Chapter 4 — Jerry and Mo’s Observations

Third Person

The rain drummed steadily on the tin roof of Jerry’s Tire Shop, creating a soothing rhythm that contrasted with the simmering tension in the waiting area. Jerry leaned against the counter in the garage, a cup of coffee balanced precariously in one hand, while his other hand absently wiped a wrench with a well-worn rag. His sharp eyes swept to the small window that revealed the waiting room, where Kate and Nate occupied opposite corners of the cramped space. Their postures were as mismatched as the chairs they sat on, and yet, there was something curiously magnetic about the dynamic between them.