Agnes tilted her head, curiosity piqued. “What time does he usually leave?”
“Today’s Thursday, and Thursdays are chaos in the lab,” Mrs. Brown said, wiping her hands on her apron. “I don’t know much about Tom’s work, but I’ve heard Thursdays and Fridays are packed with meetings and planning. That’s why he left early today.”
So, he’d be swamped. No chance of reaching him, then.
But Agnes wasn’t too bothered. Everyone had their own grind, and she respected that.
She dug into her breakfast, her mind drifting back to last night-how safe she’d felt in his arms, how effortlessly he’d carried himself. It was those little things that made her heart flutter.
Love wasn’t her whole world anymore. She had her own goals, her own career. She’d use this relationship as fuel to push herself, to grow into someone even better.
After breakfast, she wandered into Tom’s study and fired up the computer he’d set up for her. The drawing software opened automatically, and she was just about to dive in when her phone buzzed.
She wasn’t expecting it to be Tom. Not today, of all days.
But there he was, his avatar lighting up her screen. A smile tugged at her lips before she even opened the message.
He’d sent a photo of the lab-sleek, high-tech, and buzzing with activity. Then came a selfie: Tom, looking as sharp as ever in his white lab coat.
To Agnes, this wasn’t just a photo. It was his way of saying, *I’m thinking of you.*
Her fingers flew across the screen: *I thought you’d be buried in work today.*
His reply came fast: *Not too bad.*
Two words, but they meant the world to her. He was busy, sure, but he’d still made time for her.
She seized the moment: *Will you come back today?*
Five minutes later, his response popped up: *Yes.*
That one word was enough to make her grin. She peppered him with questions about the lab, and he answered each one, even though she knew he was juggling a million things.
When the messages stopped, Agnes didn’t feel anxious. She set her phone aside and got back to work, her inspiration flowing freely.
Today, she painted a massive blue Ferris wheel against a sky lit up with fireworks. It was her way of capturing the magic of last night, of preserving those moments that felt like they belonged in a dream.
For Agnes, this was fate at work-something rare and beautiful.
At lunch, it was just her and Mrs. Brown. The older woman had whipped up a spread of her specialties, each dish tailored to Agnes’s tastes. As they ate, the conversation naturally turned to Tom.
Mrs. Brown didn’t hold back. She knew Agnes was new to Tom’s life, but she could already tell this girl was something special. She’d be Tom’s future wife, no doubt about it.
So, when Agnes asked questions, Mrs. Brown answered with warmth and honesty. She understood-Agnes was just trying to piece together the puzzle of who Tom was.
Finally, Mrs. Brown smiled at her. “A girl Tom likes must be something extraordinary.”
Agnes blushed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Mrs. Brown, do you believe in fate?”
“Absolutely,” Mrs. Brown said, her voice firm. “And destiny, too. I think people are drawn together for a reason. Out of all the people in the world, how many do you actually cross paths with? Even becoming classmates or friends-that’s a special kind of fate. Some people are just meant to be in your life, even if it’s only for a moment.”