Chapter One

      Dr. Ian McGregor sank into a chair at his kitchen table, exhausted after wrestling with Joshua to take a much-needed nap. With his elbows on the oak surface still cluttered with the lunch dishes, Ian closed his eyes and buried his face in his hands, massaging his fingertips into his pounding temples. How did Aunt Louise handle Joshua when his youngest was dead tired yet fighting to stay awake?

      With a lot of practice, no doubt. Something he lacked. Ian glanced at the clock on the wall and shot to his feet. The next candidate for nanny, one who had come highly recommended, would be here in ten minutes. He had high hopes she would work out because no one else had since Aunt Louise had passed away six months ago. Ian missed his aunt’s bright, cheerful smile and all the love she’d had for his family.

      Locking away his sorrow, Ian looked at the chaos around him and noted he now had nine minutes. He snatched up all the dirty dishes and crammed them into the dishwasher, leftover food and all. Then after wiping down the counters, he stuffed all of his four-year-old son’s toys and the clothes he’d dragged out into the utility room off the kitchen and slammed the door closed.

      Two minutes to spare. He wanted to be outside before Annie Knight rang the doorbell. He didn’t want Joshua scaring her away if he woke up from his nap, especially without the rest he needed.

       Lord, please let this one work out. On paper she looks great. We need her.

      He’d turned to God so many times in the two years since his wife had passed away. There had to be an answer to his most recent problem somewhere.

      As Ian made his way toward the foyer, the doorbell chimes pealed through the house. He sighed, realizing that he should have foreseen, after the day he’d had so far, that Annie Knight would arrive early. He rushed across the foyer and swung the door open before she rang it again.

      The woman greeted Ian with a bright,