Chapter 10 - A Birthday Surprise
It was Sophie’s eighth birthday. After the bakery closed, Elena had baked a small chocolate cake, and the two of them sat in the upstairs apartment, laughing as Sophie blew out the candles.
Just as Elena was cutting the cake, the buzzer downstairs rang. She glanced at the clock—it was past nine. Heart racing slightly, she checked the security monitor. Standing on the sidewalk, holding a neatly wrapped box, was Vincent Corleto.
Elena hurried downstairs and unlocked the heavy door. Vincent stepped inside, looking slightly out of place in the warm, flour-dusted shop.
"Mr. Corleto," Elena said, genuinely surprised. "Please, come in."
"I apologize for the late hour," Vincent said, taking off his hat. "I remembered it was Sophie's birthday."
Sophie, hearing the voices, peeked around the corner of the stairs. Her eyes lit up. "Mr. Vincent!"
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She ran down the stairs and, without hesitation, wrapped her arms around his legs. Vincent stiffened for a second, unaccustomed to such pure, uncalculated affection, before gently patting her head. He handed her the box. Inside was a beautifully bound, illustrated edition of classic fairy tales.
"Happy birthday, Sophie," he said softly.
