As I shifted on the hard, plastic chair, the same man from the restaurant sat down beside me. He grabbed my hand and held it between both of his. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did. You just… my mother… I can’t lose her.” He was having trouble getting the words out through his tears, but he finally managed to say, “She’s the most important person in my life.”

I gave him a gentle smile and squeezed the hand wrapped tightly around my palm. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. Do you have any updates?”

He nodded. “They were taking her into surgery a few minutes ago, but I heard one of the doctors say that she would be d-dead right now if it weren’t for you. You were amazing, by the way. Do you want to get married?”

I laughed at his clearly jesting proposal. “That’s quite an offer, but I don’t even know your name.”

“That would probably be helpful. I’m Evan Cavanaugh.” He shook my hand politely as I told him my name. “Do you mind if I sit with you for a while? My father is out of the country on business, and it will be tomorrow morning before he gets here. I just don’t want to be alone right now.”

I really wanted to be by myself—you know, to wallow in self-pity—but this man was clearly hurting and worried about his mother, so I said it was fine. He was actually very nice to talk to, polite and charming. We talked for hours before I realized that it was getting late, and Beau would be expecting me home soon.

“Excuse me, Evan. I need to call Beau and let him know where I am. I’ll need him to come pick me up and take me back to the mall to get my car. After your mother’s surgery, of course. I won’t leave until we’re sure she’s okay.”

“Well, if you’re sure you don’t mind staying that long, I’d be happy to drive you back to your car. It’s the very least I could do.”

While I phoned Beau to let him know I was okay, Evan received a call and listened for a few minutes before he disconnected and focused his watery eyes on mine. “Mother is out of surgery, and her doctor will meet us upstairs in ten minutes,” he said as he stood. We scrambled to the elevators with Evan clinging to my hand the entire time.