Marie grabbed menus without question, leading them to a large booth in the back. The kids slid in on one side, leaving Lena to sit across from them with Adrien at the end. Coffee? Marie asked, already pulling out her order pad. Please, Lena said before she could stop herself.
Black make it too, Adrien added. And hot chocolate for this crew. The boys cheered. Sophieie just kept watching Lena with those thoughtful eyes. When Marie left, silence settled over the table.
Lena stared at the menu without seeing it. She wasn't hungry, couldn't imagine eating. But Adrien had brought her here, and the least she could do was order something. "Get whatever you want," Adrien said like he'd read her mind. "It's on me."
"I can't." "Yes, you can." His voice was firm, but not unkind. And before you argue, just know that my kids are watching. and if you refuse to eat, they're going to worry about you all night. So, do me a favor and order something."
It was manipulation, but the gentle kind, the kind that gave her an out while making it clear what he expected. Lena looked at Sophieie, who was indeed watching her with concern written all over her little face. "Fine," she muttered. "Soup? I'll have soup."
"That's it." "And toast." Adrien looked like he wanted to argue, but thought better of it. When Marie came back with the coffee, he ordered for everyone. Burgers for the boys, grilled cheese for Sophieie, a club sandwich for himself, and exactly what Lena had asked for without trying to add to it.
The coffee was hot enough to burn. Lena wrapped her hands around the mug and let it warm her from the outside in. Across from her, the kids were chattering about school and Christmas break and whether they'd get enough snow to go sledding tomorrow. Normal kids stuff. the kind of stuff she'd imagined having with children of her own someday. That thought hurt too much.
She shoved it away. So, Adrien said carefully, "Do you have somewhere to go after this?" Lena's hands tightened on the mug. "I'll figure something out." "That's not an answer.
It's the only one I've got." He studied her for a long moment. "Hot are booked solid, Christmas week. Even if they weren't, nothing safe is going to be cheap." She knew that. had already done the math in her head during the silent ride over.
Even the sketchy motel on the highway were running 80 bucks a night. Three nights would wipe her out completely. I said, "I'll figure it out." The words came out sharper than she intended. Sophieie's face fell.
Thomas and Marcus went quiet, looking between their dad and Lena like they were watching a tennis match. Adrien held up his hands. Okay, just asking. The food arrived, cutting through the tension. Lena stared at her soup, chicken noodle, the kind that came from a can but tasted like comfort anyway.