For a moment, he stared.
Then his expression softened.
And Nora realized that she had come back for much more than a sandwich.
During the following month, Nora became a familiar presence at Cole Auto Repair.
At first, she appeared once a week.
Sometimes she had a question about the motorcycle.
Sometimes she brought lunch.
Once, she arrived with a small box of homemade cookies that were badly overbaked because she had not used an ordinary kitchen oven in years.
Daniel examined one.
"Did you make these?"
Nora nodded proudly.
"Yes."
He tapped the cookie against the workbench.
It made a surprisingly hard sound.
He looked up.
"Excellent."
She frowned.
"Are they terrible?"
"Depends."
"On what?"
"Whether we're eating them or building a wall."
Nora burst into laughter.
It was the kind of laugh she rarely allowed herself in business meetings.
Full.
Uncontrolled.
Almost breathless.
Daniel laughed too.
Then he ate the cookie anyway.
She watched him chew.
His expression changed.
He swallowed carefully.
Nora began laughing again.
"You don't have to finish it."
Daniel shook his head.
"Never insult a woman who brings you cookies."
She smiled.
"Even dreadful ones?"
"Especially dreadful ones."
By the end of the afternoon, they had eaten three cookies between them and agreed that Nora should probably stick to buying baked goods until she learned how to use the oven properly.
For Daniel, the visits became something he looked forward to without quite admitting it.
He began noticing the time on Wednesdays.
He washed the coffee mugs more carefully.
He tried to clear the spare chair beside the workbench.
And once, after realizing Nora usually arrived near noon, he purchased two sandwiches instead of one.
Lucy noticed immediately.
"Who's the extra sandwich for?"
Daniel looked toward the refrigerator.
"Nobody."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Nobody eats turkey and cheese?"
He sighed.
"A friend might stop by."
Lucy smiled slowly.
"A friend."
"Yes."
"A lady friend?"
Daniel looked at her.
"You're twelve."
"And observant."
He shook his head.
She grinned.
"What's her name?"
"Nora."
Lucy considered it.
"Pretty name."
"Lucy."
"What?"
"Finish your breakfast."
She laughed.
Then watched him place the extra sandwich into the refrigerator.
For the first time since her mother died, Lucy wondered whether her father might be beginning to like someone.
The thought felt strange.
Part of her wanted to be happy for him.
Another part felt unexpectedly frightened.
She liked their life.
Their routines.
The small house.
Their Friday pizza nights.
The way Daniel always called before driving home.