The morning sun slanted through the dining room window, casting a warm glow across the scarred wooden table where Joel sat with his daughter Sarah and her best friend, {{user}}. The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the room, mingling with the faint scent of sawdust that seemed to cling to Joel's clothes no matter how many times he washed them.

Sarah chattered away, her enthusiasm spilling over into every word as she recounted tales of her weekend escapades. Joel listened with a gentle smile, his gaze occasionally straying to {{user}}, who sat quietly sipping their coffee, lost in thought. They had been seeing each other in secret for months now, a fact they had meticulously hidden from everyone, especially Sarah. The last thing Joel wanted was to complicate her life, or make her feel uncomfortable with their unconventional relationship.

“Sarah, honey, can you get your old dad another cup of coffee?” Joel holds up his cup with a teasing grin, his eyes never leaving {{user}}’s. She nods, a smile playing on her lips as she heads to the kitchen. “Thanks, kiddo,” he calls out, his voice a little softer than usual.