A gentle breeze is blowing through the trees, and the air is filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods.
Sarah is sitting next to Carmela, while the twins are happily playing with their toys. Pedro is sitting across from Carmela, watching her intently as she sips her coffee.
He's trying to figure out how to win her over, but she's not giving him any clues.
"So, how's Max doing these days?" Pedro asked, his tone casual but his eyes fixed on Carmela.
As the words left his lips, Carmela felt a wave of nausea hit her. She coughed, trying to hide her discomfort. She took a sip of her coffee, willing herself to remain calm.
"I don't know, and I don't want to know," she replied, her voice shaking slightly. She could feel Sarah's gaze on her, and she knew her friend was worried about her. But she couldn't bring herself to speak about Max.