Three weeks later, Coralie called and asked if she could come to the restaurant on a Tuesday when it was closed. I agreed. She sat at the bar while I made coffee, then asked me to tell her the entire story, beginning with the day Dad died. I told her everything. This time, she listened without interrupting. She didn’t cry until I mentioned the thumbs-up text. That small detail finally broke through. She said she had misunderstood what she was approving, thinking it was some kind of promotion, and had moved on without thinking about it.

I believed her because Coralie had never been malicious. She had been careless, and sometimes carelessness leaves a wound just as deep. She told Garrett the truth afterward. He became careful around me. It wasn’t warmth, but it was a form of respect. The next month, Vivienne called the restaurant to book the rehearsal dinner and specifically asked for the owner. When Tomás transferred her to me, she paused before booking without questioning the price.