Faux Vows, True Desires

"Sit tight; I'll fetch you two some water."

Lucinda had the two elderly folks seated at a table and poured them each a glass of water, also dishing out some of the shop's snacks for them.

"Missy, how much for all these? We'll pay now."

With a smile, Lucinda answered, "These are just some small bites, hardly worth anything. Consider it on the house; take your time enjoying them. I've got some other business to attend to." Seeing these two always reminded her of her grandparents, who used to spoil her rotten.

"Don't mind us, dear; we'll head out shortly," they said.

Lucinda exchanged pleasantries before going about her business.

She had deliveries to make, after all.

Sales were through the roof today; the coffee and snacks were flying off the shelf. Everyone was swamped, but they were all buzzing with excitement.

Cecilia sidled up to Lucinda, asking, "Lucinda, who are these oldies? Do you know them?"

"I don't. I caught sight of them hovering around our entrance when I came back and figured they might want to come in but were too shy to, so I invited them in."

Judging by their humble attire, Lucinda guessed that they'd probably never set foot in a café before and were just intrigued.

As she was saying this, Lucinda was packing the coffee and snacks into a basket, ready to be transported on the e-scooter with Cecilia's help.

Soon after, Lucinda was off on her delivery run again.

Savannah Anderson nudged her husband gently, whispering for his opinion, "What do you make of her?"

"She's got your spunk when you were young; I like her as our daughter-in-law."

The elderly lady blushed, softly scolding her husband, "We're getting on in years; you shouldn't be saying such things; it's a bit embarrassing." "All I'm saying is that I like you; what's wrong with that? I've been crazy about you for decades; there's no changing that, even if you ask me to." The old lady was left speechless.

Every moment with him made her feel as though she were eighteen again.

They'd been married for decades, but their love was still going strong.

"I like Lucinda too; Stefan's got good taste. But don't you think our daughter-in-law looks familiar? Have we met her before?"

first time Savannah laid eyes on Lucinda, she felt

herself, though, never voicing out her

out delivering, the old lady finally shared her thoughts with her

She's not as pretty as you were when you were young, so I only gave her

at home, you know."

that she'd never met Lucinda before, even though

married out of the blue, without letting the family know. If it weren't for

pieces of snack food. He found the snacks to be delicious and recommended them to his wife, saying, "Darling,

She found it to be extremely

couple spent their time at the Serendipity Cafe sipping water and munching on snacks, occasionally striking up casual conversations with Cecilia or other staff and indirectly finding

Lucinda, busy until the evening, had finally completed all

the day's earnings

ecstatic, and even the

customers, his pastries often went unsold, which made him

elderly couple left at around five in the

at half past five, and being newlywed, he would

want him to know that

door was suddenly pushed open, and a few men in black walked

all tall and stern-faced, not to be trifled

what can

the initiative to approach them

man leading the pack shoved Cecilia aside, causing her to lose her balance and

"Cecilia."

help Cecilia, but

gaze filled with threat, which took

citizen; she never did anything wrong or crossed anyone. She thought of Ruby and thought of the times she'd retorted at Ruby. Did that

photo on it with the woman in front of

"Lucy."

in, a bouquet

swiftly, with the leader

we don't serve

go elsewhere