Chapter 58

• Maya stood in the bakery section of the grocery store, debating between a baguette and sourdough for the stew she planned to make that evening. Her mind wandered as she weighed her options, distracted by the chaos of the past few weeks. Rafael’s heightened vigilance, Ivy’s unusual behavior, and Claire’s sudden reappearance were wearing on her, and she felt like a taut wire, ready to snap.
• “Maya?” a familiar voice called, interrupting her thoughts.
• She froze, her grip tightening on the paper bag of sourdough. Turning slowly, she saw Luke standing just a few feet away, his easy smile and polished demeanor as disarming as ever. He looked effortlessly casual in a dark sweater and jeans, the picture of someone who had nothing weighing on his conscience.