Ellen sat in the cozy corner of the café, her thoughts distant as she absently stirred her coffee. Colleen's words kept replaying in her mind, stubbornly refusing to let go. Did she like Mason? The question, simple yet heavy, gnawed at her. Usually, Ellen prided herself on knowing what she wanted, on being decisive and sure of her feelings. But now, sitting here in the café she visited with Helga, she found herself more uncertain than ever.
Across the table, Helga watched her closely, her sharp eyes picking up on every detail. The two women had decided to spend the morning together after Ellen had visited Helga's house earlier to drop off souvenirs from Paris. What was meant to be a simple visit had turned into an unplanned coffee run.
Helga's curiosity got the best of her as she noticed Ellen's unusual quietness. She had seen Ellen lost in thought before, but there was something different about this.
