Maya’s Worries
Maya, Vince’s sister, was the first to sense something was off. As I passed by the table, she leaned in and whispered, “Talia, you good?”—her eyes scanning mine, looking for answers I wasn’t ready to share. “Oh, just the usual holiday stress, you know,” I said with a light chuckle, skillfully dodging the question. I had to keep the secret under wraps—just a little longer.
Maya’s Worries
Kitchen Conversations
“Need help with dessert?” Maya offered, trailing me into the kitchen. “Sure, could use an extra hand,” I replied, keeping my tone light as we began arranging the pies. She nudged again, eyes full of concern. “You’ve been out of sorts all night.” “Haven’t slept well,” I deflected smoothly, steering the conversation away once more. Her gentle probing pressed at the edges of my composure, but it didn’t crack my resolve—I still wasn’t ready to unveil the truth. Not yet.
Kitchen Conversations
