“Grace,” he said, “I will be honest with you. I did not see this coming. But I understand, and I am proud of you. I mean that.”
Her eyes brightened. “Thank you, sir. You have always been fair to me. It is because of this work, this salary, that I was able to save it all. I owe you more than you know.”
He waved a hand slightly, the way he always did when he did not want too much fuss. But there was something in his eyes now, a quiet concern. “I will miss you,” he said simply. “And I won’t pretend otherwise. This house is large. I cannot manage without someone to help me. You know that.”
Grace sat a little straighter. She had been waiting for exactly this moment. “I know, sir. And I did not want to leave you without a solution. So I have already thought of someone.”
She placed both palms flat on her knees. “A young woman I know well. She was my neighbor years ago when I lived in the old neighborhood. She is calm, hardworking, and very respectful. She has been looking for steady work for some time now.” She paused. “She is a serious person, sir. I can say that honestly.”