Esther walked along the roadside, keeping her bag close, watching for a taxi.
The morning sun was warm on her shoulders.
A sleek black car slowed smoothly beside her, then pulled to a stop.
The window rolled down.
It was Adrian Cole.
He leaned across the seat, a faint, dry smile on his face. “Walking all that way? At this rate, you’ll arrive before the rest of us even wake up. Get in. I’d rather not be late because you’re dodging taxis.”
Esther gave a small, surprised laugh. She nodded, opened the door, and slid into the smooth leather seat, keeping her hands folded gently in her lap.
The car pulled away, and for a little while, neither spoke. Adrian drove steady, his gaze on the road, but his tone was soft when he finally broke the silence.
“You’ve never spoken of those years,”
