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Rain tapped against the windows of The Shepherds Cafe, and the whole place seemed quieter than usual. Barbara was already seated when Elijah came in with his Bible and umbrella. Jeremiah followed a moment later, carrying a mug of black coffee. Barbara looked distracted. Jeremiah noticed first. “You’re here,” he said, “but your thoughts are somewhere else.” Barbara gave a tired smile. “Have you…

The dinner rush at The Shepherds Cafe had just passed, leaving the place in that pleasant in-between hour when the tables were half full, the coffee was still fresh, and the conversations seemed to slow down enough to matter. The windows reflected the amber light from outside. Dishes clinked softly behind the counter. A low jazz piano drifted through the room. Jeremiah sat first that evening,…

The late-day light at The Shepherds Cafe was the kind that made everything feel exposed—like dust in the air had nowhere to hide. The rush had passed. What remained were a few quiet tables, a soft hum of conversation, and one man by the window whose jaw stayed tight even when he wasn’t speaking. Barbara noticed him first. She always did. Elijah sat beneath the café’s wooden sign, glasses low,…