The café was quiet.
Too quiet for Ice. She sat by the window, her fingers wrapped tightly around the warm cup in her hands. The steam rose slowly, curling in the air, and she barely noticed the faint aroma of coffee. She hadn't taken more than a sip.
Four days.
Four days since that scene at the hospital.
Four days since she had discovered that the man she had loved for five years had a wife… and two children.
The image of Lily running into Teddy's arms kept returning to her mind. And Lora's too. Her gentleness. Her politeness. Her confidence. Ice closed her eyes briefly, trying to steady her racing heart.
Why does she want to see me…?
The café door opened, letting in a soft gust of cool air. Ice immediately looked up. Lora entered. She wore an elegant beige coat, her hair simply tied back. She looked around the room with calm eyes, until they found Ice.
— Ice?
Ice stood, her back stiffening for a second.
— Hello.
Lora smiled kindly.
— Thank you for coming.
— Thank you for inviting me.
They sat down at a small table near the window. The waitress arrived.
— What would you like to drink?
— A cappuccino, said Lora.
— The same for me, replied Ice.
When the waitress left, Lora observed Ice for a few seconds, her gaze gentle but curious, as if trying to understand a puzzle she wasn't sure she wanted solved.
— Four days… she murmured.
Ice frowned slightly.
— Pardon?
— It's been four days since we met at the hospital.
Ice nodded.
— Yes.
Lora sighed lightly, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup.
— My son is doing better, by the way.
Ice lifted her gaze.
— The little boy you told me about?
— Yes. She gave a small, grateful smile.
— Thank you again for your help that day. Lily was panicked… and so was I.
Ice shook her head gently.
— It was nothing.
A silence settled, heavy but not uncomfortable. Then Lora placed her hands on the table, fingertips brushing the smooth surface.
— Ice… I want to be honest with you.
Ice felt her heart tighten, her fingers gripping her cup a little harder.
— Okay.
Lora took a slow breath.
— I think my husband is cheating on me.
Ice felt her chest tighten, but she stayed composed.
— I… I'm sorry.
Lora shrugged, almost apologetically.
— I'm not entirely sure yet.
She studied Ice carefully.
— But I have my suspicions.
Ice lowered her gaze to her cup.
— For a long time?
— Maybe a year.
A small, sad smile touched Lora's lips.
— Maybe more.
Ice murmured, almost instinctively:
— And you haven't told him?
— I did.
— And?
— He denies it.
The cappuccinos arrived. The women thanked the waitress. Lora took a slow sip before continuing, her eyes never leaving Ice's.
— Teddy works a lot… he comes home late… and sometimes he behaves differently.
Ice felt a sting of pain.
— Differently?
— Distracted. Absent.
She met Lora's gaze.
— Like a man in love.
Ice's throat tightened, the words echoing too loudly in her mind.
— You really think so?
— Yes.
Another silence settled, but this one felt like an invisible bridge forming between them. Then Lora leaned slightly forward.
— That's why I wanted to talk to you.
Ice lifted her eyes, uncertain.
— Me?
— Yes. She smiled faintly, not mockingly, just… warmly.
— You work with him.
Ice nodded.
— Yes.
— So you probably notice things I don't.
Ice felt her heart beat faster, a strange mix of fear and curiosity stirring inside her.
— I… I don't know…
Lora leaned closer, lowering her voice so that only Ice could hear.
— If you learned something… you'd tell me, right?
Ice hesitated, then murmured:
— Yes.
It was a lie. Lora seemed satisfied, nodding slowly.
— Thank you.
Her expression softened, and she added with a hint of a smile:
— And… I also wanted to see you for another reason.
Ice's brow furrowed.
— Which reason?
— You made a good impression on me.
Ice blinked, surprised.
— Me?
— Yes. Slightly smiling, Lora continued:
— I don't have many friends in this city.
Ice didn't know what to say.
— So I thought… why not get to know each other?
Ice felt a wave of guilt mixed with an unfamiliar warmth.
— You want us to be friends?
— Why not?
Ice stayed silent, unsure how to respond. Lora glanced at her watch.
— I need to pick up Lily from school.
She stood, collecting her bag.
— But I'd like to see you again.
Ice nodded gently.
— Yes… maybe.
Lora paused at the door.
— By the way… Teddy doesn't know I'm here with you.
Ice looked up sharply, startled.
— He doesn't?
— No. She smiled faintly.
— I'm curious to see what he'd say if he found out.
Then she left the café. Ice stayed still for a few seconds, her heart racing. She sighed and finally stood to pay.
Outside, a familiar presence awaited—not intrusive, not dramatic—just there.
— Ice?
She turned. Bern was sitting on the edge of a bench a few steps away from the café, calm and relaxed, as if he had simply arrived at the right moment. No spying. No dramatics. Just him, quietly present.
— Bern…?
— Hi. I was looking for you.
Ice blinked, her mind briefly recalling the first night.
— How… did you know I'd be here?
— I saw you at the hospital this morning, leaving after work. I thought this would be a good place to meet you without making you feel uncomfortable.
Ice's cheeks flushed, the memory of that morning and the night before rushing back.
— And… you waited here?
— Just a little. Not long. I didn't want to startle you.
Ice stayed silent, caught between curiosity and embarrassment. Bern's calm, patient demeanor contrasted sharply with the tension she had felt all week.
— You look… good.
Ice didn't know how to respond.
— I… yes, thank you.
— If you want… we could walk a little. Get some fresh air.
Ice hesitated, then nodded. She realized this was simple and natural. No drama, no obsession. Just him offering his presence without imposing anything.
They began walking side by side down the street, the evening air cool against their skin. Ice felt the tension in her shoulders slowly loosen. For the first time in a long while, she could breathe… think… and consider what she truly wanted, without guilt, without secrets, just with Bern quietly by her side.