Rana looked at Ethos then immediately shifted her sight questioning Shane with her eyes.
Shane rose from his seat instead and turned to look at Amara.
"Aunt, we're leaving now, as Rana is already here. We're going to help her find furniture makers for her store," he said talking to her mom.
"Alright, then," said Amara rising from her seat, too.
Ethos also stood up and they were all sent to the doorway by Amara.
"Take care in the way, kids."
"Will do, mom."
Rana said and they went out of the gate of her house.
The trio started walking.
"Where do we go first?" she asked.
"My friend Leo lives in the next neighborhood. We can see him first," Ethos suggested.
He led them the way to Leo's house. It was close to the sea and they had to walk up a sloped road and curve a street before they can reach his house. Leo's house was close to the port and as they walked near it, they could hear the pounding of wood.
Ethos stopped before a two-story house with a large tree in its yard. A wide basement working as the wood room to make furniture was open and they entered the place. Two men in casual clothes were chatting in a far corner as each pounded a hammer on a wood that appeared to be made into a dining chair. Woods of all sizes could be seen placed neatly on the table though some wood pieces were strewn all over the floor. Dust woods piled up on the cemented floor.
Close to the side of the room, a lean man with long shaggy wavy dark brown hair tied in a messy ponytail has a pencil between his lips while pounding a nail into a wood of what looked like a wooden shelf cabinet.
"Wow, it's beautiful."
Rana said as she thoroughly looked around the frame of the cabinet.
The man noticed her and he removed the pencil that was stuck from between his lips.
He saw Ethos and Enos with her.
"What can I do for you, Enara?" asked Leo in a familiar greeting. "It's been a while since I saw your pretty face here. It sure brightens up the room with your presence in here, my lady. "
He said silkily.
Ethos scowled at him.
"Enara is already taken so use your silver tongue on somebody else," he said irritated.
"Tsk…tsk…too early to be grumpy, man," he said easily in a friendly tone. "Plus, I heard that it's Enos who is marrying Enara not you, Ethos. Don't sound too possessive of her."
Leo said chuckling.
Ethos scowled some more but it was business on his tongue when he spoke again.
"Leo, we are here because Enara is looking for a furniture maker. She's planning to open her own shop in the City Center."
"Look around, Enara, and tell me how you see our work."
He said looking at Enara then turning his sight around him in the room.
There were two finished cabinets set by the side of the wall. Three oak-made coffee tables. A low-level varnished mahogany table. Dining chairs with beautiful carvings. Console tables. Dining tables. One white-colored birch shelf was placed against the wall.
"Do you have more?"
Rana asked after looking thoroughly at all the finished furniture in the room. She returned to where Leo was working on a cabinet. He was bent on his back.
Leo straightened his back and turned around her.
"For now these are the things that are available here but if you would like to order custom-made chairs or tables or cabinets I can also make you one," said Leo wiping his hands on his pants.
"Okay. I think I like that cabinet you're making and this low mahogany table here," said Rana pointing to the table. It has cute fruit and flower carvings on its side. "And those dining chairs."
She added further pointing on dining chairs in the far side corner.
"When do you need them delivered?"
Leo asked her.
"I'll give you a date, Leo," she replied then asked. "But the way, do you make frames, too?"
Leo shook his head.
"Sorry, I don't, Enara."
"I see, it's okay. Thanks for showing this anyway."
"Alright. Come by when you need to pick these things."
"Yeah, I will."
They left Leo's place and stopped in front of his yard admiring the tall maple tree on his yard. Its colors had turned orange and red. Leaves were scattered below the ground.
"I need to find a guy who makes frames," Rana said looking at the two men. "Any ideas?"
"We can visit Karitt," said Shane mentioning one of their childhood friends. "I heard his also making a living out of carving woods and assembling them. Let's go to his place."
"Asoka makes lamps. She lives in the next neighborhood from here." Ethos suggested.
"Let's visit her first. Then, we go to Karitt."
"Okay, lead the way, Ethos."
Rana brightly instructed Ethos.
They started walking to the next neighborhood. Rana walked squeezed between Shane and Ethos.
"Don't you remember where Asoka used to live, Enara?" asked Ethos. "She brought you your favorite peaches when you were sick."
"Do they still grow peaches on their farm?" she asked Ethos.
"We can see her farm if you like," he said suggesting the idea to her. "Asoka will be happy to see you."
"I'll stay in her house if she makes peach pies."
Asoka who lives just a few more blocks from where Leo lives had a family who grows peaches for their business. When Rana became sick when she was eight years old after the disappearance of Enos, Asoka's peaches were able to cheer her up.
"But you can make a peach pie for me, Ethos," said Rana as the idea popped in her head. "Why don't you?"
Ethos showed his rare smile.
"Do you want me to?" he asked lifting his mouth to hide the smile that only very rarely showed on his face.
"You know, I love your peach pies, Ethos."
Rana said instantly.
"You bake pies, brother?" Shane asked thoroughly surprised at this revelation. His grumpy stoic brother who's never bothered to cook for anyone baked a peach pie for Enara?
Shane tried to hide his surprise.
Ethos threw a glance at him.
"Yeah, I do," he agreed. "But it's something you don't need to know, brother."
"Ethos makes one of the best pies, Shane," said Rana conversationally. "Asoka taught him to make it. He made it when I was sick then."
"Wow, I never knew that."
Shane said hiding his smile.
Rana was undeniably beyond shocked when he disappeared twenty years ago. She was a little scared of Ethos when she was younger. His brother had a rather grumpy behavior toward people around him. And he used to like Ethiara then when they were younger.
When did Ethos change his feelings from Ethiara and turn them towards Enara? Shane wondered silently. Rana said she loves him. Well, he doesn't doubt that. So, even if Ethos challenges him over Enara, he's confident Rana will choose him over his brother.
He easily joined in the conversation of the two who were chatting about random things as they walked their way to Asoka's house.
"Maybe you can bake me one, too, brother."
Shane joked with his brother lightly.
Ethos had a dangerous look in his eyes as he spoke.
"I'll make sure it's poisoned, Enos, when you eat it."
He said in a deadly tone.
"You wouldn't kill me over a peach pie, won't you, brother?" asked Shane teasing. "You can bake me an apple pie if you don't want me to eat Enara's peach pie. I'm sure this woman will hoard it anyway."
He said teasing Rana.
Rana turned to him with a mean glint in her eyes.
"I'm going to make sure then that you will never get to eat it."
She said smiling.
They reached Asoka's house and found her in her shed. Asoka was designing a lamp on a table when they entered the room.
"Wow! These are amazing!"
Rana said delightedly as her eyes swept over the finished lamps on the table. It kind of reminded her of the lamps she used to display in her A&V Shop in New York. She held a sigh as melancholy quickly washed through her.
She still misses Julienne. Her laughter and her noise had always been there for her.
Rana looked at a red satin-covered lamp with pearl-like base and stone rocks stitched to its tails. She looked at it with nostalgia. She ran her hand on the cloth and touched the small rocks dropping like gems on its rim.
She let her eyes feast at other lamps that she made. Some of them were simply designed in colors. Like a mix of cream, white, or ivory and a wood stand. Others were intricately designed with colorful stones and colorful clothes.
"Would you like me to show these lamps of yours in my shop, Asoka?"
Rana asked Asoka with enthusiasm.
Asoka was a slender woman with long black hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. She was wearing a white shirt and weaved pairs of pants. She has a beautiful open face.
"Enara!" Asoka lifted her clear black eyes from the lamp to Enara's face. Her naturally red lips immediately smiled upon seeing her. "I would love that."
She agreed at once.
"Are you opening a shop?"
Rana nodded.
"I am. It may take a month though before everything is done. But I'm checking places to buy my displays," she explained. "And these lamps right here will look gorgeous on the second floor."
"You've figured your shop?" Asoka asked with interest.
"Rough sketches for a while," said Rana. "And Shane and I have to decide for our wedding."
"That's great news from you. I'm glad you two are back together, Enara."
Rana smiled at her.
"Yeah. By the way, Asoka, can we buy peaches from you?" Rana asked with an eager tone in her voice. "And…uhm…are you already selling peach pies this time? If you are, I'd definitely buy two boxes."
Asoka laughed at her question.
"Enara, you're only the one who ever pushes me to sell my peach pies," she said "I make lamps and lanterns for a living, girl. Not pies."
"But the Harvest Festival is around the corner. You can do a sideline."
Rana said to her friend.
Asoka's face brightened at her suggestion but it also disappeared.
"I have to finish these lamps, Enara."
"Ethos can help you make peach pies and sell them during the Harvest Festival."
Asoka looked hesitantly at Ethos who as always had a passive look on his face. Rana turned to look at Ethos. He averted his eyes from her.
"Don't push it, Enara," he said trying his best not to scowl at her.
"Just for the Harvest Festival…please?" she asked with a pleading tone. "Plus, it will coincide with me opening the shop so you can use my shop to sell those pies."
She said overeager at the idea.
"Come on, brother," said Shane persuading his brother as well. He wanted to taste his brother's baking as well. So, even if Ethos was still on him on Enara, he doesn't mind a friendly competition with his brother.
Rana will still choose him. Like always.
"Indulge us, brother," Shane asked then turned to look at Asoka. "Asoka."
The two agreed to make peach pies for the Harvest Festival. They left her place and went to Karitt's home next so Rana could see his woodworks.
Then, they dropped by and visited a famous meat tavern for their late lunch.
"I miss meat," said Rana enthusiastically as she fried meats on the grill. She looked over the fire and waited for the meat to cook on top of the grill. Their flesh turning golden brown. The smoke and smell of the meat permeated the room. She could see the fat as they sizzled over the fire.
Rana picked the chopsticks on her table and put the meat on her plate.
"Enara, don't hoard the meat to yourself," Ethos said with a warning tone.
She pursed her lips at him.
"But you know, I love meat, Ethos," she said pouting at him.
Shane laughed at her reaction.
"Don't be such a child, Ran."
Rana glared at him.
"I was once a child, Enos," said Rana in a deferring tone. "Ethos indulged me when you were no longer around."
Shane was stopped by her statement. He held his chopsticks in his hands.
What if Enara loves Ethos? An uncomfortable thought rambled in his mind.