"God Bec, we should have just had them call!" I groaned as she dropped another pile of letters on the table.

"Do you have any idea how many calls you would have had to take? Any bozo can call, only people that really want the job and are serious will write."

"But...God! There are so many!"

"Nick, you would still be answering the phone if we had put in your number! Now, concentrate, we have to narrow these down." Bec grinned at me from across the table as she picked up the top envelope from her stack. "Besides this should be it, the deadline was today."

"Good." I grumbled. "I can’t take anymore."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This one sounds good." I picked up a letter from the few I had picked out of the pile. "She worked for a guy from Journey!"

"And that’s the only reason you want her!" Bec plucked the paper from my hand. " Let me look it over too."

"This one is quite highly recommended."

"This one too."

We went back and forth and over again and soon we had picked our top ten applicants that we wanted to interview. Bec had agreed to help me with this process too. She placed the resumes in a folder and told me she would be calling them later to set up an interview time.

"Why do you want to help me so much with this?" I asked as I handed Bec a mug of steaming, hot tea.

"I care about you Nick, and Dani too. I want to see you get the best, someone that will help you and help Dani grow and nurish."

I took a sip of my tea and sighed as the warm liquid coursed down my throat.

"Lord knows I will need help with that. I don’t know if I can do this, raising a child. It’s so much more than I thought."

"Shut up." Bec said quickly. "Quit putting yourself down. You are and will be a wonderful father to Dani."

"I’ve only had her a few weeks and already sent her to the emergency room!" I protested.

"Nick, things happen. That doesn’t make you a bad father. You’re a new parent. You need to learn and you learn from experience. It’s the only way."

"I suppose you’re right."

"I know I’m right." Bec patted my arm. "It’s why you hired me right? ‘Cause I’m so smart?"

I laughed. "Yeah, something like that."

"I knew it! Now, back to the subject at hand...I’m going to help with the interviews because it’s good to have someone semi-impartial here with you. Someone to keep everyone sane. You never know if some of these women will freak out when they see it’s you they’ll be sitting for. I’m here for that. I’ll tell them what a dork you really are!" Bec grinned.

"Thanks a lot!" I snorted, then gave her a smile. "Really, I appreciate all of this Bec. I have no idea what to look for, who to look for. I just want the best for Dani."

"I know Nick. We’ll get the best." Bec promised and I knew she meant it. "What’s up with the Carter princess, anyway? She’s slept the whole afternoon away!"

"I’m sure she’ll be up soon." As soon as the words were out of my mouth, a cry sounded from upstairs. "There she is now!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bec entertained Dani while I got her bottle ready. I peeked out of the kitchen and laughed quietly when I saw Bec on all fours brushing her face over Dani’s tummy. Dani was squealing in delight, obviously having a great time.

"You’re pretty good with her too."

"Oh! It’s nothing. She’s pretty easy to keep amused." Bec looked a little flustered, maybe embarrassed.

"Yeah, you were having fun." I grinned and picked Dani up from the floor. "Hey baby girl." I tickled her tummy. "Were you having fun with Auntie Bec? Huh?"

"Auntie Bec?" Bec stood up and brushed the knees of her jeans off. "I have a title?"

"Yup, anyone that makes my daughter giggle like that gets a title."

We settled in the chair and Dani latched onto her bottle.

"I like that rule." Bec smiled, and ruffled Dani's hair. "Well, I really should be going. I have to call these people and...."

"You don’t have to go, I’ll order something in for dinner, my treat for all your help with this."

We exchanged glances and I saw Bec start to blush before she ducked her head down. Which made me blush, I know, I could feel my cheeks getting warm.

"I don’t know, Nick, I..."

"Please?" I offered a cheesy grin, showing lots of teeth.

"God Nick!" Bec collapsed in fits of laughter. "You’re an idiot, you know that?"

"I try."

"Alright, I'll stay. I'll go call and make the appointments while Dani finishes. How does that sound?"

"Perfect, thanks Bec."

I watched her walk back out to the dining room to retrieve her phone and the folder of resumes. Dani made a little sound and I glanced down at her. Dani was watching Bec too.

"You like Auntie Bec, Dani?"

Dani made some small cooing noises, smiled at me, and then happily went back to sucking on her bottle.

"Yeah, I think Daddy feels the same way, baby."