Chapter 8

After a sleepless night the next morning, Benson made a call to the friend who had helped him transplant the lemon tree ten years ago. "Do you still remember the lemon tree you moved for me back then? Can you go back to that same park… and find me another one that's about ten years old?" His friend picked up on the unusual tone in his voice and asked what had happened. Benson's voice was hoarse, his eyes vacant. "Yvonne… I think she doesn't want me anymore." After the new lemon tree was replanted in the garden, Benson looked genuinely happy. He even carved a wooden plaque by hand. On it, he wrote, "In commemoration of Benson and Yvonne's 20th year together." His friend let out a long sigh and left. Later, Yara called. Benson rejected the call. Annoyed, he simply turned off his phone. Once he hung up the plaque, he swept and tidied up the whole garden. Then, he called a lawyer to inquire about custody matters. He remembered Yvonne once said she could accept the children. After a