Second-Act Romantic ComedyCommunity DramaStarting Over
Her First Date After Forever
by Evelyn March
Nora Bell was forty-one seconds into her first date in nineteen years when her former husband appeared on the cinema screen behind it.
Daniel was not physically in the Lantern.
That would have been survivable.
Her first date in nineteen years was going well. Then the man across the table appeared on the demolition report. Saving the Lantern meant seeing him again.
21 chapters available · Updated Jul 19, 2026
Chapters
1Chapter 1: Seven Minutes2Chapter 2: The Man on the Report3Chapter 3: A Date for the Cameras4Chapter 4: No Rescue Package5Chapter 5: The Balcony Door6Chapter 6: Breakfast With an Exit Plan7Chapter 7: Date Number Three Has Notes8Chapter 8: The Fire Door Test9Chapter 9: Everyone Has an Opinion10Chapter 10: The Offer She Refused11Chapter 11: The Report Under His Bed12Chapter 12: What the Building Costs13Chapter 13: The Family Table Without a Translator14Chapter 14: A Campaign Without a Couple15Chapter 15: The Second Report16Chapter 16: The Women Who Stayed17Chapter 17: His Name on the Withdrawal18Chapter 18: Forty-Eight Hours of Folding Chairs19Chapter 19: The Share He Let Go20Chapter 20: The Bid With No Hero21Chapter 21: Her First Date After Forever