PART 23: The Morning After

The morning after the anniversary gathering, I found a paper bag outside my office door.

Inside were two loaves of homemade bread and a note from Melissa thanking our staff for the evening.

She said her little boy had helped knead the dough, and she hoped somebody who worked late would take a loaf home.

I carried the bread into the kitchen and left a message for the team.

Nobody needed to interpret it as repayment.