Her Nanny Invoice

After maternity leave, I was heading back to work, scrambling to find a reliable nanny. Then, my mother-in-law, Brenda, suddenly walked in with her luggage.

Audrey, I'm here to help you with the baby. No outsider can be as careful as I am.

My eyes teared up with gratitude. I was about to prepare her something to eat when she stopped me.

A printed price list for childcare services was taped to the fridge.

"I'm not asking for much, just market rate for a nanny: fifteen hundred dollars a month."

"Also, I'm giving up my card games, so you owe me a one-time compensation of three thousand dollars for my mental distress."

Seeing my stunned expression, she rolled her eyes.

"Too expensive? This is already a discounted price, just because it's for my grandson!"

"If you don't want to pay up, then quit your job and stay home as a full-time mom. Let's see who supports you then."

I looked at her shameless face, stifled my anger, and smiled.

"Alright, then. Since it's an employer-employee relationship, we need to sign a proper contract."

Husband Kevin quickly stepped between us, reaching to pull the price list off the fridge.

"What are you doing? Why are we talking about money when we're family?"

Brenda slapped Kevin's hand away, protecting the paper.

"Even close family members need to be clear about money! I practically wiped your butt when you were a baby, and now I have to take care of your wife and child. What's wrong with me asking for some hard-earned money?"

Kevin turned to me.

"Audrey, Brenda was just kidding around. Don't take her too seriously; just go along with what she says."

I avoided Kevin's hand and turned towards the study.

"I'm not taking her too seriously. I think what Brenda said makes a lot of sense."

I opened my laptop, pulled up an "Advanced Nanny Employment Contract," and started modifying the clauses.

Ten minutes later, I spread the contract flat on the table and pushed it towards Brenda.

"Brenda, these are the service standards for a 0-0,500 monthly salary. Please take a look."

Brenda picked up the contract, mumbling.

"Don't give me any of that nonsense. I can read just as well as you can."

I pulled out a chair and sat down.

"First clause: working hours are from 8 AM to 6 PM. During this time, you must ensure the baby's feeding, sleep, and basic early education."

"Second clause: as per nanny standards, you need to record the baby's milk intake, bowel movements, and temperature changes daily."

Brenda slammed the contract onto the table.

"Are you trying to catch me doing something wrong? I've raised more kids than you've ever seen!"

I maintained my smile.

"Brenda, you're asking for a nanny's price, so naturally, you'll be held to a nanny's standards."

"Third clause: if the baby falls ill or gets injured due to improper care, the medical expenses will be borne by Party B that's you and twenty percent of your monthly performance bonus will be deducted."

Kevin panicked, grabbing the contract.

"Audrey, are you out of your mind? This is Brenda! You want her to pay for damages?"

I turned to Kevin.

"Kevin, Brenda was the one who voluntarily proposed an employment relationship. As her employer, setting up performance indicators is perfectly reasonable."

I looked back at Brenda, pushing the inkpad closer.

"Brenda, as soon as you sign, I'll transfer the three thousand dollars for mental distress straight to your account."

Brenda's eyes lit up at the mention of three thousand dollars.

She pushed Kevin aside and snatched the pen from the table.

"Sign, then! My own grandson, how could I mess him up? Transfer the money to me now!"

She signed her name on both copies of the contract and then pressed her thumbprint.

I picked up one copy of the contract, checked it carefully, then pulled out my phone.

"PayPal notification: three thousand dollars deposited."

Brenda's face crinkled with a wide smile.

She casually stuffed the contracts under the table and turned to coo at the baby in the crib.

"Oh, my precious grandson, I'm going to buy you some goodies right now."

I stood up and locked my copy of the contract in the safe in my study.

Kevin followed me into the study, closing the door behind him.

"Do you really have to make our home feel like a company? Couldn't you just give Brenda some pocket money if she wanted cash?"

I looked at Kevin's face and replied calmly.

"Kevin, pocket money is a favor; a salary is an obligation."

"Since she's taking a salary, she has to follow the rules."

The next morning, before I left for work, I pointed to the white, dome-shaped device in the living room corner and instructed Brenda.

"Brenda, this is the baby monitor I installed last night. I can check on the baby anytime, so please don't touch it."

Brenda rolled her eyes.

"What do you need a monitor for? Are you afraid I'll abuse your son? That's completely pointless!"

I ignored her comment.

"Brenda, don't forget to fill out the baby's daily record sheet. I'll check it when I get home from work."

With that, I opened the door and left, heading straight to the office.

At 10 AM, I was in a meeting, and during a break, I opened the monitoring app on my phone.

On the screen, the baby in the crib was crying loudly, kicking his arms and legs.

Brenda wasn't nearby.

The scene shifted, and three unfamiliar middle-aged women were sitting on the living room sofa.

Brenda threw down a pair of cards, then shouted towards the crib.

"What are you howling about, you little terror!"

I immediately dialed the home phone.

It rang over ten times before Brenda's impatient voice answered.

"Who is it? Are you trying to rush me to my grave?!"

"Brenda, it's me."

"Clause four of the contract states that bringing outsiders into the house is strictly prohibited during working hours, and engaging in recreational activities is also not allowed."

"You violated the rules today. According to the penalty details in the contract addendum, five hundred dollars will be deducted from your salary this month."

There was a second of silence on the other end, followed by Brenda's furious curses.

"Audrey, you little hussy! How dare you deduct my money?"

"What's wrong with having a few friends over? You really treat me like your servant!"

I held the phone away from my ear, waiting for her to finish cursing before bringing it back.

"Brenda, you signed that contract yourself."

"I've saved the security footage. If you continue playing cards, your afternoon pay will also be deducted."

With that, I hung up.

When I got home from work that evening, as soon as I pushed open the door, a throw pillow flew at me.

I dodged it.

Brenda was sitting on the floor, slapping her thighs, sobbing uncontrollably.

"I can't live like this! I work so hard taking care of your child, and this vicious woman monitors me and deducts my pay!"

Kevin crouched beside her, anxiously handing her tissues.

Seeing me enter, Kevin stood up and pointed a finger at me.

"Audrey, you're going too far! How can you treat an elder like this?"

I changed into my slippers, walked to the table, and picked up the blank baby's daily record sheet.

"How many ounces of milk did the baby have today? How many bowel movements? What was his temperature?"

I looked at Kevin and slapped the record sheet against his chest.

"She's taking a 0-0,500 salary from me, and she hasn't even done her most basic job. I'm deducting $500 for breach of contract. How is that going too far?"

Brenda scrambled up from the floor, rushed to me, and pointed her finger at my face, cursing loudly.

"You heartless wretch! Kevin makes so much money every month, how dare you withhold my hard-earned pay!"

She became more agitated as she cursed, flailing her arms in the air.

Suddenly, her palm landed heavily on my left cheek.

The living room fell silent.

I felt a burning sting on my cheek.

Kevin was terrified and quickly pulled Brenda back.

"What are you doing? Why did you hit her?!"

Brenda's eyes darted around, then she stuck out her neck defiantly.

"I... I didn't mean to! Why was she standing so close to me?!"

I calmly looked at Brenda, pulled out my phone from my pocket, and turned on the recording function.

"Brenda, that slap you just gave me, it was an accident, right?"

Brenda, seeing that I wasn't angry, became bolder.

"Yes! It was an accident! What's wrong with an elder teaching a younger person a lesson, hitting you once?"

I nodded and pressed the save button.

"Alright, I've noted that."

I turned and walked into the nursery, picking up the baby, whose cries had become hoarse.

Kevin followed me, his voice pleading.

"Audrey, Brenda didn't mean to. Please don't hold the contract over her head. Just give her the five hundred dollars back, I'm begging you."

I prepared formula for the baby, answering without looking up.

"Kevin, rules are rules."

"Once you break one, that contract becomes a piece of trash."

For the next two weeks, Brenda seemed to have learned her lesson.

She no longer brought people home to play cards, and she'd put a few checkmarks on the record sheet daily.

However, whenever I returned home from work, she would speak to me in a sarcastic, passive-aggressive tone.

"Oh, look, the big boss is back. We servants must attend to her properly."

I pretended not to hear. As long as she fed and changed the baby on time, I wouldn't interfere.

Until the night before payday.

Brenda suddenly put down her fork at the dinner table and cleared her throat.

"Tomorrow's payday. You might as well just give me next month's fifteen hundred dollars in advance."

Kevin asked.

"Do you need money urgently? I can transfer some to you."

Brenda glared at Kevin.

"You shut up! This is between me and my employer."

She turned to me, holding out her hand.

"I've seen a therapy device I like, and it costs over a thousand dollars. If you settle next month's salary now, I can pay the remaining balance."

"An advance is fine, but it has to follow proper procedure."

I transferred fifteen hundred dollars to her account right in front of her.

In the transfer notes, I typed "Advance payment for next month's nanny salary."

"The money's transferred. Check your account."

Brenda heard her phone notification and smiled contentedly.

"At least you're sensible."

That weekend, I was strolling with the baby in his stroller around the neighborhood.

Mrs. Davis, who lived downstairs, came up to me and mysteriously pulled my arm.

"Audrey, there's something I don't know if I should say."

I stopped.

"Mrs. Davis, please tell me."

Mrs. Davis looked around, lowering her voice.

"A couple of days ago, I went to the flea market to sell some cardboard, and I saw your mother-in-law there, selling empty baby formula cans."

"Selling junk isn't a big deal, but yesterday, I went to the supermarket and saw her buying several bags of cheap, low-quality formula that cost only a few dollars."

Mrs. Davis pointed to the can of imported hypoallergenic formula in my baby's stroller.

"Your baby drinks the expensive five hundred dollar kind. Why would your mother-in-law buy that cheap stuff?"

The smile on my face slowly disappeared.

"Thank you for the heads-up, Mrs. Davis. I understand."

Back home, Brenda was sitting on the sofa watching TV.

I walked to the baby supplies cabinet and picked up the opened can of imported formula.

The seal on the can showed signs of having been pried open and re-sealed.

I scooped a bit of the formula onto my tongue and tasted it.

The taste was off. It was gritty, not the fine texture of the original.

I took the formula can and walked to Brenda.

"What's going on with this formula?"

Brenda's eyes darted nervously, then she raised her voice.

"What do you mean, what's going on? It's just the formula you bought!"

I slammed the formula can heavily onto the table.

"I bought deep-hydrolyzed formula. This can clearly contains regular whole milk formula."

Brenda stood up, hands on her hips.

"You're full of it! Which eye saw me switch the formula? You bought a fake product yourself, and now you're blaming me? You heartless woman!"

Kevin rushed out of the study, hearing the argument.

"What now? Can't we have one quiet day?"

Brenda threw herself onto Kevin, weeping melodramatically.

"Kevin, look at the wonderful wife you married! She's accusing me of stealing my grandson's food!"

"What's the point of me living? I might as well just bash my head against the wall!"

As she spoke, she lunged towards the wall. Kevin hugged her tightly.

"Audrey! Can you stop being so suspicious all the time? How could Brenda possibly harm her own grandson?"

I looked at the mother and son, feeling no anger.

I simply pulled out my phone and, in front of them, opened a shopping app.

"Every can of formula I buy has a traceability code. Whether it's fake or not, we'll know with a quick scan."

"As for how the formula in this can became... spoiled..."

I looked up, meeting Brenda's evasive eyes directly.

"You'd better pray the baby doesn't have any problems from drinking this cheap formula."

"Otherwise, according to the contract, you'll not only have to compensate for medical expenses but also bear legal responsibility."

Brenda's crying stopped abruptly. She glared at me, gritting her teeth.

"Don't you dare threaten me with contracts! I'm his grandmother! The court can't arrest me, can it?!"

I ignored her, turned, and poured the fake formula into the trash can.

Kevin sighed.

"Audrey, do you have to turn our home into a battlefield?"

I looked at Kevin.

"Kevin, this isn't a small matter. It could have serious consequences."

"I'm simply upholding my legitimate rights as a mother and an employer."

Two weeks later, my worst fear came true.

That afternoon, I was in a company meeting when Kevin called.

"Audrey, hurry to the City Hospital ER! The baby's vomiting and has diarrhea, and he's covered in a rash!"

When I rushed into the emergency room, the baby was lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to an IV, his little face pale, his cries weak.

Brenda was sitting on a bench in the hallway. Seeing me run over, she showed no remorse, just rolled her eyes.

"What's the rush? It's normal for kids to have a little diarrhea and a rash. You're just being overly sensitive."

I ignored her and went straight into the consulting room to find the doctor.

The doctor handed me the lab results.

"The child has an intestinal infection complicated by an allergic reaction."

"How are you feeding him? Did he eat something contaminated, or drink an incompatible formula?"

I clutched the lab results tightly.

"Doctor, the baby has always had deep-hydrolyzed formula. Recently... it might have been switched to regular formula."

The doctor gave me a stern look.

"That's reckless! How can a child with allergies be switched formulas so casually? If you had brought him in half a day later, he would have been severely dehydrated and in shock!"

I walked out of the consulting room and approached Brenda.

"The doctor said it was an allergic reaction and intestinal infection caused by eating the wrong formula."

Brenda stood up and pointed a finger at my face.

"Don't you dare try to pin this on me! It's clearly your own bad genes, having a child who can't eat this or that!"

"When I raised Kevin, what kind of rice water and vegetable purees didn't I feed him? Why is *he* so problematic?"

Kevin ran back from the payment counter, sweating profusely.

"Audrey, the medical bill's paid. Over two hundred dollars."

Brenda immediately jumped up when she heard "over two hundred dollars."

"Over two hundred dollars? Is the hospital ripping us off?!"

She grabbed Kevin's arm.

"Kevin, we can't pay this! It's Audrey's fault for buying bad formula, she should pay for it herself!"

"And, I've been taking care of the child here in the hospital, scared out of my wits. She has to give me an additional five hundred dollars for emotional compensation!"

I looked at Brenda's greedy face, then at Kevin, who remained silent beside her.

"Kevin, do you also think I should pay this money, and give her an extra five hundred dollars?"

Kevin scratched his head.

"Audrey, no one feels good when the baby's sick. Brenda is getting old, and it's not easy for her to stay in the hospital, so don't argue with her."

"Why don't you... just quit your job and stay home with the baby? You can't stand Brenda's temper anyway, and I'll support all of you."

Listening to Kevin's fence-sitting, I quietly started packing the baby's diapers and bottles.

Kevin thought I had given in.

"Audrey, why are you packing? The doctor said we need to stay for two more days of observation."

I turned around, pulling the "Advanced Nanny Employment Contract" from a compartment in my bag.

Looking at Brenda, who was standing outside the door.

"Brenda, prepare to pay up."