“Of course, Mr. Whitmore.”
But before she could call anyone, a young waitress stepped forward.
“I can help.”
Her name tag read Maya.
She looked about twenty-two, with soft brown hair tied back and kind eyes that immediately noticed the children.
“I’ll stay with them,” she said gently.
Daniel hesitated.
He studied her face the way a protective father studies anyone near his children.
She seemed calm. Warm.
Something about her presence felt… safe.
“Thank you,” he said quietly.
“I’ll be quick.”
He headed toward the elevator.
But halfway there, something made him pause.
He glanced back.
The moment he saw made him stop walking.
Maya had crouched down beside the girls’ table so she was at their eye level. She wasn’t speaking loudly or trying to entertain them the way many adults did with children.
Instead, she reached into her apron pocket.
And pulled out a small teddy bear.
It was light brown with a blue ribbon around its neck.
Daniel frowned slightly.
But the girls’ reaction stunned him.
Their eyes lit up.
Not the polite smiles they usually gave strangers.
Real excitement.
Maya gently placed the teddy bear on the table.
Then something unusual happened.
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