Isadora observed the woman closely, noting the familiar features that tugged at the edges of her memory. The woman's hesitation and downcast eyes only added to the enigma. As she glanced around and assured herself that there weren't many people around, the woman approached Isadora with a guarded demeanor. Out of respect, Isadora stood up.
"What are you doing here?" the woman asked, her tone tinged with hostility. "Are you with him? Did he bring you here?"
"Are you asking about Bernard?" Isadora replied. She had noticed during her previous outings with Bernard that many of the stall owners knew him, so she assumed the woman was referring to him.
At the mention of Bernard's name, the woman's face stiffened, and the hunch on her shoulders became more pronounced. She looked at Isadora with a mixture of concern and resignation.
