Ms. Norah asks you for help.

With perfect timing, you hear a knock on the door just as a particularly difficult boss kills you in the game for the fourth time. Deciding that’s your cue to take a break, you turn off the console and go to the door.

You open it and are greeted by the (gorgeous) figure of Ms. Norah.

“Ms. Norah! Good afternoon!” You greet her.

“Good afternoon, John. I’m sorry to bother you.”

“Please, it’s no bother!” You assure her.

She smiles. “I have a favor to ask you,” She says. You nod for her to continue. “I had a new closet delivered to me, but I have to put it together by myself. Are you free right now? Could you give me a hand?”

“Sure, that’s no problem.” You nod.

You go to her house and help her set up her new closet. She reads the instructions for you and you follow them as best you can. You make small talk as you work. She even asks you if you’re okay with drinking wine, as she doesn’t have anything else to offer you.

You’re actually more than ok with wine. You enjoy it, as long as it’s not cheap cask wine. Fortunately, Ms. Norah shares this opinion.

“Don’t worry, this is good stuff.” She chuckles when you accept her offer a bit hesitantly. “I get an employer’s discount if I buy them from the restaurant.” She says, taking out a bottle of red wine and two glasses.

You smile, accepting the glass. She pours just a little bit for you to taste it. It’s really good wine! She half-fills your glass and half-fills hers. You keep working, talking and drinking over the course of the afternoon when she suddenly drops a bomb on you.

“So tell me, how’s my daughter doing? Has she been good to you?” She asks nonchalantly, looking at you through her wine glass.

You freeze for a moment as you feel your whole body go cold.

“W-What do y-you mean?” You try to stay cool by keeping your back to her and working on the closet, but your stuttering voice betrays you.

“I don’t know why you two haven’t told me anything yet, but I can easily tell you’re dating.” She says, taking a sip of wine. “What’s more, she came back late on Monday and was having a bit of trouble going up the stairs. She was at your place, right?”

Damn she’s good! You’d be sweating bullets if her tone was any different, but she’s so casual, and even sounds happy about it.

“…She was.” You admit.

“I don’t even need to ask if you were gentle with her. That girl’s been as radiant as the sun since that day. And she’s usually so angry at the world that it’s not hard to notice the change.” She tells you, taking another sip of wine.

“I wanted to thank you for being there for her, but first I need to know if she’s been good to you. She’s not being unfair to you, is she?” She asks with a small, worried frown.

“No, not at all!” You assure her. “We… noticed that we have a lot in common. We’ve been getting along great so far.”

“I see. I’m so glad to hear that.” Ms. Norah gives you a bright, honest smile. You can see where Vivian got hers. “I’ve been so worried about her, but haven’t been able to do anything for her.”

Her smiles fades as she drinks the last of her wine and stares into her empty glass.

“She doesn’t talk to me any more than she needs to. We’ve been like strangers for years now. But she’s still my daughter. I love her. I want her to be happy.”

Her voice begins to crack and tears start to form under her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” She says, wiping her eyes. “Maybe the wine wasn’t such a good idea.”

“I…” You begin. “It might be too much for me to say this, but I promise to do my best to make Vivian happy.” You tell her. Unspoken is the promise to try and help them fix their relationship.

“Thank you, John. Please treat her well.” She asks you.

“I will. I promise.”

You finish setting up the closet and bid Ms. Norah good night. She thanks you for your help with the furniture and for listening to her problems.

You go back to your apartment. It’s about 30 minutes after that that Shelly returns, saying Vivian went back to her house already. You’re disappointed that you didn’t see your girlfriend at all today, but Shelly tells you Vivian will make it up to you eventually.