Claire never expected her day at Willow’s Market to take such a turn. She certainly didn’t expect to chase a child down the street—or to witness a quiet moment that would stay with her forever.
The morning had begun like any other. The warm scent of cinnamon and bread floated through the air. Claire straightened jars of jam and refilled the wooden box at the register—each slip of paper holding a handwritten message of kindness.
“Hope today brings you something good.”
“You’re stronger than you think.”
Some customers took them. Some smiled. And a few even came back for more.
But when Logan walked in—the owner’s son—it changed the energy in an instant.
Logan didn’t share his father’s vision for Willow’s Market. He wanted change. Profitable change. And he made it clear: one mistake, and Claire’s job was on the line.
Later that afternoon, Claire noticed a small figure near the sandwich shelf. The child was wearing an oversized hoodie, head down, hands fidgeting.
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