Lea's mouth could only gape, forming a very large O. She really couldn't answer the woman's warm and enthusiastic greeting. A greeting that should be answered with the same level of friendliness.
'She is … Clara?' Lea wondered in her muddled mind.
Correct! The woman she bumped into was Clara, Dave's fiancée.
Lea swallowed. She forced a smile, blinked a few times, and said, "Clara! Hi! How are you?"
"Ah, Lea! No need to be so formal!" said Clara with an exaggerated chuckle. Her hazel eyes stared intently at Lea. "I still remember that Dave was throwing a tantrum when you left him. Let's meet him! Don't worry, he is fine," Clara patted Lea's shoulder and asked her to go see Dave, half insistently.
"But, Clara! I—"
"Don't worry! I told you, he is fine!" Clara encouraged her again. She then said goodbye to his friends and put her arm around Lea, inviting her to meet her fiancé.
