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Richard stepped inside and firmly shook my hand the way he always had.

“You’re looking well, Everett.”

“Thank you. You both look well, as well.”

Sophie tugged at Margaret’s hand. “Grammy! Come and see the decorations Ember and I made! We built a haunted house out of graham crackers too, and the M&M’s are velociraptors!!!” She screamed, jumping up and down.

Margaret’s eyebrows rose at the word decorations and then she looked at me. I could already see the questions forming on her lips when Ember appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a towel. She looked between me and Margaret, and Richard.

“Margaret, Richard, this is Ember Wilde. Sophie’s nanny,” I said, stepping to the side.

Ember smiled and stepped forward, extending her hand. “It is really nice to meet both of you. I have heard a lot of stories. Sophie talks about you all the time.”

I watched as Margaret took hold of Ember’s hand for a moment and looked at her, questions forming in her eyes.

“How long have you been with them?” Margaret asked.

“A little over five weeks.” Ember said.

“Five weeks?” Richard repeated, glancing at the fall garland that lined the hallway table. “I’d say you’ve settled in rather quickly.”

“Ember is great, Pop-pop!” Sophie said, pulling Richard toward the living room. “She reads to me every night, and she makes the best French toast. She even ordered a Halloween game for my tablet. It’s so fun, I love it.”

Richard didn’t fight Sophie, he followed her to the living room, but I saw the look he gave Margaret as he passed. Margaret followed them, leaving Ember and I in the foyer for a moment.

“I’ll go put on some coffee,” she whispered. “Should I make enough for everyone?”

“Yes, thank you,” I watched as she disappeared into the kitchen before heading to the living room.

Sophie had climbed onto Margaret’s lap and was telling her all about the decorations she and Ember had put up.

“Oh, and the fairy lights in my room were in my box, the one with Mommy’s things.”

Margaret’s hand stilled on Sophie’s hair, and she looked up at me, her eyes wide.

“You kept the box?” she asked in a hushed tone.

“Sophie kept the box.” I corrected.

Richard sat in the armchair, taking in the entire conversation. He had barely said two words since he’d arrived, which wasn’t unusual for him. A short while later Ember came into the living room carrying a tray of coffee, cream and sugar, and a plate of pumpkin cookies she and Sophie had baked yesterday. She set the tray on the coffee table and excused herself, heading back to the kitchen.

I couldn’t help but watch Margaret as her eyes trailed after Ember as she left the room.

“She seems very comfortable here, Everett,” she said, adding cream and sugar to one mug.

I glared at Margaret, trying to figure out what she was trying to say.

“A little too comfortable if you catch my drift,” she added.

“She came with glowing references and is very good at her job.”

“Six very qualified nannies in such a short time, and this one has the nerve to use the fairy lights from Rebecca’s collection. She’s also baking cookies in the kitchen. That is more than good at her job, Everett.”

Richard leaned forward before I could respond. “Exactly how old is she? She looks young.”

“Her age isn’t relevant, Richard, only her job experience.”

“It is especially if she is living under your roof and caring for our granddaughter.” Richard’s tone carried the same weight it did when I’d first started dating Rebecca. “Sophie needs stability, Everett. Not another temporary arrangement.”