Evan watched her for a moment, his expression easing. “Is that how you ended up working as a maid?” His voice was careful, not prying.
“Yeah, kind of.” She nodded. “The couple who owned that old theater were sweet. They only played black-and-white classics—movies they loved. It wasn’t a big business, but they paid me well enough. Then the place got sold, and I was out of steady work for almost six months.” Her smile slipped away. “Mom didn’t care much about college, and she was obsessed with Greg at the time, so I didn’t exactly have support. I got lucky when a friend got sick and I filled in at a diner. Clara worked there too—one of her two jobs. She introduced me to Bert, the guy who runs the agency.”
“You’re strong. Independent. Dedicated,” Evan said softly, like he meant every word.
