Chapter 10 - THE WAITRESS WITH HER OWN DREAMS
Maya was accepted into a social work program the following spring.
She celebrated with a cheap cupcake in her apartment.
No champagne.
No fancy dinner.
Just a small victory that belonged entirely to her.
Roman learned about it through Ethan.
"Maya got into school," the boy announced during dinner.
Roman smiled.
"That's wonderful."
Ethan nodded.
"She's going to help kids."
Roman looked at him.
"She already does."
A few days later, Roman visited Cardinale.
Maya was finishing her shift.
"Congratulations," he said.
She smiled.
"Thank you."
"Social work?"
"Yes."
"That's not an easy field."
"I know."
He studied her.
"Why choose it?"
Maya shrugged.
"Because someone should."
Roman laughed softly.
They began talking more often.
At first, about Ethan.
Then about books.
Music.
Family.
The strange things people did when they were afraid.
Roman discovered that Maya loved old jazz records.
She discovered that Roman secretly hated expensive restaurants.
"Then why do you own one?" she asked.
He smiled.
"Bad investment decisions."
She laughed.
But Maya kept clear boundaries.
She was careful.
Roman was still legally married.
His life was complicated.
And she had worked too hard to become independent to lose herself in someone else's problems.
One evening, Roman asked:
"Would you ever have dinner with me?"
Maya looked at him.
"Not while you're married."
Roman nodded.
"Fair."
She studied him.
"And not while I'm working for you."
He smiled faintly.
"Also fair."
May you like
For the first time in his life, Roman understood that wanting something did not mean he was entitled to have it.
And strangely, that made him respect Maya even more.
