Ever since Catherine found out she was pregnant, Lorinda was the only one who really cared for her. No one else seemed to notice, so when Adela approached her with concern, Catherine couldn’t help but look at her again, her guard dropping just a little.
“Thank you, I’ll be careful,” Catherine said quietly.
Adela smiled, soft and kind. “Pregnancy is tough, you know. This is when you have to be gentle with yourself, especially with your feelings. Don’t keep things bottled up, alright?”
Catherine nodded. “There’s nothing to be upset about. My ride’s almost here, I need to cross the street. Goodbye.”
She turned to leave, but Adela called after her, “Wait, there’s something in your hair.”
Before Catherine could react, she felt a sudden tug on her scalp, sharp and quick. Adela’s fingers brushed her head, pulling out a bit of cotton fluff and two long, dark strands.
“Oh, sorry, I think I pulled your hair by accident. There was some lint caught in it,” Adela said, holding up the small mess between her fingers.
Catherine rubbed her scalp, a little sore. Adela reached out as if to comfort her, but Catherine instinctively stepped back.
“It’s fine, really. Thank you,” Catherine replied.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Adela’s face before she let her hand fall. “Alright, take care. You don’t have family or friends in Eldervale, so if you ever need anything, you can always come to me.”
Catherine had lost count of how many times she’d thanked Adela. The woman’s kindness was overwhelming and unexpected, and Catherine could only offer a polite but distant thank you. It barely touched her heart, except for that tiny moment of warmth just now. She turned and walked across the street, feeling nothing but a cool emptiness settle back in.
Adela closed her hand tightly around the two strands of hair she’d just pulled out, then headed back to the restaurant. She hadn’t even reached the private dining room when Geoffrey rushed out, looking worried.
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