The Interviews

Lucy sat on the living room couch, her laptop open and a stack of printed resumes in her lap. Tyler was asleep in a bouncer, and Naiomi was tucked into Tim's arms while he rocked gently, watching her tiny fingers twitch in her sleep.

"I still can't believe this is a real thing," Tim muttered, glancing at the list of candidates. "People seriously do this every night?"

Lucy gave him a tired smile. "If it means four hours of uninterrupted sleep, I might actually cry."

Angela had sent over three highly recommended candidates. They decided to schedule interviews back-to-back — short Zoom calls while the babies napped and Charlotte played in her room.

First up: Claudia, a warm woman in her late forties, with calm eyes and a gentle smile.

"I've been a certified newborn care specialist for 12 years," she said, her voice like honey. "Most of my families just need rest. I handle feeding, changing, soothing — I even do baby laundry if needed."

Tim perked up at that. "Laundry?"

Claudia laughed. "You'd be surprised how many onesies babies can go through in a single night."

Lucy liked her immediately. She was calm, confident, and clearly experienced. But something about her tone felt... too professional. Distant.

Next was Jamie, a younger woman in her late twenties with short curls and a bright personality.

"I've worked with twins before, plus I've got experience helping moms with post-partum support," Jamie explained. "And if you have a fussy sleeper, I've got tricks."

She gave off a sweet, nurturing energy, but when Lucy asked about CPR certifications and emergency protocol, she fumbled a bit.

"She's great," Lucy whispered after the call ended, "but I don't think I'd feel 100% safe."

Tim nodded. "Yeah, I felt that too."

The third and final candidate was Renee — early 30s, confident, calm, and with a clipboard in hand.

"I approach each home like I'm an extended part of the family. I'm here to support your routine, not change it. Twins are a challenge, but I love working with multiples."

She asked them thoughtful questions — about Charlotte's adjustment, about Lucy's healing, even about how they were managing as a couple. It caught them off guard in the best way.

When she finished, Tim ended the Zoom and leaned back in the couch. "She's the one."

Lucy smiled. "I thought so too."

A few minutes later, Tyler began to fuss, and Lucy scooped him up. "So, what do you think? Twice a week?"

Tim nodded. "Let's ease into it. If she's as good as she seems, maybe more later."

Lucy paused and looked around their living room — the bouncers, bottles, half-folded blankets, and soft cooing filling the air.

"Maybe this is what it means to really do this together," she whispered. "Let people in when we need to."

Tim reached for her free hand. "We've built something worth protecting. Let's take care of us, too."