Chapter 312
It wouldn’t take much–just a little extra rice, a bit more soup each day. It wouldn’t cost her much, but it might mean survival for him.
With Christmas approaching, Andrea thought perhaps this could be her one good deed. A small gesture that might make a world of difference. A faint smile touched her lips as she rose from her chair and headed to the kitchen to prepare her lunch.
Bundled in three layers of wool and a worn overcoat, Andrea still felt the bitter chill seep into her bones as she carefully navigated through the knee–deep snow, clutching a steaming bowl of rice and hotdog curry. Each step was a challenge, her seven–months–pregnant belly making the journey even more
arduous.
“Sir,” she called softly as she reached the bench, her breath visible in the icy air. “I made a little extra today by accident… would you like some?”
The moment the bowl reached his trembling hands, he began devouring the food with a desperation that nearly broke her heart. His striking blue eyes barely glanced at her, too focused on the meal as he shoveled spoonful after spoonful into his mouth. Andrea silently counted the minutes on one hand–it took him less than that to finish.
When he finally looked up, Andrea saw him clearly for the first time. The hollowness in his cheeks, the sharp angles of his bones jutting out from beneath the threadbare layers of clothing. His coat, ripped at the seams, barely shielded him from the bitter cold. She swallowed the lump in her throat as he wordlessly handed the empty bowl back to her.
It was his eyes, though–filled with such quiet vulnerability–that pierced her soul. No one deserved this.
Before she could stop herself, the words spilled out. “You can keep the bowl,” she said softly, offering a small, hopeful smile. “When I bring your dinner tonight, you’ll need it again.”
She hadn’t known what kind of response to expect. Gratefulness? Relief? But what she hadn’t anticipated was the raw disbelief in his empty blue eyes as he stared at her like she had lost her mind.
“Dinner?”
His voice was rough, edged with hoarseness, as if unused for far too long. Yet it was the quiet vulnerability laced within that single word–the sheer disbelief that someone would care enough to feed him again–that unravelled Andrea completely, breaking her heart into pieces she hadn’t known existed.
“How does spaghetti and marinara sauce sound?” Andrea asked, forcing a bright tone even as her heart ached. What has this man been through? she
wondered.
He didn’t reply, only stared at her in disbelief. “Just keep the plate clean, okay?” she added softly, blinking back tears and blaming her pregnancy hormones for the lump in her throat. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t just that. The sheer thought of countless homeless souls suffering through harsh winters made her chest tighten painfully.
She turned to leave, whispering a silent curse under her breath, when his voice, rough and hoarse from disuse, stopped her. “Miss… the spoon.
Andrea turned, finding him holding out the spoon. “You said I could keep the bowl,” he reminded her quietly,
A laugh bubbled out of her unexpectedly, raw and tender. He looked so lost, his striking blue eyes wide with confusion, like a child not understanding what was funny, “The spoon too,” she chuckled softly. “You’ll need it for dinner.”
Later that afternoon, Andrea noticed him through the window. Every few moments, he glanced toward her home, antipation flickering in his weary ey When she stepped outside to take out the trash, he shot up from the bench, holding the bowl and spoon, now spotless, like a child waiting for approval
3:30 pm PPP
Chapter 312
Dear God, how hungry is he? Andrea’s heart clenched painfully.
His face fell when he realized she wasn’t bringing food. Without hesitation, she rushed inside and started dinner early. She filled his bowl with steaming spaghetti, rich marinara, and tender meatballs, handing him a fork along with it. “Good night,” she whispered, unable to watch as he devoured the meal.
She couldn’t bear it–seeing him like that broke her.
Christmas was a week away. The town shimmered with fairy lights, lawns adorned with glowing reindeer, and gift shops bustling late into the night. People bought presents for their loved ones.
But Andrea had no one. No family. No friends. Only the little life growing inside her. Every penny she earned at Johnson’s Feed & Supply went toward surviving and preparing for her baby’s arrival.
Yet, as she watched the man outside her window, frail and forgotten, Andrea whispered a prayer–not for herself, but for him. For a miracle. For happiness to
find him this Christmas.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
