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“Yes, that bad.”
“Alright. Have you been in and out of meetings with the family the entire time?”
“No, Seraphina and I have been enjoying the city as well. That part of it has been amazing.”
“Hmph.” Kalo huffs in annoyance.
“Kalo?”
“Nothing. I asked about the family, not that girl.”
“That girl? I believe you mean -mygirl.”
“Sure, man,yourgirl.” I can hear the bitterness in his voice. “Anyway, I can arrange the flight from my side. I'll be there as soon as I can. I just have a few things to sort out here in Hong Kong.”
“Good. Let me know.”
I hang up and sigh. All I want to do is get back to the hotel and wrap my arms around Seraphina. Well, I want to do a lot more than wrap my arms around her, but yes, I need to be near her. Touching her. I just want to forget about the absolute mayhem of that meeting.
21
Seraphina
“His name was MarcusMoretti” I repeat the tenth time, confused why it's not coming up on her system.
I tap my fingers against the counter. Trying to track down where my dad's buried. It's been a wild goose chase through government buildings and nobody can tell me anything—it's like he never existed. At the courthouse, they wanted proof we were related, but of course, I had nothing on me. Then, at the huge New York Library, I spent hours digging through old newspapers and obituaries until my eyes hurt. The government records were a total dead end. After waiting forever to talk to someone, they just told me they couldn't help and suggested I check out local graveyards myself.
I'm pretty sure they never gave my mom a proper gravesite, but my dad was different. He was born here in New York, a citizen. But the thought of sifting through hundreds of graves looking for him.. it just feels so bleak.
As for my mom, I connect with her spirit in nature—hiking up mountains or sitting by a serene lake. I feel her presence in the breeze, the water, even the soil. Everything's more vibrant with her spirit around—trees greener, flowers more colorful. She's out there, free, touching every beautiful corner of the earth.
“Can you spell that for me one more time, my dear?”
“M-o-r-e-t-t-i.”
She types each letter into the keyboard and then squints at the screen. “No, there is nothing coming up for him. We don’t have a record of the burial location for him. I'm so sorry.”
“Is there anything on the system for him?” I'm feeling desperate.
“We have a place of work, but no - it's from over twenty years ago. I doubt it will be of any use to you?”
“Give it to me, anyway. I have to start somewhere.” I sigh.
“It might not even be open anymore.” She slides a piece of paper across the counter toward me with an address and company name written on it.Allure Custom Furniture.
Standing outside on the pavement, I type the address into my phone. It's a few miles from where I'mnow, so I decide I'll walk there. It will give me a chance to see New York on foot.
The streets are filled with people hustling back and forth, dressed in fashion I don’t recognize. I love it. I love the energy and the strange shops I walk past. I stop outside, many of them to peer through the windows. People are of assorted natures here. Some greet me with wide smiles, and others stare, looking me up and down as though I fell off the back of a truck. I smile at them anyway. Kill them with kindness.
Glancing at my phone to make sure I'mheaded in the right direction, I find the street that the furniture shop is supposed to be on. It's quieter than the main street. I make my way to where the pin is on the map.
When I reach the correct point, my heart sinks. There is an old building there, faded with paint peeling off the walls. Across the top of a door, I see some broken lettering. Once the name of the furniture shop, now a scramble of nothingness.
I sigh and rub my hands across my face. What am I going to do? How will I find out where he is buried?
Next door to the old building, I see a small general store cafe. I need something cold to drink so I head inside, and behind the counter is an old lady who looks so frail I'msurprised she can hold herself upright.
“Hello dear. What can I get for you today?” Her smile is sweet and kind.
