Natalie gripped the doorframe, her expression a mix of worry and caution. “I don’t think I should come back, sir. I was out of line. I’m just a housekeeper.” Michael shook his head. “I watched the tapes, Natalie. All of them. I saw what you did for him. You gave him something I couldn’t—you gave him a reason to smile.”
He paused, his voice dropping. “I’m asking you to come back. Not to clean. I want you to be his companion, his coach… whatever you want to call it. He needs you. And honestly,” he added quietly, “I think I need the help, too.”
She searched his face, seeing the sincerity behind the corporate exterior. Two hours later, Natalie walked back into the Sterling estate. She wasn’t carrying a mop; she was carrying a small stuffed dog she’d picked up at a drugstore on the way. When Leo saw her in the foyer, he let out a shout of joy that echoed through the house.
He rolled his chair toward her as fast as he could, and she knelt down to give him a massive hug. Michael stood back, watching the scene, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. It wasn’t just Leo who was healing; the coldness of the house seemed to be thawing. “Can we dance again?” Leo asked hopefully. Natalie wiped a stray tear and smiled. “Only if you’re the lead this time.”
The music started up again, and the Great Room was filled with life. This time, Michael didn’t watch with suspicion. He watched with a sense of wonder. Over the next few weeks, the house transformed. Leo’s laughter became the soundtrack of their lives, and Natalie became a permanent fixture in their world.
Michael found himself coming home earlier and earlier. He watched how Natalie adjusted Leo’s blankets, how she encouraged him to try his physical therapy exercises by turning them into games, and how she looked at him with genuine affection. She wasn’t just an employee; she was the heart the house had been missing.
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