Herman strolled into the diner, grabbing a seat at an empty booth.


    A cheerful waitress promptly approached him. "Hey there! Dining alone or expecting someone? And what''s your pick today? We''ve got spicy chili, mild chicken soup, or maybe a half-and-half pot?" Herman hesitated, scratching his head. "Is the chili really spicy?"


    Sheughed, "We''ve got mild and medium options. And judging by your ent, I''d say you''re from Riverdale, right? Folks there usually like things sweet and mild. How about the half-and-half? Best of both worlds." Riverdale, huh?


    That threw Herman off. No one had ever pegged him for a Riverdale guy before. His ID clearly said he was from a small town near Willowbrook, and Sandy always called him a Willowbrook native. Nichs walked in just in time to hear this, feeling a bit anxious. He quickly chimed in, "Half-and-half sounds just right."


    The waitress nodded, "Great choice. Just scan the code on the table to order."


    "Got it," Nichs replied with a grin. "Thanks, we''ll take it from here."


    As she walked away, Herman turned to Nichs. "Have I been to Riverdale?"


    "You have," Nichs bluffed, making it up as he went. "You took a trip once, invited me too, but I couldn''t make it. You''re always quick to learn, but if only you''d focus on studying, you''d be at Harvard or Yale by now." Herman asked, "So how did Sandy and I end up together?"


    He was genuinely curious. Just a caretaker''s son, how did he win over someone like Sandy?


    "I honestly don''t know," Nichs replied, a bit evasive. "Son, Sandy choosing you is a blessing for our family. Treat her well. I''m getting on in years, just want to see you settled. Marrying Sandy would make me a happy man." Herman frowned, brow furrowing. "She''s a rich heiress. We''re from different worlds."


    "Son, what are you saying?" Nichs asked, rmed. "You considering breaking up with Sandy? Where else will you find someone like her?"


    Herman sighed, focusing on ordering from his phone.


    Meanwhile, Sandy received Nichs''s update, her mind racing. She realized she needed to secure her future with Herman-through marriage, if necessary.


    ...


    In Springfield, Anastasia slowly woke up from a hangover, her head throbbing.


    She often drank herself into a stupor, waking only by noon. Now, she was staying in the hotel room Herman used to upy, clinging to his clothes every night forfort, breathing in his lingering scent.


    Monica had stayed with Anastasia all night, dozing on the couch. She woke to see Anastasia on the bed, lost in thought, clutching Herman''s shirt.


    "Ana," Monica said gently, her heart


    aching. "Come back to Riverdale with me


    Mom texted this morning;


    Emmie''s got a cold. You''ve been


    here too long, you need to go home."


    Monica used the child as an excuse, hoping to pull Anastasia from her slump before she drank herself away.


    Hearing about Emmie''s illness worried Anastasia. She''d been away for over a month and hadn''t even checked on the kids.


    Her children and her own mother were back in Riverdale. She needed to return.


    Clutching Herman''s clothing tighter, Anastasia stayed silent, but Monica understood. "I''ll pack your things and check us out." Anastasia''s silence was agreement enough.


    Monica packed up, and as they left, they ran into the cleaningdy in the hallway-the samedy who had seen Sandy and Herman together before. "Ma''am, we''re checking out of this room. Could you please clean it?" Monica asked.


    The cleaningdy nced at the room number, remembering Herman leaving with Sandy. Seeing both Monica and Anastasia, she mused about his apparent charm. With their bags in tow, Monica and Anastasia headed for the elevator.


    The cleaningdy called over a colleague, and they began tidying up the room.


    As they worked, they chatted about the guests. "Hasn''t this room been vacated yet?" the cleaningdy wondered. "Saw a gentleman here with a pretty woman a while back. Thought they''d left by now."


    Her colleague replied, "Nope, the room''s been booked for over a month."


    The cleaningdy nodded, "Last I saw, he was leaving with a stunning woman. Figured he''d checked out."


    Anastasia, having returned for a forgotten item, froze at the cleaningdy''s words.