The next day rolled around.
By late morning, Charlene stepped out of her cozy apartment, basking in the gentle warmth of the sun. She was on her way to meet Daisy, whom she hadn’t seen in ages. Daisy had really missed her.
As soon as she entered the quaint little diner and made her way to the private booth, Daisy caught sight of her and dashed over with the enthusiasm of a Labrador puppy. “Ms. Ross!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with
excitement.
Charlene chuckled, wrapping her friend in a warm embrace. “Daisy, it’s been too long.”
This was Charlene’s first visit to this particular diner. As they settled in for lunch, she was pleasantly surprised to find that each dish was a hit, perfectly tickling her taste buds.
Granger had booked movie tickets for a little after lunch, so after they finished eating, the trio headed to the movie theater. Just before they went in, Daisy expressed a craving for popcorn. Granger turned to her with a playful grin, “Big or small?”
“Big! I want to share with Uncle and Miss Ross!” Daisy replied enthusiastically.
Granger chuckled. “Sure thing.”
Inside the theater, Daisy strategically positioned herself in the middle seat. She cradled the large bucket of popcorn on her lap like it was a prized possession, eating a piece herself before nudging Charlene to join in.
Charlene obliged, plucking a piece and tossing it into her mouth, savoring the buttery goodness. Once satisfied that Charlene was taken care of, Daisy turned her attention to Granger, insisting he join the popcorn party.
To cater to Daisy’s taste, Granger had chosen a newly–released animated film that was perfect for kids. Despite being a cartoon, the storyline was lively and engaging, with a mix of laughter and tears, capturing Charlene’s attention as well.
The three of them munched on popcorn while enjoying the movie. Time seemed to fly by. At one point, as Charlene reached for more popcorn, her hand accidentally brushed against Granger’s. His hand momentarily lingered on hers, sending a fleeting spark of surprise through her.
Charlene paused, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks.
Granger, too, seemed momentarily taken aback. But Charlene dismissed it as an innocent accident, nothing more than an accidental brush.
Granger quickly retracted his hand, murmuring, “Sorry about that.”
Charlene smiled gently, “No worries.”
Luckily for them, Daisy was completely absorbed in the movie, oblivious to the brief moment between the adults. Noticing the dwindling popcorn supply, Charlene refrained from reaching for more.
Granger noticed this and misinterpreted her action, thinking she was avoiding him. He looked down, deciding to leave the remaining popcorn for Daisy.
During the film, Daisy drank a bit too much soda and needed a bathroom break. Charlene volunteered to take her, knowing it was more appropriate for her to accompany Daisy than Granger.
Granger nodded appreciatively. “Thanks a bunch.”
“Don’t mention it,” Charlene replied with a smile.
After a short while, Charlene and Daisy emerged from the restroom, just as a little boy exited the men’s room. He caught a glimpse of Charlene and Daisy but didn’t say anything.
Charlene and Daisy quickly melted back into the throng of moviegoers and returned to their seats to continue‘ watching the movie.
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14:06
Chapter 2
“Mom,” the little boy said, tugging on Tiffany’s sleeve as he rejoined her. “I’m done. Can we go now?”
“Sure,” Tiffany replied, distracted by her phone.
The boy was Tiffany’s son, Cain. He wasn’t fond of Charlene, so he hadn’t acknowledged her when they crossed paths.
Tiffany, absorbed in her phone call, hadn’t noticed Charlene at all. Later, bored with the movie, Cain mentioned he saw Charlene. “Mom, I saw Aunt Charlene earlier.”
Tiffany, unfazed, said, “Oh, really?”
“Yeah, she had a friend with her, but it wasn’t Minnie.”
Tiffany, still indifferent, remarked, “Is that so?”
Her lack of interest stemmed from her general disinterest in Charlene. She assumed the child with Charlene was just another relative from the Ross family and didn’t dwell on it.
After leaving the movie theater, they headed to the Henderson Mansion. Upon arriving, they found Lloyd had returned home and was entertaining guests alongside Thorne.
Cain, who had a healthy dose of respect mixed with fear for Thorne, dutifully greeted them. “Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Thorne.”
Nearby, Jasmine was engrossed in her jigsaw puzzle.
After the greetings, Tiffany encouraged Cain to join Jasmine in her playtime.
14
