CHAPTER TWO –STOLEN LUNCH

The next day dawned bright and clear, a perfect reflection of Mara's determined mood. She'd spent half the night convincing herself that Andy's behavior was nothing more than work stress, and she was ready to face the day with renewed optimism. As she walked into the lobby of The Keppler Heritage, Mara took a deep breath, savoring the familiar scent of lemon-scented cleaner and fresh coffee. The early morning quiet was soon broken by the sound of raised voices coming from the staff room. Curious and slightly concerned, Mara quickened her pace. As she pushed open the door, she was met with the sight of Lisa, red-faced and gesticulating wildly, while Tom, another coworker, stood with his arms crossed defensively. "I know it was you, Tom!" Lisa was saying, her voice shrill with anger. "My lunch doesn't just get up and walk away on its own!" Tom rolled his eyes, exasperation clear in his voice. "For the last time, Lisa, I didn't take your stupid lunch. Maybe you left it at home. Or maybe the lunch fairy took it. Who knows?" Mara stepped forward, holding up her hands in a placating gesture. "Whoa, guys. What's going on here?" Lisa whirled to face her, eyes blazing. "Mara! Thank god you're here. Tom stole my lunch!" Tom groaned, throwing his hands up in frustration. "I did not steal your lunch, Lisa. I have my own food. Why would I want your sad little salad?" Mara could see this situation spiraling out of control quickly. She took a deep breath, channeling her inner mediator. "Okay, let's all take a step back and calm down. Lisa, are you sure you brought your lunch today?" Lisa hesitated for a moment, her certainty wavering. "Well... I mean, I always bring my lunch on Tuesdays." "But did you actually see it in the fridge this morning?" Mara pressed gently. Lisa's brow furrowed as she thought back. "I... I'm not sure. It was a hectic morning." Tom threw his hands up in exasperation. "See? You probably left it at home and forgot!" Mara shot Tom a warning look before turning back to Lisa. "Why don't you give your husband a call? Maybe he can check if it's still in your fridge at home." Lisa nodded slowly, reaching for her phone. As she dialed, Mara turned to Tom. "And maybe next time, instead of getting defensive, you could offer to help look for the missing lunch? We're all on the same team here." Tom had the grace to look slightly abashed. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry, Mara." A few moments later, Lisa's face flushed with embarrassment. "It was... it was on the kitchen counter. I forgot to grab it this morning." Mara smiled sympathetically. "Hey, it happens to all of us. Why don't you take my yogurt from the fridge? I can grab something from the café later." As the tension in the room dissipated, Mara couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Crisis averted, at least for now. The morning passed in a whirlwind of check-ins, phone calls, and guest inquiries. Before Mara knew it, it was time for her mid-morning coffee break. She was looking forward to catching up with Jenna again, hoping her friend's infectious enthusiasm would help shake off the lingering unease from the previous night. As she stirred cream into her coffee, Mara felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Her heart leapt, hoping it was Andy, but her face fell slightly when she saw it was just a text message. "Hey babe, sorry to do this, but I have to cancel our lunch date. Sudden meeting came up. Rain check? Love you!" Mara stared at the message, a familiar knot of anxiety forming in her stomach. This was the third time in two weeks that Andy had canceled plans at the last minute. She was about to type out a response when Jenna's cheerful voice interrupted her thoughts. "Earth to Mara! You okay there, space cadet?" Mara looked up, forcing a smile. "Yeah, sorry. Just got a text from Andy. He has to cancel our lunch date." Jenna's brow furrowed in concern. "Again? That's becoming a habit, isn't it?" Mara shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "It's just work stuff. You know how it gets." "Mhmm," Jenna hummed, not sounding entirely convinced. "And how are you feeling about that?" Mara sighed, stirring her coffee absently. "I don't know. I mean, I get that his job is demanding, but... I can't shake this feeling that something's off, you know?" Jenna reached across the table, squeezing Mara's hand. "Have you talked to him about it?" "I've tried, but he always brushes it off. Says it's just a busy period at work." Mara bit her lip, voicing the fear she'd been trying to ignore. "Do you think... do you think he might be having second thoughts? About the wedding, I mean?" Jenna's eyes widened. "What? No way! Mara, that man is crazy about you. Anyone can see that." Mara nodded, wanting to believe her friend's words. "You're right. I'm probably just being paranoid." As they finished their coffee and headed back to work, Jenna gave Mara a quick hug. "Hey, don't let this get you down, okay? I'm sure everything's fine. And if it's not, you know I've got your back, right?" Mara smiled, feeling a rush of gratitude for her friend. "Thanks, Jenna. I don't know what I'd do without you." The rest of the day passed in a blur of routine tasks and guest interactions. As closing time approached, Mara found herself both looking forward to and dreading her dinner with Andy. She was determined to get to the bottom of whatever was going on with him. The restaurant Andy had chosen was more upscale than their usual haunts, which immediately put Mara on edge. Was this a special occasion she had forgotten about? Or was he trying to soften some bad news with fancy surroundings? As she approached their table, she saw Andy already seated, looking handsome in a crisp button-down shirt. He stood as she approached, greeting her with a warm kiss. "You look beautiful," he murmured, pulling out her chair. Mara smiled, some of her anxiety melting away at his familiar touch. "Thanks. You clean up pretty well yourself." As they perused the menus, Andy reached across the table, taking her hand in his. "I'm sorry about canceling lunch today. Things have been... complicated at work lately." Mara nodded, squeezing his hand. "I understand. But Andy, I can't help feeling like there's something you're not telling me. Is everything okay?" A flicker of... something passed across Andy's face before he schooled his features into a reassuring smile. "Everything's fine, babe. Just some big projects in the pipeline. Nothing for you to worry about." As they ordered their meals and sipped their wine, Mara found herself torn between the comfort of Andy's charm and the nagging feeling that he wasn't being entirely truthful. The conversation flowed easily enough, touching on wedding plans and mutual friends, but there was an undercurrent of tension that Mara couldn't quite shake. When Andy excused himself to take a phone call halfway through the main course, Mara felt her earlier doubts resurface. She watched him through the restaurant window, noting the animated way he spoke, the smile that didn't quite reach his eyes when he returned to the table. "Sorry about that," he said, sliding back into his seat. "Just a quick work thing." Mara nodded, pushing her food around her plate. "Andy, you know you can talk to me about anything, right? If something's wrong, or if you're having doubts..." Andy reached across the table, taking both her hands in his. "Mara, look at me. I love you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Whatever's going on at work, it doesn't change that. Okay?" Mara searched his eyes, wanting desperately to believe him. "Okay," she said softly, managing a small smile. As they finished their meal and headed home, Mara felt a confusing mix of emotions swirling in her chest. Andy's words had been reassuring, his touch as loving as ever. But there was still something... off. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. As they said goodnight in front of her apartment building, Andy pulled her close, kissing her deeply. "I love you," he murmured against her lips. "Never doubt that." Mara nodded, returning his kiss with equal fervor. "I love you too." She watched him drive away, a familiar ache in her chest. Whatever was going on with Andy, she was determined to get to the bottom of it. Their future together depended on it.