Stolen hour

Silence filled the ride — thankfully. Grace would occasionally strike up a conversation, and as usual, Haines would respond casually, keeping his answers short and precise, leaving little room for further discussion. But Grace was witty and often found something to say in response.

Sometimes he would engage with her, but when it came to her romantic advances, he would ignore them.

Grace was young — very young for him.

Although Haines had never considered marrying again after his heart was torn apart by his first love — a wound from which he never fully recovered — he would never consider her. The age gap was one thing, but he knew Grace. He had seen her at least once when she was around nineteen, during a short vacation in Anteca with Penny.

It just felt wrong.