Chapter 328
shake
Max couldn’t he thought of reaching out to Brielle, but what on earth could he say? He
had stood her up, plain and simple, No excuses could erase that fact. “Some things are better said in person,” he reasoned.
By now, Brielle had finished her meal, surprised to find that Kenzo, who looked like he’d never lifted a finger in the kitchen, had whipped up something delicious.
She took her time savoring every bite of her pasta bowl, then couldn’t help but ask. “Kenzo, if there’s a signal jammer around here, where’s the switch?”
Kenzo rubbed his temples with a sigh. “I don’t know. He must’ve run into some trouble recently: otherwise, he wouldn’t have set up a jammer around this place. The last time I was here was
two years ago.”
Brielle couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of their situation. It seemed they were destined to be out of touch with the world for the night.
After washing up the dishes, she heard a clinking sound on the floor and turned to see that a fortune cookie had fallen from Kenzo’s pocket. Brielle paused, a little puzzled.
She bent down to pick it up, but Kenzo was quicker, slipping the little slip of paper back into his pocket.
Brielle found it amusing. So, even a guy like Kenzo believed in these things? “Did you ask the fortune cookie for love advice, Kenzo?”
His eyes crinkled with a smile. “Something like that. It was a good fortune, and I didn’t want to throw it away.”
“You’ll find what you’re looking for, I’m sure of it.”
Kenzo didn’t reply but took a seat on the couch. “Hopefully.” His tone was nonchalant, as if he wasn’t particularly enamored with the idea of his destined other half. But Brielle didn’t pry. That was his personal business, after all.
Kenzo pointed upstairs. “Go up the stairs, and to the right, there’s a guest room. I’ll take the one downstairs. Goodnight.”
With one upstairs, and one downstairs, they were being considerate of each other’s space.
Brielle appreciated the thoughtfulness and nodded. “Alright then, I’ll head off to bed. Get some rest yourself, Kenzo.”
After settling into the guest room and taking a shower, Brielle still couldn’t resist checking her phone one more time. No signal. She sighed and lay down, drifting off into a peaceful sleep.
The next morning, the sound of the wind woke her. Opening her eyes, she saw the forest had burst into bloom. She flung open the window; the air was fragrant with the scent of fresh. flowers.
After freshening up, she went downstairs to find bread and milk on the table. With her stomach. full, she stepped outside. Kenzo was there with his camera, capturing the forest in its glory.
Brielle quickly retrieved her grandfather’s ceramic urn.
Kenzo paused, pointing to a bare tree in the distance. “How about burying your granddad’s ashes under that tree? It’s a peach tree. It’ll bloom after winter.”
Brielle had had the same thought, but this was Kenzo’s friend’s property. It seemed presumptuous to bury a stranger’s urn without asking. Reading her hesitation, Kenzo smiled. “He never believed in these things. He won’t mind.”
Brielle nodded, found a shovel, and carefully dug a small hole at the base of the tree. She placed the urn inside and tenderly covered it with soil. Kenzo didn’t watch, focusing instead on the scenery through his lens.
When it was all done, they headed back to the car, ready to leave.
Meanwhile, at Radiant Light Church, Max had arrived. Hearing from the clergy that Brielle had indeed been there but had left the previous evening with a man, his heart sank.
A man?
