Claire never expected a simple act of theft to change the course of her life. She’d worked at Willow’s Market for years—a cozy, corner store cherished by the community. More than just a job, it was a place where she poured her heart into every detail, from arranging the displays just so to leaving handwritten notes of encouragement tucked into shopping bags. But when Logan, the owner’s stern and profit-obsessed son, returned to town, everything began to shift.
With his eye on redeveloping the property, he made it clear: the market’s days were numbered—and so were Claire’s. One quiet afternoon, as the light filtered through the front windows, Claire spotted a young girl slipping a sandwich into her jacket. She rushed after her, instinctively prepared to confront a petty thief. But when she found the girl in a nearby alley, what she saw stopped her in her tracks. The child, no older than nine, had stuck a candle into the sandwich and was softly singing “Happy Birthday” to herself. Alone. Hungry. Forgotten. Claire’s heart broke.
This wasn’t a crime—it was a cry for help. Instead of calling the authorities, Claire brought the girl back to the store, gave her food, and tried to figure out how to help…
