25 FIREPLACE GILBERT, ARIZONA
Later that Night
Logs of juniper wood nearly filled the outdoor fireplace. Its bark was grayish-brown and scaly, with striking deep red and purple heartwood. Not only did the Arizona native wood appear beautiful in the moonlight, but the aroma was wonderful and fragrant as it filled Daniel’s backyard. Cracking and popping while it burned, the logs radiated hot and colorful flames that danced behind the fireplace screen.
Daniel watched the flames, mesmerized at times and lost in thought. Occasionally, he could hear the playful sounds of a saxophone intermingled with chords from a piano by a musical genius of sorts. The jazz song played over and over after he selected the repeat button on his iPhone. He wanted to be engrossed in it, to feel the rhythm o
