Madisyn felt a knot tighten in her chest, dreading that if she mentioned who he was, Belle would immediately recognize his last name and make the connection—that he was Joey's brother. And worse, once Belle pieced that together, she might also figure out that he was the very man Madisyn had gone on the honeymoon with, a thought that made her stomach churn.
Just then, the waiter approached the two girls at the next table, balancing their plates of food in his hands. "The gentleman over there said he's covering your lunch," he announced, glancing between the two.
The girls immediately erupted into high-pitched squeals, like teenagers who had just caught sight of their idols. Their excitement filled the room, momentarily distracting everyone, including Belle, who had forgotten the question she'd asked Madisyn only moments before.
A minute later, the waiter brought food for Madisyn and Belle as well, adding with a small smile, "Your lunches have been paid for too."
