"Lucy, not eating one?" Ashrik asked once he returned, reaching for one of the grilled corn.
"Too stuffy," Lucille grinned, patting her tummy. "We ate some apples and peaches too. Hmm, I think I won't eat much for dinner."
Laughter escaped the man's lips before they curled into a smirk. "Really? Think again when you have your second bowl of rice."
She narrowed her eyes, glaring at him. He simply chuckled as he ate the grilled corn; the soft crunch rang faintly in the air. Butter glistened on his fingers, catching the sunlight.
For a moment, silence filled the porch. Ashrik savored the taste carefully, while Lucille watched the grass sway gently under the breeze. Her thoughts were clearly elsewhere.
"Brother Ash," she called, shifting her eyes from the lawn to him. "Hazel told me... about her and Felix."
He paused mid-bite, slightly surprised by her remark. He didn't look at her right away. For a moment, he said nothing, as if weighing how to respond to her.
