Chapter 80: 80

TWO WEEKS LATER

The morning sunlight peeked at me through my bedroom window, warm and bright. I opened my eyes slowly, squinting and taking a moment to orient myself. It had been two weeks since the attack. Two weeks of rest and recovery, and two weeks of slowly returning to normal life.

The nightmares had been frequent at first, waking me up in cold sweats, my heart pounding as I relived those terrifying moments, but with therapy sessions three times a week and the support of Raymond, Sophia, and Belle, they were becoming less frequent, less intense.

I sat up in bed and stretched carefully. The bruises on my arms had faded to a light yellow, barely noticeable now. The soreness in my back was gone. Physically, I had healed well. Emotionally, I was getting there, one day at a time.

Today was a big day. I was finally going to meet with Jennifer Martinez to look at office spaces. We had rescheduled twice already, first because I wasn't ready, then because Jennifer had another commitment. But last night, we'd spoken on the phone and confirmed that today was the day.

"10 AM at The Garden Delicacy Bistro," Jennifer had said. "It's a nice little restaurant downtown. We can have coffee, discuss what you're looking for, and then head out to see the properties."

I knew The Garden Delicacy Bistro well because it had now became one of my favorite spots, and a place I'd been to more than dozens of times. There was no way I could possibly get lost or enter the wrong address this time.

I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom for a shower. As the hot water cascaded over me, I thought about the properties Jennifer had sent information about. Three different locations, all promising, all suitable for the expansion Raymond and I had been planning.

After my shower, I dressed carefully in professional but comfortable clothes. A navy blue blouse, black slacks, and a pair of sneakers. I wanted to look put together but I also wanted to be comfortable enough to walk through multiple properties.

As I was applying light makeup, my phone rang. Raymond's name flashed on the screen.

"Good morning," I answered.

"Morning, sis," Raymond's voice came through. "Just wanted to check in before your meeting with Jennifer. Are you feeling okay? Ready for this?"

"I'm feeling good," I assured him. "And yes, I'm ready. It's been two weeks, Raymond. I can't hide away forever."

"I know, I know," Raymond said. "I'm just, I'm being careful. Making sure you're really ready."

"I am," I said firmly. "And like I told you last night, I'm meeting Jennifer at The Garden Delicacy Bistro. You know that's a place I know very well. I can go there with my eyes closed, so there's no chance of me getting lost or ending up in the wrong location this time."

"Good," Raymond said, and I could hear the relief in his voice. "Just, please be careful, okay? Stay aware of your surroundings, keep your phone charged, and call me if anything at all, feels off."

"I will," I promised. "Raymond, you need to stop worrying so much. I'll be fine."

"I can't help it," Raymond admitted. "After what happened, I just, I keep imagining worst case scenarios."

"That's your trauma, not mine," I said gently. "You might need to talk to someone about this too. It's not healthy to be this anxious all the time."

There was a pause, then Raymond sighed. "You're probably right. I'll think about it. But for today, just humor me and be extra careful, okay?"

"I promise," I said. "Now go focus on work. I'll call you after the property tours."

After hanging up with Raymond, I went downstairs for a quick breakfast. Belle was already at the kitchen table, eating cereal and coloring in a book. Her face lit up when she saw me.

"Miss Claire! Are you going somewhere?" she asked, noticing the way I was dressed.

"I have a meeting," I explained, pouring myself a cup of coffee. "But I'll be back this afternoon or maybe a little later, depending on how my meeting goes."

"Okay," Belle said, returning her attention to her coloring. "Can we bake cookies when you get back?"

"Absolutely," I agreed, smiling at her enthusiasm.

Sophia appeared in the kitchen doorway. "Good morning, Claire. You look nice. Big day today?"

"Hopefully," I said. "Meeting with the real estate agent to finally look at those office spaces."

"That's wonderful," Sophia smiled warmly. "I hope you find the perfect location."

"Me too," I said, finishing my coffee and grabbing my bag. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck!" Belle called out.

"You've got this," Sophia added.

I headed out to my car, taking a moment to appreciate the beautiful morning. The sky was clear, the temperature perfect, and I felt more like myself than I had in weeks.

As I ignited the car’s engine, my phone rang again. This time it was a number I didn't recognize. I answered cautiously.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Claire? This is Jennifer Martinez. I'm just confirming our 10 AM meeting at The Garden Delicacy Bistro."

"Oh.. yes, I'm on my way now," I confirmed. "I should be there in about twenty minutes."

"Perfect," Jennifer said. "I'm already here, at a table near the window. See you soon."

I ended the call and carefully entered the restaurant's address into my GPS. Even though I knew where it was, I wasn't taking any chances. The trauma of what had happened two weeks ago was still fresh enough that I wanted every possible safeguard.

The drive downtown was smooth, the morning traffic lighter than usual. As I navigated the familiar streets, I felt a growing sense of confidence. I was doing this. I was moving forward with my life, not letting fear hold me back.

My phone rang yet again. It was Raymond again. I rolled my eyes as I answered through the car's Bluetooth.

"Yes, Raymond?"

"Just checking one more time," he said sheepishly. "You entered the correct address, right?"

"Yes, Raymond," I responded, unable to keep the amusement out of my voice. "I've been to this restaurant probably more than fifty times. I know exactly where it is. And yes, I double checked the address in my GPS."

"Okay, okay," Raymond said. "I'm sorry, I know I'm being annoying. I just can't stop thinking about what happened last time."

"I know," I said more gently. "But, you really have to trust that I've learned from that experience. I'm being careful. I'm being aware. And I'm going to a very public, and safe location that I know well enough. Nothing bad is going to happen."

"You're right," Raymond agreed. "I'm sorry. Go have your meeting. Find us a great office space. And call me later."

"I will," I promised. "Now please stop calling me every five minutes. It's beginning to look like I'm being stalked." I added jokingly.

Raymond laughed. "Deal. Talk to you later."

As I ended the call, I could see The Garden Delicacy Bistro coming up on my right. The familiar brick building with its cheerful green awning brought a smile to my face. I'd had countless lunches there in the past, celebrated small victories, even had a few dates back before I was married to Tyler.

I pulled into the restaurant's parking lot, finding a spot near the entrance. As I gathered my bag and prepared to get out of the car, I took a deep breath.

I locked the car and walked across the parking lot toward the restaurant entrance. The morning air was pleasant, carrying the scent of fresh coffee and pastries from inside the bistro. Through the large windows, I could see the restaurant was moderately busy, people enjoying their breakfast meetings and morning coffee.

As I reached the entrance, I was mentally preparing what I wanted to say to Jennifer, thinking about what questions I should ask about the properties, what factors were most important for the expansion.

I reached for the door handle, about to pull it open, when suddenly someone else pushed it from the inside at the exact same moment.

The door swung open faster than I expected, and I stumbled slightly, bumping directly into the person who was exiting.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," I said automatically, looking up to apologize properly.

And then I froze.