ONE NIGHT, ONE RING

inding road at the edge of town. The diner was her second home-a place filled with warmth and camaraderie. It was where regulars greeted her with

n his turn came, he gave Mae a friendly smile and ordered, "Just a coffee. Black." His voice, deep and familiar, sent a shiver through Ava. She knew that voice from somewhere. As Mae handed him the cup, Ava gathered her courage and approached him, trying to sound casual. "Hi, I'm Ava. I don't think I've seen you around here before." The stranger's eyes crinkled at the corners as he returned her smile. "I'm Max. I just moved into the old Miller place on Elm Street." Ava's heart skipped again as recognition dawned. **The Miller place.** It had been empty for as long as she could remember, but she recalled playing in the yard as a child, climbing trees and pretending the house was haunted. That's why Max looked familiar-he had to be related to the family who'd lived there years ago. "Wow, the old Miller house? I didn't think anyone would ever move in," Ava said, the realization sinking in. Max chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "Yeah, it's got a lot of history. I've got my work cut out for me, fixing it up." Ava smiled, feeling a strange mix of curiosity and familiarity. "Well, welcome to the neighborhood. It's a nice place-lots of friendly faces." "Thanks. I'm looking forward to settling in." Max's gaze lingered on Ava for a moment, a flicker of something unspoken passing between them before he took his coffee and headed toward the door. As Ava watched him go, a sense of intrigue settled over her. She hadn't expected to feel a connection like this, but there was something about Max-something she couldn't shake. Later that afternoon, as Ava's shift was winding down, the door opened again, this time revealing Lily, he