CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: The Desperation to Hide

“Ma’am, you need to leave. You're making the guests uncomfortable,” one of the guards barks, his voice a mix of impatience and disdain.

I wanna protest, to explain that I have nowhere else to go, but the words stop in my throat. I glance at Sammy, his small face pressed against my shoulder, his eyes closed in blissful ignorance of our predicament.

“Please,” I manage to whisper, my voice hoarse. “We just need a place to stay until the rain stops.”

The guard shakes his head, unmoved. “You can't stay here. Move along, or we'll have to call the police.”

The threat of police makes my blood run cold. I can't risk that. Not with Sammy.

Suddenly, there’s a voice, calm but commanding.

“What's going on here?”

I look up to see an old man in a crisp suit stepping out of the restaurant. His silver hair is neatly combed back, and his eyes, though sharp, hold a glint of kindness. The guards immediately step back, their demeanors shifting from authoritative to deferential.

“Sir, this woman is causin