Chapter 8 - The Thaw
The weeks following the intrusion were a period of rapid, startling change. Dominic began to divest from his more volatile business interests. He started attending Leo’s school functions, he began to eat dinner with them in the kitchen, and he actually—miraculously—began to laugh at Beatrice’s stories.
The house, once a museum, became a home.
Beatrice was the center of it. She was the one who taught Leo how to ride a bike, the one who taught Dominic how to play checkers, and the one who reminded them both that life was supposed to be messy, loud, and full of color.
But as the winter began to turn to spring, Beatrice felt a pull. She had done her job. Leo was happy, healthy, and smiling. Dominic was no longer a shadow, but a man.
“I should go,” she said one night, after Leo had fallen asleep. They were sitting on the patio, the scent of blooming flowers drifting through the air.
Dominic looked at her, his expression pained. “Why?”
“Because I was hired for a reason,” she said. “And that reason is gone. You don't need me anymore.”
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“I don't need a nanny, Beatrice,” Dominic said, his voice low and vibrating with a sudden, intense sincerity. “I need a partner. I need someone who isn't afraid of the mess. I need you.”
Beatrice looked at him. She looked at the man who had been the most feared in Chicago and saw only the man who had been waiting for the winter to end.
