She leaned against him.
"Mom used to take pictures there."
"I know."
"And Grandpa Arthur built the office."
"Yes."
She looked up.
"It's our place."
Daniel's throat tightened.
He kissed her forehead.
"It is."
For a long time, they sat together.
Then Daniel looked toward the tablet.
He would not accuse Nora without hearing her explanation.
But he would not pretend the new information did not matter.
He picked up his phone.
And sent her a message.
We need to talk. About Bellweather, the garage, and your company. Not today. I'll let you know when I'm ready.
Nora replied less than a minute later.
Yes. Whenever you're ready. I'll answer everything honestly.
Daniel read the message twice.
Then put down the phone.
For the first time since recognizing the ring, he wondered whether the woman he had loved as a boy had become someone he could no longer understand.
The story reached the newspapers before they spoke again.
A local reporter discovered that Nora Whitfield had returned to her family home and was frequently visiting a repair shop located within a proposed redevelopment corridor.
The article did not claim she had planned the project herself.
But its headline suggested an intriguing connection between a billionaire investor, an old garage, and the future of Bellweather's industrial district.
A photograph showed Nora standing outside Cole Auto Repair.
Another showed the property map.
By evening, a larger regional website had republished the story.
Then business commentators began speculating.
Some believed Nora intended to purchase the town's railway properties.
Others suggested the garage might be converted into a fashionable retail space.
One online post claimed she had secretly bought the business.
That was false.
Another claimed Daniel was her fiancé.
Also false.
A third suggested the medical emergency had occurred during a dispute about the property.
Completely invented.
But the details hardly mattered once the speculation began spreading.
Two reporters arrived outside the garage the following morning.
Ethan refused to discuss Daniel's health.
He closed the office door.
Then called him.
"Boss."
Daniel answered from home.
"What's wrong?"
"We've got people asking questions."
Daniel sighed.
"About the lease?"
"And Nora."
His stomach tightened.
Ethan continued.
"Someone wants to know whether the billionaire bought us."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"No."
"That's what I told them."
"Thank you."
A pause.
Then Ethan asked, "Dan, are we in trouble?"
Daniel looked toward the kitchen, where Lucy was preparing breakfast.
He thought carefully.
"We have an uncertain lease. That's real."
"And the rest?"
"Not something we can answer yet."
Ethan was quiet.
Then he said, "We'll keep doing repairs."
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Good."
"Customers still need their cars."
"They do."
Ethan hesitated.
"And boss?"
"Yes?"
"Don't come in here trying to solve this before your doctor clears you."
Daniel laughed weakly.
"Everyone's enjoying giving me orders."
"Consider it a benefit of being loved."
Daniel smiled.
Then ended the call.