.” He reached for the butter, glancing at Amy, concern filling him. She looked pale and gaunt. Had she slept at all after Vicky woke her? “Are you OK? I can call in to work, and take the day off if you need me to.”

She shook her head. “I'm fine. It's a small cut, nothing more. Once the girls are at school, I can rest. And I've got that doctor's appointment for it, anyway.”

“OK, see that you do. And if you do need me, call or text and I'll come home. I'll cook tonight.”

“OK.”

Jodie looked at Amy over the top of her glass. “Can we go to the park after school, Amy? We can go to the one down the road. It's huge. Have you been there yet?”

“No, I haven't. And sure. Does it have a duck pond?”

Vicky nodded, her eyes lighting up.

“Then I'll bring bread for the ducks. We could go straight from school. If that's all right with your dad.”

Dane nodded.

“Can Vianne come?”

“So long as it's all right with her parents.”

“She lives with her uncle and aunt. Can she stay for dinner, too?”

Dane looked at Amy. “That's my partner Nate and his wife Adeline.”

“Ah. I met Adeline properly yesterday. Vicky's drawing underestimated the cuteness of her hearing dog.”

Dane nodded. “Actually, maybe we have them all over to dinner tonight.” He pulled out his phone and texted Nate. Within a few seconds he got a reply. “They'd love to. Vianne is to come straight here from school with you, Jodie. Nate suggests we get take-out on the way home from work. I'm going to pick him up, and Adeline will bring his car over this afternoon when she finishes work.”

“Can we have fish and chips?” Jodie asked.

He tilted his head. “I was thinking Chinese, but sure, you kids can have fish and chips.” He turned to Amy. “Are you sure you're going to be OK?”

Amy sighed and rolled her eyes. “Yes, Daddy.”

Jodie squealed with laughter and even Vicky smiled.

Dane grinned. “Good. Don't forget the doctor's either. You need the dressing changed.” He kissed the girls, and put his plate in the sink.

It made such a difference knowing the girls were in good hands and happy. Not that they weren't with his parents or Jas's parents, but Amy was different. She'd done more in a few days, than anyone else had accomplished since they'd lost their mum.

And that, he decided, was more than a miracle. It was an answer to prayer.

 



 

Amy tidied the kitchen as the girls grabbed their school bags and jackets. It was so nice being part of this family. If only it were her own. A man who loved her, who looked after his kids the way Dane cared for his, was all she wanted. Since Rosalie had found Ray, she'd been looking, but no one had caught her eye. Or rather, she hadn't caught anyone else's eye.

If she ever found a man like Dane, she would willingly give him kids, something she'd never really wanted for herself until now. She paused. What she really wanted was this family. To be part of Dane's life…

Her heart skipped a beat whenever he entered the room. When he'd been mad at her the previous evening, her heart had almost broken, and then sang when he cared for her when she cut her wrist. His touch had turned her to jelly and burned through her.

Her face grew hot at the thought of him carrying her, his breath on her neck and his fingers pushing her hair behind her ears. Ray had looked at Rosalie the same way.

But now Amy was going too far. She was Dane's nanny, well his daughters' nanny, nothing more.

Vicky tugged at her hand, dragging her back to reality.

“Yes, I'm coming. Are you ready?”

Vicky nodded, holding up her bag.

“Then let's go.” She slid the envelope on the counter into her handbag and glanced around. “Where's my phone?”

Vicky grinned and pointed to the bread bin.

“What's it doing there? Trying to hide from me, you say?” Amy asked.

Vicky shrugged, still smiling.

Amy put her phone in her bag. “There, now try to run away. OK, now we can go.”

She took Vicky's hand and set the alarm before leaving the house. She took Vicky into the classroom, rather than leaving her in the playground as usual. She glanced around, taking in the colorful displays of children's work and the swarm of children in navy blue uniforms.

“Miss Stabler. Is everything OK?” Miss Macnin came over to her. “We don't encourage caregivers to come into school with the children. Mr. Philips should have made you aware of that.”

“No, everything's not all right. Yesterday as I was passing by, I saw Vicky crying in the playground, the second time she was surrounded by a group of girls who were saying things to her, making her cry. I want something done about it.”

“Did you hear what they were saying?”

“No, but—“

“Maybe they simply wanted her to join in. She's not the easiest of children. She's more of a loner.”

“What if they weren't asking her to play with them? Do you know for sure? I couldn't see an adult anywhere on the playground.”

“I don't really have time right now to discuss Vicky's inability to join in with the other children at break time.” The teacher dodged three of the children. “Come and see me tonight.”

Amy stood there, about to argue. Was she being brushed off? Did no one but her care what was going on here?

The teacher turned away, clapping her hands. “Everyone on the carpet for registration, now.”

Amy slowly headed from the classroom and stood in the hallway. So, how did she get to the head's office from here?

A woman wearing an ID badge on looked at her. “Can I help you?”

“I need to speak with the head teacher. I'm not sure which way to go.”

“It's down this way.”

Amy followed the woman through the hallways to the office. “Thank you.” She looked at the receptionist. “I'd like to see the head teacher please.”

“And you are?”

“Miss Stabler. It's in connection with Vicky Philips. I'm her nanny.”

The receptionist vanished, and Amy turned to look at the notices and staff photo board. She hadn't realized the school employed so many teachers and teaching assistants.

“Miss Stabler?” The voice was deep, with the hint of an accent, almost at odds with the very tall, blond man who stood before her. His glasses perched on the end of his nose, and along with his suit, offered the picture of professionalism. “I'm Garth Tovey, head of Headley Cross Primary. How can I help you?”

She took the offered hand and shook it. “I'm Vicky Philips's nanny. I was wondering if I could talk to you about her for a few minutes.”

“Sure. Come into my office.” He led her two doors down the corridor and shut the door. “Have a seat.”

Amy sat at the huge oval table that filled the room.

“Is there a problem with Vicky?”

“For the past week I've been doing a drawing therapy with her. As she won't speak, we communicate by drawing instead.”

“I've heard of it. It's meant to give good results.”

Amy nodded. She pulled the envelope from her bag. “She always draws herself under the tree with a bigger person standing over her with huge hands. This is last night's.” She pulled out the picture and showed him. “As you can see this time there are four others around her. Yesterday morning I happened to be passing the school at break time and saw Vicky standing under the tree crying. Then on the way back, it was lunch time. She was still under the tree crying without an adult in sight and there were four girls talking to her. I don't think they were trying to get her to play with them.”

“Could you identify any of the other girls?”

“I have a couple of photos I took yesterday.” Amy passed him her phone. “I took them because I wanted to compare the tree in her drawings to the one here. There were no staff members on the playground that I could see on either occasion.”

He glanced up sharply. “I will also look into that. There should have been at least two people there.” He scribbled names down on a piece of paper handed Amy back her phone. He pressed a button on the intercom. “Helen, can you bring Vicky Philips from 1M to my office, please?”

Minutes later, the door opened and Vicky came in slowly, with wide eyes. The color drained from her face as she saw Amy sitting there.

Amy held out a hand to her. “It's all right, sweetheart. You're not in trouble.”

Vicky slowly went over to her, perching on the edge of the chair next to her.

Mr. Tovey looked at her. “Miss Stabler tells me you've been talking to her through your drawings.”

Vicky nodded.

“She also tells me you've been having a few problems on the playground.”

Vicky looked at Amy, her eyes wide and her mouth open in horror.

Mr. Tovey pushed over a pad of paper and a pen. “Can you show me what happens in the playground, Vicky?”

Vicky hesitated for a moment then leaned over the paper. Her tongue hovered over her bottom lip as she painstakingly drew a tree and several stick figures. As she continued, her sleeve slid up her arm, revealing the bruises underneath it.

Mr. Tovey looked at Vicky. “You really should have come and seen me or Miss Macnin, when this first began happening. We could have stopped it.”

She shook her head, wrapping her arms around her middle.

“You go back to class, and I'll speak to the girls in the photo.”

Vicky shook her head again, looking at Amy and then pointed to the window.

“Sweetheart, I can't take you home,” Amy said, assuming that's what she wanted. “But I'll be waiting for you at the end of the day. I promise. And we're doing something fun on the way home, remember?” She hugged her tightly. “We're picking up Jodie and Vianne and going to the park, aren't we?”