Chapter 2 - The Knock at SunsetThe rest of Thursday at the architecture firm was a blur. I spent hours staring at blue prints, but all I could see was Lillian’s quiet smile and those three unsettling words. Was she teasing me? Was she warning me? Or was she offering something deeper?
I returned to Riverside Commons after sunset. The parking lot was quiet, the autumn breeze rustling the oak trees surrounding the courtyard. As I reached my front door, I heard soft footsteps behind me.
I turned. Lillian was standing at the top of her porch steps.
She had changed into a simple sweater and dark jeans, but she still wore her reading glasses, looking every bit as stunning as she had that morning. She held a small covered porcelain dish in her hands.
“Derek,” she said softly, her voice calm and steady. “I baked a small casserole. I know you usually eat takeout after long studio hours.”
My throat felt dry. “Lillian... about this morning—”
“Don't apologize,” she interrupted gently, walking down her walkway until she stood a few feet from me. She smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “You looked like you were carrying the weight of the world on your balcony today. I was just teasing you to snap you out of your head.”
I let out a breath I didn't realize I’ve been holding. “I was embarrassed. I didn't mean to stare.”
“I know,” she said softly, handing me the warm dish. Her fingers briefly brushed against mine, sending a subtle, unexpected spark through my skin. “Amy always said you were too hard on yourself. You were a good husband, Derek. Better than my daughter deserved at the time.”
Her words hit me like a physical weight. For eight months, I had carried the guilt of a failed marriage. Hearing validation from Amy’s own mother was something I never expected.
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“Thank you, Lillian,” I managed to say.
“If you ever want a real meal—or just someone to talk to who doesn't judge you—my door is open,” she said quietly before turning back toward her townhouse.
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