Chapter 64: The Storm Coming
Arianna felt her grandfather’s speech was very inauspicious, especially since he prepared everyone’s place in this cemetery while they were still alive. Mr. Sanchez bought so much land that his fourth and fifth-generation family members could also be laid to rest. He never expected the fall of his family.
Before she died, Arianna would have to figure out what to do with all the empty positions remaining. She stared at her own spot in the cemetery for a few minutes.
Over the next few days, Arianna spent half her time in the cemetery, thinking of nothing. When she was ready, she returned back to the hotel. Sometimes she walked somewhere further away and then came back for a shower. She chatted with the owner and went to bed early so she could get up in the wee hours of the morning. These days, she doesn’t have any dreams.
****
As usual, Arianna returned to her grandfather’s grave early in the morning. Arianna took out the unfinished One Hundred Years of Solitude from her bag and sat beside her grandfather’s tombstone. She continued to read from where they left off before. The fog slowly began to clear.
Her voice grew coarse again. She could only read ten pages before she could no longer continue. There were only twenty pages left in the book, so she cleared her throat and tried hard to finish the book.
Finally, she read the last word when some small raindrops began to fall. The weather forecast did not say that it was going to rain today, but the sky was black and thick clouds accumulated above, clearly indicating that heavy rain was coming.
It was not fun to go back to the hotel soaked from head to toe. Maybe it was because she wasn’t playing in the rain with her grandfather anymore.
As she trudged her way back to the hotel, she wondered what time it was. The sky was getting dark, and she couldn’t see the sun. She didn’t have a watch on her, and her phone was still back in her apartment.
The raindrops were small, but the wind was getting stronger. She zipped her coat up all the way and wrapped herself tightly in her scarf. Walking down the steep hill, she met the cemetery administrator, who waved to her and said, “You should get going. There is a storm coming.”
The hotel was not far, only a twenty-minute walk. But when she was halfway, the rain began to pour down heavily. Arianna started running, but it was no use. Her whole body was dripping wet in just a few seconds.
The hotel owner asked, “Why didn’t you bring an umbrella today?”
“The forecast didn’t call for rain,” Arianna explained as she sneezed.
“But didn’t you look at the color of the sky this morning? It was obvious it was going to rain.” The woman said as she looked for a towel.
“Thank you, I will just go upstairs and take a hot shower,” Arianna took the towel and wiped her face and hair before going upstairs.
Because it was the weekend, the woman’s daughter was at the hotel now. She suddenly stepped out of her own room and said, “Wait a minute, Miss Jenkins.”
As Arianna looked back at her in confusion, the girl rushed over to her and said, “You have a friend who came to visit you. I asked him to sit in the reception room upstairs.”
“Who?” Arianna could not recall such a close friend who was so considerate and would be able to figure out where she was.
“A real handsome guy.” She said with a wink.
Arianna was even more confused.
The door to the reception room was open. The guest waiting in the room was looking out the window. He appeared to be admiring the landscape in the rain. His neat suit and straightened back in front of the dark window and heavy rain looked like a black and white picture.
Arianna looked for a moment and could not believe her eyes. She took another look and decided that she was not mistaken. Her first reaction was to walk away quickly and quietly.
Just as she was about to follow through, the man slowly turned around and stared at her face. Arianna had to stand still.
When she was walking upstairs, she filtered through the names of all the men she knew, including Ryan and Charles, but she did not consider this man.
The last time she met with Travis Cooper was three months ago. After such a long time, it felt a bit strange for her to see him again. She thought the worn wooden table and chair, yellowed wallpaper, and cheap decorations in the room were much below his league. He looked like a prince in this place.
The rain outside was getting heavier. The sound echoed through the silent air between them. The air felt cold, but it was probably because Arianna was still in her wet clothes.NôvelDrama.Org © 2024.
Travis stood there, expressionless, by the window, silently staring at her.
Arianna also had a blank face as she waited in the doorway, carefully looking into his eyes.
In the small reception room, the ticking of the clock on the wall seemed to be getting louder and louder.
When they stared at each other, Arianna was usually the one who broke eye contact first. But this time, she wouldn’t lose because she was no longer afraid.
Her throat was still coarse from reading to her grandfather’s grave, and her body was now covered in sweat and rainwater. She was not breathing smoothly at the moment.
Despite her best efforts, she sneezed and then couldn’t help but cough until her throat and lungs burned. Finally, she covered her mouth and turned her face sideways. She was mad at herself for losing the staring contest once again.
Then, breaking the silence, Travis asked, “Do you need some water?”
Arianna turned to look at him and spoke with a sore throat, “Are you here to inform me that our agreement has been terminated?”
As soon as she finished speaking, she sneezed again and began digging in her pockets to find a tissue.
“I think you should go take a hot bath before we speak,” Travis said as he stepped forward.
Arianna immediately stepped back and leaned against the doorframe. Her eyes were wide open, and she was watching him with caution. She said, “The arrangement between you and I has come to an end.”
“Has it?” Travis asked coldly.