look that made my skin prickle.

I took a slow breath and turned to him. “So… what do you think of Janice?”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I mean…” I forced a small smile. “You always say she’s great with the kids.

But what do you really think of her?”

“I think she’s amazing. I mean, we really lucked out, right? She takes care of the kids and even helps around the house.

I don’t know how we managed without her.”

I nodded slowly, my heart pounding.

That’s exactly what he had said before. The same words. As if it had been rehearsed.

Something wasn’t right.

And I was going to find out the truth.

The next day, I left work early.

I didn’t tell Paul. I didn’t tell Janice. I wanted to catch her in the act.

I parked down the street, just far enough that my car wouldn’t be seen from the front windows.

My heart pounded as I crept toward the house.

I unlocked the door and quietly slipped inside. As I tiptoed toward the living room, I heard Lily’s soft breathing. It was her nap time.

And it meant Janice was in my room.

My heart pounded against my chest as I moved up the stairs.

I slowly walked toward my bedroom, imagining what I’d see inside. As I reached the door, I noticed it was slightly ajar. I could hear something inside.

A soft hum.

A rhythmic sound.

I held my breath and pushed the door open.

And there was Janice.

She stood in front of my mirror, adjusting a stunning dress. It wasn’t mine. I had never seen it before.

Around her were clothes neatly folded and piled up.

And the strange noises?

That was the gentle hum of a sewing machine.

Janice gasped when she saw me. “Oh! You weren’t supposed to see this yet!”

“What the heck is going on?” I asked with wide eyes.

“What are you doing in here?”

She signed while glancing at the dresses.

“I… I wanted to surprise you.”

“Surprise me?” I asked. “With what?”

Janice hesitated, then gestured to the clothes. “You always spend money on your house, on Lily, and even on me.

But I’ve never seen you spend money for yourself. I see you wearing the same clothes over and over. So, I thought… maybe I could do something for you.”

I stared at her as I tried to process what was going on.

“I’m a seamstress, you know,” she continued.

“I noticed we’re the same size, so I started sewing in my free time. I was just making sure they fit before I gave them to you.”

My babysitter had been secretly making me clothes? I thought.

And I was thinking she and my husband… Oh, God!

“I—” My throat tightened. “I thought—”

“I know you must be thinking I was doing something fishy in here,” she interrupted and picked up a gorgeous dress. “But I just want you to try this on.

Can you do that for me, please?”

I reached out and took the dress from her. It looked beautiful.

“Thank you so much, Janice,” I finally said as tears blurred my vision. “Now I know why Paul says we really lucked out.

Because we did! I don’t have words to thank you for all that you do.”

Then, I tried the dress.

When I turned to face the mirror, I barely recognized myself. It fit perfectly.

At that point, I felt like I wasn’t just a mom, a wife, or someone who put everyone else first.

I was simply me.

Janice grinned as she fastened the last button.

“Told you,” she said proudly.

“You look amazing!”

I let out a small laugh, wiping the moisture from my eyes. “Okay, okay… you win. This dress is gorgeous.

And so are all the other ones.”

That evening, I wore each dress and modeled in the living room for Lily. She clapped and giggled as I twirled like a princess.

Paul walked in just as I was adjusting the hem of a sleek blue number.

“Wow,” he said, eyebrows raising. “You look… incredible.”

I smiled.

“Thanks to our incredible babysitter.”

I never told him what I had been thinking. Some things were better left unsaid.

Source: amomama