Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 2662

“Yeah!” The boy nodded enthusiastically, his eyes shining. “They’re delicious. We all love them.”

“Just two a day is enough. Don’t eat too many,” Sylvia said, chatting with him casually.

“I know. The teacher told us,” the boy replied, his smile innocent and pure.

Gabriel listened to them talking in the back, his lips pressing into a thin line as he glanced at Sylvia in the rearview mirror.

He was glad he’d brought her along. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have the first clue how to deal with a child.

The weather was gloomy, with a persistent drizzle blurring the world outside the fogged-up windows.

Inside the quiet car, the only sounds were Sylvia and the boy’s soft conversation and the rhythmic swish of the windshield wipers.

About an hour into the drive, Gabriel noticed the chatter from behind had stopped. He glanced back and saw Sylvia fast asleep, her forehead resting against the window.

Kant was idly tracing patterns in the condensation on the glass.

When he saw Gabriel looking, he quickly dropped his hand and sat up straight, a nervous tension in his small frame.

Gabriel kept one hand on the steering wheel, using the other to shrug off his jacket. He passed it back to the boy. “Do me a favor and put this over her.”

Sylvia was wearing a light gray tracksuit, but it wasn’t very thick, as she’d packed for the hot weather when she first arrived in C City.

The boy took the jacket and carefully draped it over Sylvia’s shoulders.

Gabriel glanced back again. She hadn’t moved; she was sleeping soundly.

A faint smile touched the corners of his lips.

After another half hour on the winding mountain roads, they reached the washout. The road was impassable.

“Grab your things. We get out here,” Gabriel said, turning to the boy. “We’ll have to detour through the mountains.”

“Oh, okay!” Kant replied, shouldering the backpack that held his clothes and books.

“Sir, should we wake her up?” Kant asked.

Gabriel looked back, his lips a straight line in the dim light. “Do I look that much older than her?”

“No, he’s not that petty. And you didn't say anything wrong. You can keep calling us that,” Sylvia said, glancing outside. She smiled. “Alright, let’s get dressed and get out of here.”

She noticed Gabriel’s jacket on her lap and took it with her as she stepped out of the car.

Gabriel was waiting. As they got out, he took Kant’s backpack and slung it over his own shoulder. “Stay right behind me,” he said in a clipped tone. “And stay close. If anyone needs to step away for any reason, you announce it first. No wandering off on your own.”

“Yes, sir!” Sylvia responded with military crispness, just short of giving him a salute.

Gabriel shot her a look but didn’t bother to reply.

Kant, however, stood up straight and echoed, “Yes, sir!”

Sylvia couldn’t help but smile.

The rain had tapered to a light drizzle. Sylvia had Kant put on his raincoat and tucked two folding umbrellas from the car into her own backpack.

The three of them began their ascent up the mountain.