Page 15 of The Valentine Agenda

A knock at the door made them both jump. Hannah opened it to find Mrs. Chen holding a tea tray.

"Pre-date jitters need proper tea," the older woman announced, sweeping in like she'd been invited. Her eyes took in the clothing carnage with practiced wisdom. "Ah. The eternal question—what to wear when your heart is wearing hope?"

"Mrs. Chen..." Hannah started, but Sophie interrupted.

"Please tell her she needs a new dress. She's been trying to convince me that her parent-teacher conference blazer could work with the right accessories."

Mrs. Chen set down her tray on Hannah's small table—currently pushed against the wall to make space for their impromptu fashion show.

"A new dress, yes. But not too new. The best armor is still comfortable." She poured three cups of tea with practiced precision. "When my husband first asked me to dinner, I borrowed my sister's fancy dress. I was so nervous about spilling on it, I could hardly eat."

"This is different," Hannah protested, though she accepted the tea gratefully. "James is... I mean, he's..."

"I think," Mrs. Chen cut in smoothly, "that tea leaves can only show their true flavor in hot water." She stirred her cup thoughtfully. "Just as people show their true selves in warm moments... or cold ones."

Hannah frowned. "What does that mean?"

"It means you should wear the new dress we're about to buy you," Sophie said firmly. "And maybe not speak in tea metaphors on your date."

But Mrs. Chen wasn't finished. "You know why I bring soup to Mr. Thompson every Wednesday? Because he tells me about his regrets. About the chances he didn't take…and ones he wished he hadn't." She fixed Hannah with a gentle but piercing look. "Sometimes the heart sees what it wants to see. But the eyes... the eyes must see what is."

"Mrs. Chen," Hannah said carefully, "it's just dinner."

"Is it?" The older woman stood, adjusting her cardigan. "Then why does your smile look like a question mark?" She patted Hannah's cheek. "Wear something that feels like you. Not like who you think he wants you to be."

After she left, Sophie broke the thoughtful silence. "Well, that was cryptic and vaguely ominous."

"She's just being protective." Hannah tried to sound more confident than she felt. "You know how she is."

"Yeah, wise and usually right." Sophie grabbed her coat. "Come on. Let's find you a dress that splits the difference between 'craft project supervisor' and 'trying too hard.'"

Three hours later, Hannah stood in front of her mirror in a patterned dress. Simple, but beautiful. Like herself, but better.

"There," Sophie said with satisfaction. "Now you look like someone going to dinner at Nero's, not someone serving dinner at Nero's."

Hannah smoothed the fabric nervously. "You don't think it's too much?"

"I think..." Sophie paused, choosing her words carefully. "I think you look beautiful. And I think James Park better deserve it."

"He asked me to dinner," Hannah said softly. "He noticed me."

"Yeah." Sophie's reflection met hers in the mirror. "Just make sure he sees you. The real you. Not just what he wants to see."

Hannah touched the delicate necklace she had bought herself for Christmas—a silver apple pendant that somehow worked perfectly with the dress. "I know what I'm doing."

"Do you?" Sophie's voice was gentle. "Because, as Mrs. Chen would say, your smile still looks like a question mark."

Hannah turned away from the mirror, but not before she caught her own expression—hopeful, nervous, and uncertain.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Hannah

The view from Nero's rooftop terrace was breathtaking. All around them, the city spread out like a carpet of lights, making Hannah feel like she was floating above reality. James had requested a table by the floor-to-ceiling windows, and she couldn't stop staring at the glittering skyline.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" James's voice was warm, attention focused on her in a way that made her cheeks flush. He looked devastating in his perfectly tailored suit, her favorite blue tie catching the soft lighting.

"It's incredible," she managed, trying not to feel overwhelmed by the crystal glasses and multiple forks that probably cost more than her weekly grocery budget. "I've never been anywhere like this."

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