The café was cozy, filled with soft music and the smell of fresh bread. Claire smiled warmly as we slid into our booth.
“Let’s start fresh,” she said, her tone open and sincere. “I think we’ve had some misunderstandings, and I’d really like us to move forward.”
I found myself relaxing as we ordered lunch and began to talk. It felt, for the first time, like we were truly opening the door to something better.
An Unexpected Warning
Partway through the meal, my phone buzzed. It was an important call I couldn’t ignore. I excused myself, promising to be back in a few minutes.
As I stepped outside, the waitress—a young woman with gentle eyes—followed me quietly. She glanced around nervously, then spoke in a low voice.
“Ma’am, I don’t want to overstep,” she said, “but I thought you should know something.”
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