THEO
The first hour slipped past in the steady hum of routine, the scrape of chairs, the hiss of bacon on the grill, the low murmur of morning regulars staking claim to their usual tables. She introduced herself as “Anna,” her voice calm, carefully leveled, as if she’d practiced the tone as much as the name. But it didn’t sit right. It felt like something pulled off a rack at the last minute, useful, but not truly hers.
Mia and Dorcas took to her immediately. They always did have soft spots for strays. Within minutes they were showing her where we kept the extra menus, how to balance three plates without tipping gravy onto a customer’s lap, when to refill coffee before someone had to ask. She listened closely, nodding once, absorbing everything with sharp, deliberate attention.
Despite
