Lila was twenty years old, with a quiet, graceful presence that somehow drew attention without her trying. She’d been working at the restaurant for just over a month, her diligence and speed earning her the respect of her coworkers. But behind her soft smile was a recent tragedy — she was a widow.
She’d married her high school sweetheart, Aaron, who’d been her entire world. But a sudden illness had taken him just months before she gave birth to their daughter. Alone and struggling to pay rent, Lila had spotted a We’re Hiring sign in the restaurant’s window one rainy afternoon. The very next day, she was scrubbing dishes in Martin’s kitchen.
