Chapter 31

SYBIL sat on the breakfast table, massaging her forehead and occasionally pinching the bridge of her nose. It had been six days since she and Ace joined the Petersons in their humble abode, yet she still couldn’t sleep at night. She had never experienced such a long time to adjust.
“What is the matter, dear?” Mrs. Peterson asked worriedly. It seemed she noticed her.
“It’s nothing serious. I just have a headache—”
“Are you sick?” Ace immediately cupped her forehead, checking her temperature.
“I’m fine. It’s migraine.” She heaved a sigh and gently put his hand away.
Mrs. Peterson rose from her seat.
“I will make you a soup—”
“No, Amanda. It’s okay… there is no need to make a soup.” Sybil smiled and picked a slice of bread from the breakfast basket.
“Oh. Okay.”
Mrs. Peterson sat down again, and they resumed eating their breakfast.
It didn’t take long before Mr. Peterson and Ace finished their meal. The two then headed to the farm for work while she and Mrs. Peterson were left in the house to do the chores. But since she had a migraine that morning, Mrs. Peterson told her to rest. She remained in the kitchen, though, and sat on the stool, keeping her company.
“How long have you been married?” Sybil asked after a few moments.
“Five.” Mrs. Peterson turned in her direction with a smile. “We’ve gone a long way to find each other again.”
Her mouth formed an O.
“I thought you two were married for a long time.”
“Are you planning to get married?”
She was stunned for a moment. What was the best answer for that? Everyone in the neighborhood thought they had already been together for a long time. Ah, so much for the charade. Perhaps they should’ve been honest from the start.
“I-I don’t think we’ve been together long enough to get married.”
“Oh, Sybil.” Mrs. Peterson shook her head. “Come on… don’t give me that kind of reason.”
“E-eh?” Her brows furrowed.
“Been there. Done that.” Mrs. Peterson threw the kitchen towel on the counter and sauntered toward her. “It’s the very reason why Henry and I got separated for years. We had been dating for a year when he asked for my hand in marriage. Did you know what I told him back then?”
“I… don’t know.”
“I said… I don’t think we’ve dated long enough to think about marriage. The next thing I knew, he joined the navy.” Mrs. Peterson waved her hands outwardly. “Look what happened to us.”
“Did he marry someone else after that?”
“No. His parents and siblings said he was in despair when I rejected his proposal.”
“How about you?”
“I never married. I moved far from here and tried living my life. However, I failed.” Mrs. Peterson laughed. “Shame on me.”
“How did you two meet again?”
“Well, we met at a hotel in California. We talked about how our life had been for the past years and realized we still had feelings for each other.” Mrs. Peterson smiled. “So, when he proposed to me for the second time, I said yes despite all the uncertainties I had in mind. All I thought about was that… I don’t want to feel regret for the rest of my life….”
“Regret… I don’t like that as well,” Sybil muttered.
“Anyway, I’m bringing lunch at the farm. Would you like to come with me? Perhaps the fresh air would make you feel a little better.”
“I’m coming with you.” Sybil beamed. “I will go get some drawing materials. Perhaps I will get some inspiration.”
“Oh, I bet you will,” Mrs. Peterson said, grinning.
She cackled and shook her head afterward. Of course, it wasn’t that hard to know what she meant by that. It was all about Ace, for sure. Mrs. Peterson was teasing her.
Humming, she went to their room to prepare her things.

THE farm was still busy when Sybil and Mrs. Peterson arrived. The latter went to the small kitchen at the farm to prepare the food while she headed to the top of the hill, where she saw a huge tree and settled there. The spot was exquisite. She could see the entire farm and neighboring houses in a picturesque view. She suddenly forgot about her migraine and started her piece. It wasn’t a commissioned work, anyway. It was something she wanted to give their hosts as a gift for everything they had done for them.
But after a few moments, she was interrupted by her phone’s vibration inside her pocket. She fished it out immediately, thinking Sonja had finally contacted her. It had been a week since she had last heard from her, and she was worried that something had happened while she was away.
Sybil’s heart started to race when she saw Sonja’s name on the notification panel. She did respond to her. But when she opened the message, she said that she wouldn’t be coming home for a couple of months and that she and Ace must take care.
She leaned against the trunk of the tree and breathed exasperatedly. It sounded like Sonja was hiding something from her, and she was starting to suspect her more now. Sybil folded her legs and hugged them. She buried her face between her knees afterward. Her tears were about to come out only if she didn’t feel a warm palm gently caressing her back.
When she raised her head, she saw Ace sitting beside her. He was looking at her with worry in his eyes.
“W-when did you… get here?” she muttered. Sybil didn’t see him coming.
“Just a while ago. You didn’t notice me because you were staring blankly into space.” He sighed. “What is the matter?”
“Nothing.” She didn’t want to talk about it yet. “I told you… it’s just a migraine.”
Ace scooted over and gently put her head on his shoulder.
“I know you’ve been bothered about lots of thoughts lately. I might act like I believe when you say it’s nothing, but I think about it, too, Sybil.”
She heard him let out a deep sigh.
Sybil then cupped his hand and entwined their fingers afterward.
“Is that why you’ve been quiet and distant lately?” She noticed had that but didn’t want to confront him. If truth be told, Sybil was afraid to hear whatever answer there would be. But since he asked about her, she managed to muster her courage to ask him.
“D-distant? What do you mean by that?” He moved away and looked straight into her eyes.
“I can feel it, Ace… You’re with me, but it kinda feels like you’re far away.”
He framed her face with his hands and brushed her cheeks with his thumbs.
“Oh, Sybil… I’m so sorry if I made you feel that way.”
She met his gaze and saw the sincerity in his eyes. Perhaps he didn’t really mean to do that. However, he couldn’t help but think about what was going on for him to act absent-minded.
“Listen…” She pressed her forehead against his. “From now on, whenever one of us has a problem, we must confide to the other.” However, it would take a little more time before she told him about her suspicions about Sonja.
Ace heaved a deep sigh.
“It’s a good idea. Perhaps it could help us.”
“It will. There will be no problem if we confide and help each other out.”
Sybil couldn’t believe those words were coming out straight of her mouth when she seemed to be the one hiding a lot from him.
“You’re right.”
He gave her a peck on the lips and smiled at her lovingly. Soon, he freed her and turned his gaze to her drawing.
“You’re drawing,” Ace said, changing the subject.
“Yeah. I’m trying to make something we could give Mr. and Mrs. Peterson.”
“We’re not leaving yet, right?”
She looked at him with furrowed brows.
“Are you planning to stay here longer?” He nodded in response. “But—”
“I don’t think we’re safe in Sonja’s place… not until we know who the culprit is.”
She let out a long sigh. It seemed that they would stay with the Petersons longer than she expected. Perhaps she must teach herself to adapt.
“You know what… I think I need a sleeping pill.”