Baby for the Billionaire - By Maxine Sullivan Page 0,48
making sure she can’t injure herself. Remove her from the situation when necessary, particularly if we’re in public. Afterward, talk to her in a calm fashion and make it clear that her behavior is unacceptable. In time, when she doesn’t get the response she’s hoping for, she should stop.” She offered a wry smile. “Of course, then she’ll try something else.”
Curiosity filled him. “What did you say to her before you put her out?”
“I told her that screaming is unacceptable behavior, and that there are consequences when she chooses to resort to a tantrum.”
“What sort of consequences?” His eyes narrowed. “Do you believe in spanking?”
“No, I don’t,” she retorted crisply. “Do you?”
A smile loosened his mouth before he could prevent it.
“No.”
“That’s a relief.”
“So, if you don’t utilize corporal punishment, then how do you plan to change her behavior?”
He was genuinely curious, since none of the methods he’d attempted had worked. Of course, he had not been consistent, nor had he been Isabella’s main caregiver except for those first weeks immediately after the plane crash. Right on the heels of her release from the hospital, his work obligations had taken up most of his time, limiting the hours he spent with her. Plus, he doubted the interim sitters he’d employed had helped the situation. There hadn’t been any consistency in his parenting and it showed.
“Is she intelligent?”
“Highly.”
Annalise nodded. “She needs to be challenged intellectually, as well as physically, in order to help her stress level. In other words, she needs to engage in activities that will allow her to cope with her grief and confusion and work through them at her own pace. It would help to have a daily schedule that doesn’t vary, so she knows that every day she gets up at the same time, eats at the same time, goes to bed at the same time, all of which gives her a feeling of security.”
“She doesn’t have that right now.”
Annalise lifted a shoulder in an expressive shrug. “Because she’s so young she may not be able to verbalize her fears and concerns. It would help to find creative outlets that allow for that expression. Painting or coloring, games that require organization, regular exercise, other children she can socialize with so she can just be a quote-unquote child for a while.” She paused. “Does she have nightmares?”
“Yes.”
Annalise nodded, as though not surprised. “She may also revert to behaviors she exhibited at a far younger age, such as thumb-sucking or bed-wetting.”
“I haven’t noticed any of that, so far.” Well, except for one not-so-minor detail that he’d neglected to mention—her refusal to speak.
Annalise leaned forward. “As I said, continuing with a counselor is vital. He can help you and Isabella’s main caregiver develop some strategies to assist in her recovery.”
Annalise was right and he knew it. He glanced down at his list of questions and moved on to less complicated issues. “I’m sure my assistant mentioned that this job is five days a week, daytime shift.”
“Will you be hiring a nighttime caregiver?”
“I did that right after I brought Isabella home from the hospital. Mrs. Walters will arrive at the end of your shift and cover until I get home. She also stays overnight when I’m out of town on business. If I needed you on an occasional night, would that be a problem?”
“Not at all.”
So far, so good. He tapped a finger on the list of questions and moved on to the next issue. “Do you have a first-aid certificate?”
“Yes, as well as a criminal-convictions certificate.”
He flipped through the file until he found them. The first-aid certificate was recent and, as expected, she didn’t have a criminal record. “Do you have any problem with my running a background check?” The slightest hesitation combined with a hint of worry passed over her features. His gaze narrowed. “Problem?” he asked coldly.
She shook her head. “No, I can see where you’d need to do that. I’d just appreciate some time so I can warn my friends and relatives.”
“Warn?”
She sighed. “Alert. Is that a better word for it? I’d like to call them first and ask for their cooperation, so they’re not taken by surprise.”
“Fair enough.” If she really was hiding anything, his private investigator would find it. He moved on. “Do you smoke?”
“No.”
“Are you involved in an intimate relationship?”
Again, she hesitated. “How is that germane?”
He studied her curiously, wondering if he’d hit on something. “I need to know if you have any obligations that may interfere with your ability to give Isabella your full