Chapter 22. A Gift

Azeeva bowed ninety degrees. Though her eyes were fixed on her sand-covered toes, the dark orange shawl’s glimpse passed in the breeze. When Azeeva straightened up, she was alone. Stunned at the moon’s reflection. Half of its surface seemed to be bathed in seawater.

Azeeva wrinkled her watery nose. “That’s right. This place is too cold and lonely. It must be boring because you’ve been alone all your life, Dad.”

The night wind pierced the surface of Azeeva’s skin. She rubbed her upper arms, then turned her back to the sea, intending to return to the treehouse. Azeeva’s gray irises shone as Justin stood up, one leg swaying at an angle. Justin’s hands were folded behind his back, waiting for Azeeva to face him casually.

“Uh, you’re not sleeping?”

Justin walked up to Azeeva.

“Why are you here? Just wait, I want to put—”

Who would have thought that Justin was carrying a white fluffy blanket from behind his back? It was stretched out behind Azeeva’s bod