“Hi! I’m Dakota. I just moved in across the street.”
I smiled.
“Welcome! I’m Jennifer, and this is my husband, Tony.”
Dakota offered us the cookies.
“I made too many and thought I’d share.”
Tony tasted one.
“These are amazing. You’re welcome to bring cookies anytime.”
Dakota laughed.
I liked her immediately.
She seemed friendly, and I knew moving into a new neighborhood could be lonely.
But after a few days, I began noticing something strange.
Tony usually left for work at about 7:45 every morning.
One Monday, Dakota happened to be outside carrying two takeaway coffees.
She approached him near his car.
“Oh, Tony! I accidentally ordered an extra coffee. Would you like it?”
He accepted it politely.
“Thanks.”
I didn’t think much of it.
But the next morning, she appeared again.
And the morning after that.
By Friday, she seemed to know exactly how Tony liked his coffee.