A month after her dad began his recovery and life started to settle into a new normal, Tiffany found herself spending more and more time with Jacob. They would talk for hours, sharing everything and nothing, their bond growing stronger with each passing day.

One evening, as they sat together in the quiet of the closed restaurant, Jacob took her hand in his, his touch warm and grounding. “Tiffany, I’ve been thinking,” he said softly, his tone serious yet gentle. “We should renovate the ...