Love's Redemption

"Really? But who could it be? Your parents have been gone for years, and their old friends have moved on completely.

"They've never even mentioned their names. Why would anyone go and pay respects?" Bree asked.

Bree's words struck a nerve.

The notion that 'people move on' hit hard. I hadn't noticed their absence in conversation before, but Bree's blunt reminder left me unsettled.

"Maybe someone made a mistake, Maddie?" Bree suggested again, surprisingly.

I glanced at the tombstone with its photo and name. How could anyone make such a mistake? Her words sounded like something you'd say to a child.

"Maybe," I agreed with Bree to stop her from pressing on.

I was certain it wasn't from the Gildon family, nor could it be Mom and Dad's old friends.

There was something suspicious about this bouquet, and I needed to investigate.

"Maddie, don't overthink it. I'll ask Zack later if any of his old friends might have done this," Bree reassured me.

"Okay."

Before hanging up, Bree reminded me once more to make sure we celebrated Zack's birthday together.

I took a photo of the flowers in my hand and posted it on Instagram with the caption: "Whose remembrance could it be?" Belongs © to NôvelDrama.Org.

Lisa called after seeing my post. I was surprised she had time to check social media now.

"What's going on?" Lisa asked.

After explaining everything to her, I murmured, "I'm really curious who it could be."

"Are you really going to Gildon estate? Isn't that like throwing yourself to the wolves?" Lisa's focus shifted away from the flowers as she listened.

"Not going isn't really an option, but going worries me too," I admitted my dilemma.

"So, you need a man to accompany you. Even if something goes wrong, at least you'll have someone to protect you, and it might help Chris and the entire Gildon family to move on," Lisa suggested. Then she asked, "Has Brandon contacted you?"

"He turned me down."

Then, I told Lisa what Brandon had said.

She chuckled. "He's got personality. Why not give it a shot with him for real? Maybe you'll develop feelings for him, and it could turn out well."

I stared blankly out the window. "I'm just not in that headspace right now, you know?"

I understood Brandon's situation. He was inexperienced in love. If he wanted a relationship with me, he'd have to be fully committed, and I couldn't just brush him off.

Plus, Brandon wasn't someone I could easily dismiss. That was the impression I'd gotten from the moment I saw him.

Lisa understood me well enough not to push it further. She got worried instead.

"So what will you do? Should I come with you? Even if it doesn't change Chris and the Gildons' minds, at least it'll prevent Chris from taking advantage of you."

After a few seconds of thought, I said, "I still need to find a man."

"Exactly. Hurry and say yes to Brandon. Then—"

I cut Lisa off before she could finish. "Do you know any men? Set me up with someone. I'll even pay."

"Seriously? You're definitely something else, Maddie." Lisa was stunned by my suggestion.

"It's the safest bet. No complications or messy aftermath," I insisted.

I was confident my plan was flawless.

Lisa sighed. "I know a few guys, but they're all serious doctors. They probably won't play along unless..."

"Unless what?" I asked.

"Maddie, why don't you go on a blind date? There's this matchmaker online that's trending lately.

"You could go public with your search, and let the internet do the work for you, saving you from announcing it to the Gildons," Lisa suggested with a mischievous grin.

That definitely wouldn't have worked, but her idea intrigued me. Maybe a blind date was worth considering.