After a short silence, Grace took a slow breath. “Sir,” she said, “I have made a decision. I am going to stop working here.”
The words landed heavily. Mr. Caleb stayed very still. He looked at her for a moment without speaking.
“Stop working here,” he repeated quietly. “Grace, have I done something wrong? Is there a problem you haven’t told me about?”
She shook her head quickly, and her smile returned, a real smile this time, full of something that looked like hope. “No, sir. No problem at all. On the contrary.” She paused, choosing her words carefully. “I have been saving money for a long time, little by little, every month. And last week, I enrolled in a training program.” She lifted her chin slightly with quiet pride. “It has been my dream for a very long time, sir, to become a certified caregiver. I want something more for my life, something stable, something meaningful. I feel ready now.”
A silence settled over the room. Then, slowly, Mr. Caleb’s expression changed. The stiffness softened. He nodded, not the quick nod he gave when approving business decisions, but a slower one, more thoughtful.