I'm at my wits' end and need some advice/perspective. I'm due back at work next week after 9 months of maternity leave with DD2. Before Xmas I found a great childminder - I was keen on her straight away, checked with other parents that they were happy with her, and have seen her regularly since then. We had agreed that she would look after DD2 three days a week from the end of May while I work, and pick up DD1 from school on those days. We arranged that DD2 would do some 'settling in' days with her this week. The first settling in day was yesterday - all went very well, DD2 was happy and smiley when I picked her up, childminder was very positive and enthusiastic and we agreed to sign a contract today.
This morning, before 8am, I had a call from the childminder. She sounded upset and distracted, said she wouldn't be able to look after DD2 this week due to family illness overseas - said she was about to leave for the airport.
She told me she expects to be back next week, and says I can call her (grown-up) daughter in the meantime for information. But I'm in a state of advanced panic. It could just be going-back-to-work nerves making me irrational, but I can't help feeling that she has vanished never to return, and I don't have a contingency plan. Have I been really stupid to have taken our arrangement on trust up to this point? Is she likely to come back next week, or could she be away for ages? And if the latter, what should I do?
Any thoughts or insights gratefully received.