Clara was their neighbor, and her daughter, Mia, had recently graduated from high school but wasn’t pursuing college just yet. She was local, familiar, and seemingly responsible.
Mia agreed to the job easily. Her responsibilities were straightforward: pick Leo up from daycare every afternoon and look after him until Isabella and Marco returned around 9 p.m.
“He’s a sweet, quiet kid,” Marco told her on the first day. “Just make sure he’s safe and happy.”
With someone finally helping out, things seemed to click into place. Business at the restaurant kept booming, and for the first time in months, Isabella felt like she could breathe. Knowing Mia was with Leo gave her some peace of mind—even if it wasn’t ideal to be away from him so much.
