Chapter 36

Leo climbed out of his black car with a bunch of roses in his hands. He crouched by his mother's graveside and dropped them. But something caught his eye–a photograph. He picked it up and turned, shocked. It was a picture of little Lionel. What was it doing here?

Everything left of Emma and her family in the mansion had been cleaned out a long time ago. But he recollected the picture of Lionel he saw in his bedroom. Maybe some items were still left. But how did this image get here, he wondered?

Another car ambled in and parked behind his. Lifting his gaze, he saw it was Isla. The car came to a halt, and she stepped out of it. She was wearing faded ripped jean pants and a gray polo.

"Thought I'd see you here," she said.

Leo felt the magnetic pull he usually felt toward her. And his mind went wild with the thought of kissing her. He collected himself.

"A week doesn't pass by without you visiting your mother's graveside,&