“Here, here, don’t cry,” Andrew still put on a casual smile, comforting Leilani, “I can’t live forever. Even if I didn’t give Charles his heart back, I wouldn’t hold for much longer.”
Leilani’s eyes were wet, “Do you have to say so?” Leilani didn’t want to cry. But the sight of her turned on her water locks.
She finally understood why Andrew asked her to take care of Jessica on the plane.
Andrew already knew the day would come eventually.
“Don’t you always want me to give the heart back to Charles so he can wake up?”
“I want Charles to come back…”
But Leilani couldn’t finish what she wanted to say. The option was brought to her mind. If only one man could live between Charles and Andrew, who would she pick? She already gave her an answer then.
It was too cruel to repeat it.
Andrew bitterly smiled. His eyes, noses, and mouth were more prominent because he lost so much weight. There was a sad aura around him. He also knew her choice. So he didn’t go after the answer. Instead, he started taunting himself, “If it weren’t for Waylen, we probably would get married now.”
If Waylen didn’t interrupt their wedding, he would have his dream realized. He would have no regrets.
Leilani didn’t know how to behave herself. She was guilty. Then she lowered her head to not look at him.
Andrew suddenly grabbed her wrist, “Will you come to a place with me?”
Before Leilani had time to respond, Andrew grabbed her to leave the hospital.
Leilani followed him, “Where are you taking me?” Then she got in the car.
Soon they came to the cemetery.
Andrew didn’t tell the driver to the cemetery. He only gave him the directions.
The cars were stopped in front of a gate, and the custodian was waiting there.
Leilani stared at the iron gate, “You take me to the cemetery?”
“Yeah.”
“You…”
Leilani didn’t know what he was thinking, but she wouldn’t speculate it. She was hesitating to get out of the car. She really didn’t know how to behave in front of him. So she stayed in the car. Andrew got off first and opened the door for Leilani, “Will you keep me company?”
“Are you visiting someone?”
Leilani had to force herself to stop guessing why Andrew took her here at the critical moment.
“I’m picking a place for myself. Join me?”
Leilani didn’t expect he would be so blunt. She thought about it and finally got out of the car at last.
The custodian came to them, “Hello, you must be Mr. Clifford, I’m the custodian of the cemetery. It’s getting late, shall we talk while we walk?”
He led them in the cemetery and started talking about the history, style, and size of the place.
Then he gave Andrew a brochure that contained options of tomb sizes and prices.
Leilani felt her voice was so stiff, “Andrew, please don’t do this…” She couldn’t keep calm when it came to death. She found it hard to imagine a dying man calmly picking her own grave.
Andrew was giving himself a hard time as far as Leilani was concerned. She knew he must be terrified of death.
She thought of her own situation, as well. Even if she was poisoned, she wouldn’t quit as Andrew did.
“I’ve done my homework. This is the best cemetery in town. It’s surrounded by trees, and the air is fresh… I love it here.”
“Andrew, enough. Are you forcing me?”
Leilani paused, not minding the custodian’s odd look. She wouldn’t keep moving, “Are you forcing me to make a choice between you and Charles?”
Andrew laughed out, “I knew your choice. I didn’t want to change anything. I’m not taking you here to win you over. I didn’t want to chicken out. Besides, I want your input on something.”
He was sincere and honest.
Jamie couldn’t watch it anymore. He said to Leilani, “Leilani, he’s just…”
“Enough,” Andrew cut Jamie off coldly, and said, “I said I wouldn’t force you. I’ve told you why I came here. If you don’t want to stay with me, I’ll ask the driver to take you back.”
Leilani didn’t speak. She stood there and stared at Andrew. Andrew also stood there silently. Suddenly many crows flew above them and made it look sad.
After about 15 minutes, Andrew sighed like he gave up and said to Jamie, “Take Leilani home.”
He said he wouldn’t force her. If she was unwilling to do it, he wouldn’t make her. He didn’t appear sad, but turned around lonely and followed the custodian.
Leilani stared at his lonesome back. She suddenly felt bad and followed them.
Along the way were tombs that weren’t used but booked. As the custodian put it, the environment was quite good, and the places sold well.
The custodian told Andrew how good the cemetery was. Leilani stayed behind. Finally, they were at a white tomb, and it was a hug in the shape of an arch. It looked like a crown.
They walked up along the stairs. In the center was the grey tombstone. It was empty and not engraved.
“Mr. Clifford, this is the place I told you about. We’ve asked the masters to check. It was near the mountains and waters. It had the best view of the cemetery. And the price was also high…”
“Tell him the price.”
Andrew pointed at Jamie.
Then he stroked the gray gravestone.
“Do your family know?”
Andrew patted the gravestone and said in a joke, “What? Are you afraid no one would collect my body?”
Leilani frowned, “Andrew, this is serious.”
He probably wanted to liven up the environment and laughed out, “I’ve got everything arranged. I’ve made sure of it. But…”
He looked at the gravestone and withdrew the smiling bit by bit, “Can I put your name on my gravestone?”
Leilani didn’t know what to say.
“I know it’s too much to ask to be buried with you. But I do have one wish. I want to put your name on my gravestone.”
Andrew was extremely careful when he said it in case Leilani would say no. He pinched the top corner of the gravestone so hard that his knuckles turned pale.
Leilani stared at the gravestone. She never experienced nor heard of the request.
She suddenly held back her breath, “What do you want to say on the gravestone?”
Andrew withdrew his hands from the gravestone. He stared at the lines of the stones for a while. A gentle wind brushed his faint bangs, and they floated with it. His eyes were deep and meaningful, like he said a million things to say.
But he finally shook his head, “You’ll know when you visit me.”
Then he paused and looked at her, asking with unease, “You will come, right?”
He left the question at last. Was he afraid she didn’t come?
Leilani nodded so hard, almost without any hesitation.
“I’m Andrew. You can tell them my name-“
“What’s your name?”
“Leilani? That’s quite unique.”
“Do you remember me now?”
“Leilani, marry me, and I’ll give Charles’s heart back to him.”
Andrew held his breath. He finally laughed after she nodded. The smile brushed off his eye corner and had more sparkles than fireworks in the night.
He suddenly reached out for Leilani to hug her.
She didn’t say no. She took a deep breath and smelt the faint disinfectant on his body. But he was so slim. Leilani only felt his bones.
She looked up at him, and he looked back. Suddenly his brisk breath was close. When Leilani realized it, Andrew put his lips on hers. But he didn’t linger. He stepped back soon after their cold lips touched.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply