A Calculated Encounter
The man was there, leaning in far too familiarly for a mere friend. Charismatic and confident, he seemed the perfect foil to my stepmother’s practiced demeanor.
Steeling myself, I ‘accidentally’ bumped into their table, feigning embarrassment. The act gave me a chance to see and observe, capturing their startled reactions as they recognized me, each forced smile weaving threads into my growing tapestry of evidence.