Chapter 10 – The Answer That Never Came

The officers asked Claudia to move farther down the beach.

She refused at first.

She said they could not remove her from public property.

They clarified that they were not removing her from the beach.

They were asking her to separate herself from an escalating confrontation.

She argued about the wording.

Then about fairness.

Then about whether Daniel should also move.

Finally, one officer said:

“Ma’am, you approached them. They moved their setup. You followed the dispute. Now separate yourself.”

Claudia stared at him.

“I did nothing wrong.”

Nobody answered.

That made her angrier.

“I didn’t.”

The officer said:

“Please move away.”

Claudia picked up her towel.

As she walked away, she looked directly at Sophie.

“You should seriously think about how he behaves under pressure.”

Sophie stared at her.

Daniel looked away.

Claudia continued walking.

Daniel said nothing.

The officers left several minutes later.

Marta picked up the flowers.

Lena reset the candles.

Daniel stood beside Sophie.

The sun was lower now.

The light was more beautiful than it had been before.

None of them cared.

Daniel rubbed his face.

“I’m so sorry.”

Sophie shook her head.

“This isn’t your fault.”

“I lost my temper.”

“You did.”

Daniel looked at her.

That answer hurt.

Sophie continued:

“But she pushed and pushed until everyone lost theirs.”

Daniel stared at the ring box still in his hand.

Then looked at the sign.

One corner was covered in sand.

He tried to smile.

“So…”

Sophie started laughing.

Then crying.

Daniel laughed too.

“Worst proposal ever?”

She wiped her face.

“Potentially.”

He looked at the ring.

Then at her.

“Do you want me to finish?”

Sophie hesitated.

Only for a second.

But Daniel saw it.

So did Lena.

Daniel’s smile disappeared.

Sophie immediately said:

“Not because I don’t know the answer.”

“Then what?”

She looked around.

People were still watching.

Even those pretending not to.

“I don’t want her to be part of it.”

Daniel understood.

He closed the ring box.

“Okay.”

They packed everything.

Daniel never asked the question that evening.