A woman found an old coat on a bench. When she took it in her hands, she was horrified.

the door to the commercial Department of a large Trading Company swung wide open banging loudly against the stopper the employees seeing the newcomer fell silent for a moment before a flurry of mouse clicks filled the office as they hastily minimized or closed tabs with nonwork related content no one wants to be in the crosshairs of Craig the team frankly disliked their ambitious boss but had to tolerate him without complaint as he was the General director's son Benjamin Norris adored his offspring without measure and was incredibly proud of him consequently as soon as his son returned

from studying at a prestigious University a position as deputy director for commercial Affairs and development was instantly created for him the new boss made no effort to understand the nuances of the work process considered his opinion the only correct one and treated his subordinates like powerless surfs at times he would transform into a despot easily depriving anyone who fell under his angry gaze of their bonuses the radio continued to mumble unintelligibly broadcasting another wonders love laments as Craig without wasting time on greetings demanded who is Hayward here a girl at the table near the wall

responded it's me the man threateningly shaking a stack of papers approached her table and thundered Hayward why is such a gross mistake made here do you have poor eyesight or no eyes at all my eyesight is fine I have eyes the young brunette replied artlessly more out of fear than a desire to infuriate her shouting boss Mr Norris my report is correct I checked it several times so it's not your eyesight but worse your brain isn't right the Furious man threw the stack of papers onto his subordinate's desk explain where these numbers came from did

you not do well in school does 2 + 2 equal 5 to you have you never heard of EXL formulas we've got enough pretty little fools without you well I'll deal with all the lazy and untalented ones those who don't want to work or don't know how to work can quick hit the street Andrea Haywood at whom Craig had just H so many insults looked at the papers on her desk and suddenly burst out laughing the sound left her colleagues stunned the deputy director turned purple but didn't have an opportunity to unleash another derogatory trade

the girl stood up handed the enraged boss the papers he had thrown and said Craig you're in the wrong place the document you're so dissatisfied with is an accounting report its author is my Nam sake SAA Hayward she works in the accounting department next door then why did you respond the man continued indignant and oblivious to what he was being told the girl patiently explained I told you that SAA and I are namesakes my name is Andrea her colleagues tried to disguise their laughter as coughing and sneezing which only angered Craig further he prepared to

say something but Andrea beat him to it you mixed up the Departments but I'm glad you did if you hadn't just yelled at me out of a bad mood and Power Trip I'd probably still be sitting here trembling like a leaf but that's enough I quit I hope you or your father won't make me work two weeks notice or withhold my dismissal other otherwise I'll have to go to the labor inspectorate I have nothing to lose in truth Andrea wanted to say much more to the nasty Tyrant but she held back what was the point

of wasting her time the pompous and overconfident Craig was unlikely to realize quickly that his odious leadership style would lead nowhere good so the girl simply sat down quickly typed out her resignation printed the document and turned off her computer Andrea reached the general director's office without any problems the tone of Mr Norris who saw his subordinate's resignation letter and was clearly unaware of his son's conflict with the manager was almost affectionate why are you leaving our friendly team what's wrong at that moment Craig burst into the office without knocking and said in a petulant

voice fire her don't even think twice such employees shouldn't work for us if I were you father I would have gotten rid of this insolent lady yesterday Andrea usually silent and modest was so offended that she became indignant Craig how am I insolent I simply pointed out that you mixed up the Departments and started yelling at me unreasonably actually I have every right to point out mistakes in documents Craig snapped back toning it down a bit but that did nothing to calm Andrea if you only wanted to point out an error in a document you

would have called the internal phone number which by the way is listed under the name of the author but that wasn't good enough for you you wanted to show what a big boss you are that's why you burst into the office and started yelling at me without making any sense you see father no respect for the chain of command fire her immediately what an impertinent one she humiliates the bosses in public undermines my authority in the company and this will negatively affect our results I'm sure of it she's being clever and pointing out mistakes and

why are the signs in the corridor hanging so strangely it's unclear where to enter Andrea sighed tiredly she was in a bad mood even without this unpleasant turmoil her relationship with her boyfriend Jim had broken down and now on top of her plate she had to look for a new job Mr Norris shifted his gaze from his son to the employer pondered for a moment then asked the girl directly do you agree to be dismissed today of course with payment of all that is due under the law yes Andrea answered briefly and after a few

seconds took the statement signed by the director I'll instruct the accounting department to ensure you're paid without delay and fairly Mr Norris informed her and the Personnel department will tell you what else is required of you all formalities were settled before the lunch break apparently the director decided to demonstrate that he kept his word however it didn't matter so much now colleagues stunned by the rapid dismissal of a hardworking and modest girl said many nice words to her and wished her well in finding a wonderful job Andrea didn't want to go home she could go

to the store by Delicacies cook a delicious dinner and celebrate a new stage of her life with her favorite man except that Jim's workday at the car service was irregular in fact he could work as they say until the last client meanwhile the girl became sad she didn't want to be alone now Andrea understood perfectly well that all her optimism about the dismissal was nothing more than bravado in front of colleagues and bosses who she thought weren't upset about her departure certainly it was she who should be sad where to go now to look for

a job would it be possible to find a vacancy with a normal salary and preferably with a good team Andrea understood perfectly well that nothing particularly lucrative or prestigious would be available to her after all she wasn't a daughter wife or even a distant relative of a rich or powerful man so she would have to work hard and be content with a modest position and salary Jim was unlikely to help with work no matter how sad it was to admit she was just a cohabitant to him and for almost two years he was in no

hurry to propose her timid hints made a couple of times Jim seemed not to notice or immediately changed the subject Andrea of course was offended to feel in a suspended state but she feared that a direct Frank conversation about legalizing their relationship would put an end to it so now she kept silent about the desired marriage and didn't even stutter about the fact that she would like to become a mother lost in unhappy thoughts Andrea didn't notice that her feet had brought her to the shopping center the girl stepped through the doors which opened to

her liking and found herself in a realm of boutiques and small shops cell phone salons and stalls where staff would give her a manicure and even apply makeup the top floor of the center was occupied by cinema halls and a food court but Andrea didn't want to go there at all taking advantage of the moment she decided to look for a new down jacket for the rapidly approaching winter after all even despite the dismissal and the prospect of austerity it was still necessary to stay warm but her mood wasn't the most suitable for shopping and

after about an hour tired and sweating she went to get groceries the bags were unexpectedly heavy and deciding to be clever Andrea caught a cap from the shopping center to Jim's work so they could return home together at the beginning of their relationship they'd done that often Andrea would sit quietly in the room equipped for clients who sometimes stayed to wait for the end of car repair work when Jim finished work he'd take Andrea's hand and lead her to his apartment or if he had a car and the weather allowed he'd drive her around the

city on the way they would stop at a fast food joint and pick up some food to eat outdoors it was so romantic but lately Andrea couldn't remember when they had spent such a nice time together because of the Frantic and aimless shopping the girl didn't think to call her beloved she only thought about it when she entered the waiting room to put down her purchases before heading to the body repair area where Jim usually worked however her plans were thwarted because Andrea saw her favorite a little earlier than she expected but there was no

joy in it Jim was sprawled on the sofa embracing some blonde that's right if the day starts out bad then by evening nothing good will come of it Andrea thought bitterly Jim looked pleased even happy the man didn't even think of pulling away from the girl unfamiliar to Andrea and asked in a calm not at all embarrassed tone why did you come just stopping by out of old friendship Andrea replied cooly then she turned around and went to Jim's apartment to get her things surprisingly she didn't feel like making a scene at all probably she

had exhausted her limit on conflicts earlier that day at her former job it didn't take long to pack her things Andrea grinned sadly realizing that all her stuff fit into the same two bags she had brought to Jim's apartment she hadn't accumulated much the girl looked around she remembered remembered how she had invested in repairs updating Furniture appliances thinking that she should help her beloved what a fool she hadn't even considered that she might have to leave this cozy place after Jim's betrayal after all her friend Vanessa had warned her not to spend her savings

on her boyfriend's apartment but to no avail they had even quarreled just a month ago when Andrea told her about buying a coffee machine Vanessa had twirled her finger at Andrea and quite accurately as it turned out predicted Jim will leave you remember my words if after a year of dating a man hasn't made a marriage proposal then he won't do it especially when even long cohabitation hasn't pushed him to take this important step there's nothing to wait for Andrea angrily dismissed her friend's concerns claiming that there was nothing to discuss she accused her friend

of jealousy boasting that Jim had his own apartment and a job Andrea went even more far she called Vanessa's Tom a lazy deeply offended Vanessa cut off communication with Andrea time however proved Vanessa right Andrea eventually realized she had merely been funding Jim's apartment Renovations suppressing her urge for retaliation Andrea's better judgment prevailed she gathered her bags and groceries locked the door and dropped her keys in the mailbox for the deceitful gym before leaving stepping onto the city streets Andrea felt the cool Autumn evening settling in she urgently needed to find a place to stay

for the night but her options were limited Andrea tried calling her only relative older sister but the phone was unavailable the girl was sure that her older sister anncy was at home now so she even got a little angry despite their past issues she Nancy could have answered the call deciding that an unannounced visit was justified under her difficult circumstances Andrea opted to walk rather than spend money on a cab she headed towards the house where she once was happy and needed now occupied by her sister's family Bittersweet Memories flooded back as Andrea approached making

each step feel heavier as the familiar entrance came into view Andrea's throat tightened and tears welled up in her eyes for the first time that difficult day she didn't have the keys to the intercom so she dialed the number of the apartment where she had spent her childhood Nancy it's me can you let me in Andrea asked upon hearing her sister's Voice through the speaker all right come on up Nancy replied Andrea tried to convince herself that she had only imagined the displeasure in ny's tone as she hurried up to the apartment the chilly re

ception however confirmed her fears Nancy didn't rush to embrace her younger sister despite not having seen each other for months she didn't even invite Andrea to the kitchen where the sounds of her husband and sons having dinner could be heard noticing the bags Andrea carried Nancy asked flatly what's happened to you Andrea a lot Nancy to cut a long story short I resigned from my job today and broke up with Jim I was hoping I could stay here for a while until I find a new apartment and job Nancy's refusal though not entirely unexpected still

stung Andrea I sympathize with you of course but this isn't the right place for you to stay you know how you and Sam can't stand each other you're bound to quarrel even if you just cross paths in the kitchen I shouldn't deal with that stress right now Nancy stroked her belly which didn't look especially noticeable on her figure which had grown fat after the birth of two children Andrea tried to be polite well congratulations Andrea's nephews burst into the hallway shouting hello before rushing to their room arguing about which game to play on the console

their father appeared shortly after upon seeing Andrea he grimaced not even attempting to hide his dislike well well I hope you won't stay long Andrea shot back don't you worry Sam I'll be gone soon and you can continue spoiling my sister's life uninterrupted attempting to diffuse the conflict Nancy turned to her husband Sam please deal with the boys before they start fighting over the game unperturbed by Andrea's presence Sam picking his teeth headed for the nursery casting only a dismissive glance at her Nancy tried to smooth over the awkwardness come on I'll make some tea

and feed you you must be hungry I can't help with much else but there are plenty of lodging options now hotels hosts you name it Andrea declined but Nancy feeling guilty about refusing her sister offered at least leave some of your things here so you're not carrying such a heavy load you can collect them once you found a place I can also ask about Job vacancies I could get you a sales position right away thank you Nancy I really appreciate your support and suggestions Andrea replied I'd prefer to leave my things here for now and

I'll pass on the food I need to arrange a place to sleep all right let's put your things in the closet then we'll go to the kitchen and you can search for a place to stay Andrea handed her sister the grocery bag here are the groceries i' had planned A celebratory dinner for quitting my job but then decided not to leave the Delicacies for Jim too much for him Nancy sighed she had never liked her sister's boyfriend she felt partly responsible for Andrea's situation knowing that she had moved in with Jim out of desperation rather

than overwhelming love it had become unbearable for Andrea to stay in her parents apartment while Andrea searched for accommodation Nancy warmed up soup mashed potatoes and cutlets setting the table and Brewing fresh tea I can't let you go hungry let's eat and then you can continue your search I'll call you tomorrow afternoon or you call me Andrea suddenly remembered Nancy is your phone not working I tried to call and warn you as I was coming but I couldn't get through oh the boys must have messed with it again Nancy exclaimed they still use push button

phones but sometimes they beg to play games on mine as if the console isn't enough Sam insisted on buying it saying our son's dream should come true he spent a fortune on that thing and we have to keep buying new games for it too the Aromas wafting from the food were so homey and familiar that Andrea despite thinking she couldn't eat a bite discreetly cleared all the plates and emptied her teacup Nancy thank you so much I didn't realize how hungry I was until I tasted it it's delicious as if our mom had cooked it

herself Nancy smiled sadly though a mother herself she still desperately missed her parents who had died 7 years ago in a terrible accident the wound of loss had never healed trying to cope with her grief Nancy had slowly begun mastering recipes from her mother's cookbook which contained the most successful versions of various dishes from baked goods to Winter preserves you're welcome sis the hostess said after a moment of silence Nancy added I apologize for everything but I really can't let you stay overnight it's all right Nancy I understand please forgive me as well I wasn't

very gentle with my words back then either probably the sisters would have started crying but at that moment Sam came into the kitchen and said Nancy go deal with your brats yourself all you want to do is talk your real family isn't important to you Andrea didn't bother reminding him that she was part of the family and Rose to leave risking her husband's displeasure Nancy asked her younger sister where will you go Andrea you haven't had an opportunity to find a place to live yet trying to appear as carefree as possible Andrea improvised oh I'll

call Vanessa she lives in our neighborhood so it won't take long to get there Nancy come can't you hear the screaming in the nursery say goodbye to your sister and go deal with it much to Andrea's annoyance Nancy hurriedly said goodbye and went to fulfill her oppressive and lazy husband's demands Andrea left the apartment and once on the street called her friend with whom she had been quarreling Vanessa responded almost instantly and without even asking the reason for the call immediately invited her over it wasn't far the old five story building recently painted a cheerful

fuchsia was just a block away and half an hour later her friend invited her cly as if there had been no quarrel between them come in Andrea Tom's working the night shift if you don't have to get up early we can sit and chat at our Leisure I've made dinner would you like to eat Vanessa acted as if there had been no spat so Andrea dared to address the Urgent issue at hand no thanks I'm not hungry my sister fed me to the brim Vanessa I have a more pressing problem than hunger I have nowhere

to live I know your space is tight but please take me in for at least a few days Vanessa waved her hands well I have no objection at all the living room is all yours thank you Vanessa all I want is a roof over my head Jim and I had a fight just as you predicted I was very wrong about him him the friend realizing Andrea would share her troubles didn't interfere in Andrea's confess and so it happened it took only one question I still don't understand why you and your sister quarreled so sharply then

wasn't everything amicable at first glance you even took your nephews out more often than she did I'm sorry of course but I've always thought that you and Jim only started living together out of desperation Andrea nodded you're right again I ran away from home I haven't told anyone about it but I feel like I'll burst if I don't share it with someone when our parents were still alive and Nancy was pregnant with her oldest son she moved back home it all happened because Sam started having problems in his business and he even had to sell

their apartment we were cramped but all in good spirits we hoped that soon enough my brother-in-law would earn enough to buy a house again and then as you know my parents died I didn't care about the legal formalities I did as Sam advised I refused to inherit from my parents he explained it would cost less and I didn't have much money I didn't expect any trickery Nancy and I had become Incredibly Close Matt was only a year old and he Frankly Speaking became our Salvation from all this nightmare taking care of him was all that

kept us going then Lee was born and Matt started school and then as if a black cat ran between Nancy and me our relationship deteriorated sharply Sam who had rejoiced when I refused the inheritance and assured me that the doors of my father's house were always open to me changed he said my presence was no longer desirable Nancy supported him I didn't tell anyone but she accused me of flirting with Sam and he The Jerk as I realize now managed to convince her of that but the most hurtful thing was that my nephews who were

so fond of me suddenly cooled towards me today they greeted me as if I were a stranger and that's how it goes in my life first everything's great and then it all goes wrong with you too as you remember a quarrel almost out of the blue with Jim it's not clear what happened at all Vanessa almost jumped on the spot blurting out Andrea you must have been jinxed well not jinxed I've read about it everything seems fine then bang it all falls apart like a sand castle oh it's nothing I probably just don't handle conflicts

well what's the big deal today I could have simply told that puffed up turkey Craig that he mixed up the offices but no I didn't think I could lose my job and started mocking him as a result I'm sitting here now disturbing your rest however Vanessa was sure of her stance and continued to convince her friend no Andrea all sorts of mystical things aren't nonsense I have a coworker she was suffering too everything was going wrong for her and then one day her problems started falling away like DED mud almost as if by Magic well

of course the girls and I pested her with questions and she admitted that she had gone to a fortune teller we of course also began asking to share the sorceress's contacts reluctantly she shared only she turned out to be quite selective she doesn't agree to read fortunes for just anyone she'll talk on the phone beforehand listen to just a few phrases and immediately reject some people saying there's no point in them coming to her and that she won't agree to read their Fortune she arranges meetings with others she agreed to see me only once about

a year and a half ago she drew the cards and told me what to do and how to do it oh Vanessa are you kidding me how did you fall for such a thing all magicians and fortune tellers psychics and the like are just swindlers with good psychological skills they take a advantage of people's gullibility and swindle money I don't believe in crystal balls and magic cards Vanessa didn't back down maybe you're partly right I didn't believe it myself either but Mary is not a fraud in any way she doesn't even ask for payment in

money but in products listen Andrea what do you have to lose if you go to this Fortune Tor at least it won't get worse that's for sure it just can't get get any worse you just need to call Mary beforehand and make an appointment well shall I give you the fortune teller's phone number or are you going to keep suffering like this Andrea smiled her mood gradually improved from communicating with her cheerful and straightforward friend as it always did and again she didn't want to end a difficult day with another quarrel go ahead Vanessa what

choice do I have I know you if you've decided to do me good you won't leave me alone that's right I won't maybe she won't agree to see me Andrea muttered quietly entering the sequence of numbers dictated by her friend into her smartphone making sure Andrea had noted the number correctly Vanessa summarized it's getting late now you call her in the morning be sure to do it I can't control it unfortunately I have to go to work early but be warned I'll demand a full report from you I'll let let Tom know you're our guest

so rest easy in the morning Andrea dialed the fortune teller's number after a couple of rings a young voice answered it lacked the horseness or any mystical qualities the girl had expected the fortune teller Mary asked about the nature of her inquiry paused briefly then agreed to see her she set the time for their session and gave directions meanwhile Vanessa's husband returned home he greeted Andrea discreetly and she to avoid complications and not to disturb his rest after the night shift hastily departed over breakfast at the bakery the girl pondered the changes of the past

24 hours just yesterday she had planned her workdays and weekend plans with Jim at this very table today she had nowhere to rush all that remained was to browse job ads and await nany's call perhaps she could find a suitable position after the breakfast Andrea wandered through stores not for shopping but to scrutinize the advertisements on bulletin boards and doors she even considered retail knowing vacancies were plentiful in that field this potential job offered at least the illusion that she wouldn't starve finally Andrea bought groceries to pay the fortune teller and set off the bus

was crowded with no available seats the heavy bag w weighed down her arm and she mentally chided herself for embarking on what she feared might be a futile Adventure Mary's dwelling turned out to be a small wooden house nestled in the shadow of newly built highrises compared to them it seemed a faded relic of the past yet how cozy this Relic was despite the Towering buildings clearly blocking sunlight from the yard colorful Aster and other flowers Andrea couldn't name bloomed behind a low wooden fence in this vibrant Oasis improbably thriving in the urban jungle the

typical City smell of exhaust fumes was absent instead like a greeting from a distant childhood the fragrance of Linden blossoms filled the air quite unexpected for Mid Autumn Andrea snorted incredulously could this surprising Aroma be the start of an elaborate ruse is there a hidden diffuser somewhere spraying scent making the client feel they're in some truly magical place after such preparation even nonsense might be perceived so critically Mary who emerged onto the porch accompanied by a large striped cat gave Andrea a mixed impression there was no witchy flare to the hostess's attire just a simple

light cotton dress and cozy thick hand knitted slippers no colorful scarves amulets or other mystical AC ement good of you not to be late Mary praised instead of a greeting come in Andrea opened the gate squinting at the riotously colorful flowers approached the porch and said hello the cat leapt down from the steps and rubbed against the guests jeans seeking attention watching this the hostess said Mars stop pestering let her pass contrary to what you think Andrea didn't come here to pet you but on business come in the fortune teller repeated Mars isn't rushing but

you and I have work to do put the bag on the table in the hall Andrea followed Mary then sat modestly on the chair her Hostess indicated the room also lacked any witchy Ambience instead featuring a confusing mix of styles and eras a hand knitted tablecloth was protected by modern flexible glass an ultra trendy ergonomic chair stood next to an antique dresser a modern laptop occupied the computer desk Mary hissed at the cat who was sniffing curiously at Andrea's package she took out a deck of large cards and began shuffling them while scrutinizing her visitor

suddenly instead of explaining her problems Andrea blurted out sincerely your cat is wonderful I wish he'd told me about him I'd have brought treats your flowers are also incredibly beautiful it's surprising they bloom in such low light conditions I even thought I smelled lyen blossoms the fortune teller nodded silently at the compliments upon hearing about the unusual Aroma she smiled and said is that so you smelled lynon very interesting then she handed the visitor a deck with the cards face down and instructed shaffle them yourself Andrea obeyed and Mary began laying out the cards with

their beautiful images the fortune teller studied them carefully but contrary to the client's expectations didn't begin to narrate past present and future instead she gathered all the cards from the table again and said you'll soon face a choice to act rationally or follow your heart your fate will depend on your decision if you heed Your Mind One path opens if you follow your emotions you'll find yourself in quite a tale and this trial will make you better and stronger than you are now the fortune teller fell silent discreetly removed the cards and stood up signaling

the end of the session Andrea felt slightly cheated as the entire consultation had lasted barely 3 minutes the girl gathered her courage and asked is that all the fortune teller nodded and Andrea deciding not to confront her ended the conversation politely all right Mary thank you she stroked the cat which had returned for more affection and bid farewell to the fortune teller Mary added Andrea don't betray yourself act according to your conscience and everything will turn out right for you goodbye goodbye Andrea replied with no pressing engagements Andrea decided to go for walk the wind

had suddenly died down as if by conspiracy and the clouds had scattered freeing the Sun from its prison the weather was pleasant thinking she should take advantage of Nature's gift perhaps the last warmth of the fading Autumn she headed to the park a few blocks away halfway there Andrea received a call from Vanessa who was eager to know about her friend's visit to the fortune teller come on tell me how it went what did Mary say to you Andrea's opinion was harsh and she didn't mince words with her friend my opinion hasn't changed fortune telling

is nonsense Mary just spouted philosophical gibberish generic phrases that could apply to anyone wait tell me in detail how did it go realizing the conversation might drag on Andrea who had reached the park sat down on the nearest bench an oldfashioned plaid coat lay on one Edge but it didn't bother her she figured the owner might have removed it to exercise and would return soon yielding to her friend's insistence Andrea recounted the visit to the fortune teller in detail Vanessa was genuinely surprised listen I don't understand at all it's as if you saw an entirely

different woman even the description doesn't match but that's not the point Mary I talked to had a totally different demeanor she spoke at length dealt cards and Drew extras she must have talked to me for about 40 minutes strange an apologetic note crept into Vanessa's voice and Andrea reassured her friend it's no big deal I don't regret going at all I got out distracted myself from silly Wares and that's good plus I got to pet a beautiful cat well it's good you can find the positive in everything oh and I meant to say in all

the rush I forgot to give you the apartment Keys Tom and I are going to the Moon movies want to join us no thanks Vanessa I don't have time for a movie don't worry I'll find a place to stay just let me know when you'll be back Vanessa gave an estimated return time and hurriedly said goodbye okay we've got to run see you later Andrea moved the smartphone from her ear glanced at the screen and tucked it into her pocket she was surprised to realize she'd been chatting with her friend for nearly half an hour

and the co boat's owner still hadn't returned meanwhile the weather had suddenly changed the Sun as if ashamed of its unseasonable warmth hid behind leaden gray clouds a steady rain began to fall Andrea was about to leave when she felt a sudden concern for the coat's owner what could have happened judging by the coat's style its owner wasn't young and there could have been health issues mentally praising herself for bringing an umbrella Andrea opened opened it and stood up moving to Shield the coat from the rain she didn't sit down but Twisted in place searching

for the unknown owner she considered the possibility that the coat no longer needed and perhaps too large for its owner had been left for someone else to take but usually such charitable donations were left near trash bins who would stage such a giveaway in the park where the chances of someone taking it were much lower Andrea increasingly worried that the coat's owner might have had an accident she picked up the coat intending to check its pockets for a phone or perhaps a document but suddenly felt uncomfortable rumaging through someone else's belongings felt invasive and wrong

the fortune teller's words suddenly came to mind logically she should leave the coat where it was and go to a cafe to wait until it was time to return to Tom and Vanessa's apartment but her conscience wouldn't allow it how could she live with herself if she had left a helpless person in an almost deserted Park Andrea bristled at the strange realization that she indeed faced the most difficult Choice the fortune teller had mentioned sighing she pulled a wallet from the stranger's coat pocket as expected it was nearly empty inside was only a receipt from

a chain Pharmacy the name of the purchased blood pressure medication indirectly confirmed her guess that the coats own owner was an elderly woman however the payment was made in cash this receipt would only be useful if the pharmacy had video surveillance and would allow her to view the footage to see who had made the purchase but it was unlikely that a private individual would be granted access to such information after a few more minutes Andrea picked up her coat and walked through the park hoping to find the owner of the Lost item the park was

almost deserted and none the few passes by she stopped had seen an elderly woman without outerwear Guided by some Sixth Sense Andrea climbed up to the stage of the dilapidated summer Bandstand and noticed an object in the corner cautiously approaching she almost shrieked with fright realizing that an unconscious elderly woman lay there dialing Emergency Services Andrea explained the situation to the operator a calm female male voice advised her how to act without harming the woman and instructed her to wait for the ambulance Andrea covered the unfortunate woman with her own coat to keep her warm

while waiting after a few minutes the woman stirred and tried to get up an excited Andrea began talking to her but the woman was disoriented barely aware of her surroundings but the woman was disoriented barely aware of her surroundings and couldn't remember how she ended up on the stage the arriving Medics determined that the victim had a closed head injury likely not from an accidental fall the woman gave her name as June re but couldn't provide her address there were no documents on her and Andrea quietly added to the conversation I found a coat that

looks like it belongs to Mrs re but it was quite far from here in the park I don't remember I don't remember anything Mrs re failed sorrowfully someone has hit you hard on the head said the paramedic sympathetically you need an x-ray and hospital care Mrs re was unsteady so Andrea helped the crew escort her to the ambulance on the way she quietly answered the Curious young nurse's questions though she couldn't provide much information when they reached the ambulance the doctor suggested to Andrea we're taking her to the Central City Hospital if it's it's convenient

come with us between you and me it's better if someone's there with the patient also since she's undocumented and the wound is likely criminal in origin we'll need to record your information and talk to the police all right I'd be happy to it's actually more convenient for me from the hospital I was just in the neighborhood on business and happened to be in the park they reached the hospital quickly despite the traffic however Andrea ended up staying there for a long time she even received a call from a worried Vanessa who had already returned from

the movie with Tom listen where did you disappear to our pizza is getting cold and you're still not here Vanessa eat without me I found an unconscious woman in the park I'm at the hospital now they're processing her oh Andrea it's dangerous to let you go anywhere alone You'll Always Find an adventure on your backside okay call me if anything happens with these words Vanessa ended the call and Andrea was summoned by the nurse there's a policeman and the victim's relatives waiting for you in the hall they want to talk to you when Andrea stepped

into the Hall she was greatly surprised to see people she knew very well standing next to the uniformed man for Craig and Benjamin Norris the appearance of a recently fired employee was equally surprising the policeman broke the silent scene as I see it was you who found Mrs re in the park yes that's the name she gave when she regained Consciousness the policeman began to ask more questions but he was suddenly interrupted by Craig's shrill voice this Haywood has Criminal Intent written all over her face she's seeking revenge for being dismissed by our family she

must have followed my grandmother somehow then knocked her out in that Backwater park and decided to play the noble savior what was she doing in that Park ask her Andrea was confused the director's surname wasn't re at all and it seemed impossible that he had any connection to the woman moreover the clothing of the woman she found didn't match her son's social status and of course Andrea hadn't expected to face such vile accusations for her good deed she wasn't going to mention her visit to the fortune teller but otherwise she had nothing to hide so

looking at the policeman as confidently as she could she said she just wanted to take a walk then shifting her gaze to her former superiors she added as you well know I'm unemployed now so I can go out whenever and wherever I want check it out my grandmother's purse will probably have hayward's fingerprints on it Craig persisted Andrea had to explain again trying to be convincing of course they will because I picked up the purse and looked inside hoping to find something that would lead to its owner Craig continued his accusations no longer mincing his

words I'm telling you she's the one who knocked my grandmother on the head she took off her coat and then made up this silly story no intelligence no imagination seeing the resentment and anger on Andrea's face Mr Norris cut his son off that's enough Craig stop making unsubstantiated accusations everything needs to be properly investigated let's leave it to the competent authorities currently I'm more concerned about how mom is feeling than anything else I'm going to find a doctor come with me Craig because I'm afraid that you'll make a mess of things here that won't be

good for anyone the policeman having escorted the men away with a glance sympathetically advised Andrea I'm generally a good judge of character and a pretty good one at that between you and me I don't believe you're guilty but no one can predict how the case will turn out judging by how this man is acting with a watch on his arm worth as much as my car you might need a lawyer Andrea thanked the policeman for his advice gave him the address of her temporary stay and exhausted went to her friend's house upon learning the details

of the incident Vanessa became Furious and began to berate Craig what a scoundrel how can you do good if you get kicked for your gratitude right away you help and then you're the one to blame Tom raised his voice by the way the cop gave you sound advice you should hire a lawyer then you should even Sue this insolent man for defamation and get decent compensation Andrea sighed heavily here are the trials predicted by the fortune teller the girl went to bed planning to visit her sister the next morning and asked for help in finding

and paying for a lawyer Nancy Having learned about Andrea's predicament griped you need a good expensive lawyer now you've crossed such rich people I didn't cross anyone's path I just didn't pass by Andrea protested and anyway judging by that coat which caused all this one couldn't guess its owner was Benjamin Norris's mother I think it's from the previous era all right Nancy interrupted stroking her belly I know you you wouldn't have passed by anyway but that's not the point now it seems we can't even find half the fee for a decent specialist we'll have to

raise money from everyone we know oh why did you have to go to that Park you're a fool Andrea Sam present at the conversation chimed in well you saw an unconscious woman but why get into a fight you should have run away from there at the very least you could have called an ambulance that's all it's better not to even give your details they'll torture you in the worst case which you're now threatened with they'll drag you through the courts Andrea's mood plummeted she returned to Vanessa's apartment barely able to move her legs over her

heavy thoughts in the living room another surprise awaited the girl and an unfamiliar man whose features resembled Mr Norris's he saw her and Rose from his chair the man looked huge in the tiny room and having bumped his head on the light fixture on the ceiling was greatly embarrassed Vanessa introducing her guest glowed like a son Andrea this is Robert ree he's the youngest son of the woman you rescued yesterday and your former director Mr Norris is his half brother the man Gallant ly kissed Andrea's hand and began to thank her Andrea you will now

always be a welcome guest in our family please call me Robert I apologize for the unpleasant emotions you experienced I can't thank you enough for being in the park at that moment and not passing by as soon as I heard from my brother that our mom had an accident I immediately bought a plane ticket and rushed straight to the hospital from the airport it's a miracle that you found her the doctor said that if it had been a little longer the consequences of the impact would have been much more severe Vanessa chimed in gratefully it's

good that your family has a sensible person yesterday our kind-hearted Andrea was accused of a crime by your nephew her former boss we've even started looking for a lawyer Robert waved his hands dismissively again I deeply apologize olze and am ready to compensate you for any moral damages you name Craig is Young hot-headed and frankly a bit foolish Andrea please forgive my nephew he always speaks before thinking and doesn't understand people at all neither my brother nor the hired private detective had the slightest suspicion that you were involved in the attack I assure you the

real perpetrator won't get away with it benjam and I will use every connection we have to find him my brother's at Mom's hospital and I'm here on his behalf to tell you that you can return to work on Monday the position Remains the Same but Benjamin has promised to increase your salary to everyone's surprise Andrea refused Vanessa elbowed her demanding an explanation Andrea confessed I don't think Craig will welcome my return and and he'll be looking for reasons to fire me again Robert smiled well my brother won't allow that now but there's another option Vanessa

mentioned you have nowhere to live and I had an idea how would you feel about moving to another city is anything keeping you here no Andrea Shrugged except Vanessa but I'm already abusing her hospitality and testing her husband's patience the man smiled warmly then Andrea I invite you to the town where my mother and I live I'll provide you with a job and a place to live guaranteed you are very brave and kind and this should be rewarded after her sudden dismissal and parting with Jim Andrea never imagined so many events would unfold in her

life at once but thanks to a visit to a fortune teller everything came together in the most incred way until the doctor cleared Mrs re for safe travel Andrea stayed in a hotel room paid for by Robert he was staying with his brother but tried to see Andrea almost daily he explained her future duties in her new position and she familiarized him with her hometown mom used to live here with Benjamin's father but when she left she left most of her things behind I don't know exactly what their story was but my mother took only

Benjamin with her she divorced and then married my Father Kenneth reze I was born in that marriage my brother who is 10 years older than me kept his father's surname Robert told his mother's life story to Andrea meanwhile the meetings between Robert and Andrea grew increasingly cordial the girl barely remembered Jim the traitor and was even glad they had parted she realized she was falling in love with with this Gallant man and there was nothing she could do about it when it turned out he was also free from obligations her Joy knew no bounds a

year after Andrea found Mrs re barely alive in the park the girl became her daughter-in-law relations with her mother-in-law were very tender Robert doted on Andrea and she lived feeling infinitely happy they traveled to work together and happily returned home in the evening time passed and everything was wonderful for the Reese's except that they couldn't please Mrs re with a grandchild doctor said there were no obstacles to pregnancy but it didn't happen Andrea was prescribed various treatments but to no avail one day Andrea dreamed of the fortune teller's house with the cat Mars sitting on

the porch and washing itself she even smelled the delightful scent of blooming lyen but Mary herself didn't appear in the dream after waking Andrea had a keen desire to thank Mary she told her husband she had to go to her hometown for a while and set off on her trip the fortune teller didn't answer calls so right from the airport Andrea picked up some groceries including food for good-natured Mars and went to the address she knew however to her great amazement construction work was in full swing where the house and well tended front garden had

been the area was surrounded by a metal fence and a large billboard informed the Curious that a construction company was building a kindergarten under the municipal program in a small Booth by the gate sat a guard who opened and closed the barrier occasionally glancing at documents from the drivers Andrea saw trucks passing by emitting puffs of black stinking smoke she turned to leave but suddenly stopped as if she'd run into an invisible wall the scent of Linden blossoms was too distinct it wasn't just incredible it was impossible how could such a subtle fragrance break through

the parade of trucks at that moment a guard approached the bewildered woman hey what do you want here this is no place for a stroll can't you see there's construction going on excuse me I just want to ask you a question Andrea replied I realize the odds are slim but do you happen to know where Mary the owner of the house that used to stand here has moved I'd like to see her I've brought some presents the guard whistled oh girl as it happens I do know about that I've got a brother-in-law in the fire

department the man stepped back to open the barrier for another truck and Andrea stood there confused about the relevance of his brother-in-law however the guard soon returned and continued his story with stunning news well you can't give your presents to Mary her house caught fire at night 6 months ago when they put it out they found her body inside the strangest thing is that she wasn't hurt at all she must have slept and inhaled the poisonous smoke without noticing but now the house has been demolished and now work is in full swing excuse me did

your relative say anything about the cat Andrea asked taking advantage of a pause in the man's words no the guard shook his head he didn't mention anything all right girl you'd better go I have to work Andrea held out a bag of food to the man here take this for the information and to remember Mary she was a good woman thank you from the Bott bottom of my heart I forgot my lunch bag today Andrea added there's some cat food in the bag if a cat comes around please feed it the guard assured her he

would keep his promise Andrea said goodbye and walked to the bus stop thinking about how gratitude in life should be timely should she have come earlier she had been enjoying her happiness without thinking of others just as it had a few years ago when she found her future mother-in-law in the park rain began to sprinkle under the flimsy protection of the polycarbonate roof quite a few people were already waiting for transportation Andrea stayed outside with her Hood up she was lost in unhappy thoughts about the house burning down for a reason when she almost jumped

at feeling something wet touch her foot Andrea looked down and saw a cat without a doubt it was Mary's cat the woman squatted down and began stroking Mars it didn't bother her that his fur wasn't as well groomed as when he was with his owner he seemed happy and purred so loudly that it even drowned out the noise of the city street without thinking Andrea addressed the cat aloud Mars you poor thing will you come with me the cat meowed and Andrea picked up the wet skinny body crad L it and ordered a cab to

the nearest veterinary clinic Mars was examined bathed and provided with everything necessary for a comfortable Journey Nancy of course grumbled at her sister when she learned what she had done and asked and how will your husband and mother-in-law take to this stray Andrea confidently replied I have no doubt that they'll be happy and so it turned out Robert and his mother didn't say a word against Andrea's decision a few months later it became clear that the family would be growing the doctor assured them it was due to the expensive vitamin complex but the future mother

was certain that the pregnancy was a gift for saving the pet