UNFORGETTABLE MORNING: SINGLE DAD FINDS BREAKFAST ALREADY MADE

The woman hesitated before turning back to face him. Something about her seemed familiar, but Jack couldn’t place it. Before he could ask further, the voices of Emma and Lily echoed from upstairs, “Daddy, where are you?”

Jack glanced between the woman and the stairs. “Please, don’t leave. Let’s talk. I’ll get the girls.” After a brief hesitation, she nodded, agreeing to stay.

Jack hurried upstairs to fetch Emma and Lily. “Come on, girls, we have a surprise guest,” he said, and they eagerly followed him down to the kitchen.

When they entered, the woman looked uncertain, as if she might flee again. Jack whispered, “Please, don’t go. I just want to thank you and understand why you’ve been helping us.”

Lily and Emma stared at her with wide eyes. “Who is she, Daddy?” Lily asked.

“We’re about to find out,” Jack replied. He invited the woman to sit, offering her coffee. After a moment’s hesitation, she quietly agreed.

Once seated, Jack introduced himself and his daughters. “I’m Jack, and these are my daughters, Emma and Lily. We’re grateful for your help, but we’d love to know why.”

The woman took a deep breath and began. “My name is Claire. Two months ago, you helped me when I was in a very bad place.”

Jack furrowed his brow, trying to remember. “I helped you? How?”

“I was lying on the side of the road, weak and desperate. Everyone passed by, but you stopped. You took me to a charity hospital—I was severely dehydrated and could have died. When I woke up, you were gone, but I managed to get your car’s number from the parking guard. I wanted to thank you, so I found your home.”