The café was nearly empty. A few hospital staff sat at the tables, hunched over cold coffee. Visitors who needed something warm while they waited for news. The barista looked exhausted. The coffee smelled stale.
Arianne chose a table near the window. Late afternoon light fell across the surface in pale gold squares.
Dominic sat across from her. He ordered a coffee to go, his voice polite and automatic with the waitress. Then he turned to Arianne.
"Do you want anything? Coffee? Tea?"
"No. Gio is waiting outside. I don't have time."
He nodded. The waitress left. The silence settled between them, heavy and familiar.
