Adele Horne laughed and admitted her stomach was genuinely growling, so she didn't hold back. Besides, they were old classmates; she wasn't going to be overly polite with him. When she opened the lunchbox, she paused in surprise—the dishes inside were all her favorites.
It turns out her nemesis, the class monitor, actually knew what dishes she liked.
After a brief pause, she started eating as if nothing were amiss.
"People always change," she said.
Regarding the rumors that had once swirled wildly about her, Adele Horne was now calm and composed. So many years had passed. Except for the man whose face she couldn't recall but who remained etched in her heart—a man she told herself she resented—she had gained perspective on everything else. Her feelings had faded, even towards Orlando Evans; she now felt she was the one who had harmed him.
Now, with her son by her side and family who truly loved and cared for her, she was content.
