Chapter 173

His head came down on her lower back. “Let us be like this just for a moment. Just for a moment.”

He didn’t notice. She let out a shuddering breath of relief.

They stayed that way for a long time. She set the plates she had in her hand on to the table. Then she began stroking his hands rhythmically. His deep breaths fanned her butt. She imagined his eyes sliding close. Finally, he unwrapped his arms from her and raised his head. She took it as her cue to turn towards him. His hand rubbed his forehead as if trying to soothe a headache. She allowed herself to sit in the chair behind her.

Finally, he moaned in a low voice. “Downtown, the crops are dying. Their lower market hasn’t been selling well lately. It has been this way since the beginning of this year, but I thought things would change. It hasn’t.”

Danika had heard about this before from the maids. They talked about a small part of downtown having trouble eating because the crops were no longer growing.