Chapter 24 - daphne stopped calling herself staff
Daphne had worked for us for years.
But after the case, she tried to resign.
I was stunned.
"Why?"
She shook her head.
"I don't want Sadie to think I'm here because I'm being paid to stay."
I looked at her.
"Sadie doesn't think that."
"I do."
Elena walked into the room.
She heard the last sentence.
Then she said:
"Neither of us sees you as staff anymore."
Daphne looked uncomfortable.
"You protected my daughter when I couldn't."
Elena continued.
"You don't owe us your life because of that."
Daphne's eyes filled.
"I don't know what I am supposed to be."
Sadie rolled into the room.
"You are Daphne."
We all laughed.
Sadie looked confused.
"What?"
Elena knelt beside her.
"Nothing."
Sadie looked at Daphne.
"Are you staying?"
Daphne smiled.
"If you want me."
Sadie nodded.
"Okay."
That was it.
No contract.
No ceremony.
Just a child's simple answer.
Daphne stayed.
And from that day forward, she stopped introducing herself as household staff.
She was Daphne.
A woman who had chosen our family.
That distinction mattered.
Because Corinne had believed people belonged to whoever paid them.
May you like
We were learning that love didn't work that way.
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