PART 5:

You should. I’m fierce. The fiercest. He dropped her at school and drove to the coffee shop with sketches on his passenger seat. Rough architectural concepts he’d worked on until 2:00 a.m. trying to capture the community center idea. They weren’t polished, weren’t professional portfolio material, but they were honest.

Ariana was already there, same corner table, but this time she wasn’t working. She was just sitting, coffee in hand, staring out the window with an expression Daniel couldn’t read. She looked up when he approached and something in her face shifted. Relief, maybe. Or recognition. You came. Why wouldn’t I? I thought maybe you’d reconsider.

Decide this was too weird. She nodded to the folder under his arm. Did you bring them? Daniel hesitated, then handed over the sketches. Ariana spread them across the table, studying each one with an intensity that made him nervous. These are good. She said finally. They’re rough. They’re honest. That’s better than good.

She looked up. This is what you should be doing, not corporate logos. Logos pay for Sophie’s orthodontist. So do community center designs if you work with the right people. Daniel shook his head. I can’t afford to take on spec work. I’ve got bills, responsibilities. I’m not talking about spec work. I’m talking about a real project, real budget, real timeline. He stared at her.

You’re serious. I’m always serious about architecture. She tapped one of the sketches. This flow here, between the library and meeting spaces. That’s brilliant. And this use of natural light. You’re thinking about how people will move through the space, not just how it looks. Ariana, I can’t accept your money.

It’s not charity. It’s business. My firm is looking to expand into community-focused development. This could be a flagship project. She met his eyes. Unless you’re going to tell me you’re not interested in doing meaningful work. That’s not fair. No, it’s not. She smiled slightly. But it’s true. Daniel looked at his sketches spread across the table, his ideas, his vision, something that could actually matter instead of another soulless corporate rebrand.

I’d need time. He said slowly, “To develop these properly, to make sure they’re right.” You’ll have it. And I’d need control, creative control. I’m not designing something just to have it committed to death. Agreed. And this can’t be about whatever this is. He gestured between them. The coffee, the conversations, this has to be separate.

Ariana’s expression became unreadable. Is that what you want? For this to be separate? I want to know what this is first. Fair enough. She gathered up the sketches, handed them back to him. Take the weekend, think about the project, think about whether you want to do this. Monday, we can talk business. Actually business.

And until then? Until then, she picked up her coffee. Tell me more about Sophie. You said she wanted to be an astronaut chef. The subject change was deliberate, but not unwelcome. Daniel relaxed slightly. This week, last week she wanted to be a veterinarian for space dogs. Are there space dogs? According to Sophie, there will be.

She’s very concerned about their well-being. Ariana laughed, genuine, unguarded. She sounds amazing. She is. She’s everything. Must be hard doing it alone. Sometimes. Daniel paused. But, it’s also clear, you know, with Miranda, everything was complicated. Every decision was a negotiation. Every choice had subtext.

Now, it’s just Sophie and me, simple. Simple can be good. It can, but it can also be lonely. The admission hung between them. Ariana’s expression softened. Yeah, she said quietly. It can. They fell into easier conversation after that. Ariana told him about the waterfront project, the impossible demands from the developers, the planning commissioner who kept requesting more green space without understanding the actual constraints of the site.

Daniel told her about his last branding project, a startup that wanted their logo to really pop without being able to articulate what that meant. Time slipped away. Other customers came and went. The barista changed shifts. Outside, clouds rolled in threatening rain. “I should go,” Ariana said finally, checking her watch.

I have a presentation at 2:00. More impossible demands? Probably. She stood gathering her things. Tomorrow? I thought we were taking the weekend to think. About the project, not about coffee. She smiled. Unless you need to think about that, too. Daniel stood as well. Tomorrow works. Same time? I’ll be here. This time when they said goodbye, Ariana hugged him briefly.

It was quick, almost casual, but Daniel felt the warmth of it long after she’d left. His phone buzzed as he reached his car. Your daughter was right to be suspicious. You are seeing someone. The question is whether you’re going to let yourself admit it. Daniel stared at the message for a long moment, then he typed back. Taking things one coffee at a time.

That’s a very careful answer. I’m a very careful person. I’m starting to notice that. What would happen if you weren’t careful? His thumb hovered over the keyboard. A dozen safe responses occurred to him. Deflections, jokes, ways to keep this light and undefined. Instead, he wrote, “I’d probably end up doing something stupid, like falling for my ex-wife’s sister.

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