- I'll put your things here. Goren placed Lucy's bag on the bed, and turned to Lucy, who remained on the spot, not daring to move forward. Make yourself at home.
With that, he moved towards the door, leaving her to settle in.
Seeing that she was in the way, it was better to leave her alone.
And give her time to adjust.
After all, she hardly knew him, so it was normal for her to be anxious.
- Goren...
At her name, Goren snapped out of his thoughts, only to stop and turn to her.
- You can call me Bobby.
Really...
Lucy could call Goren Bobby.
She hardly knew him.
Could she really.
Her mother wouldn't object.
But if he gave permission, then maybe she could.
But she'd feel weird about it.
- Bobby... All hesitant and shy, Lucy lowered her eyes, embarrassed to use such an intimate name with Goren, even though she hardly knew him. Thank you, Lucy.
Thank you...
But why was Lucy thanking him.
She really didn't need to thank him.
What he did was only natural.
Besides, Lucy was Eames' daughter, so if he could help his mother by helping his daughter, well, he'd be happy to do so.
And even if Eames hated her mercilessly, he'd always be there for her.
In addition, having a teenager his own age at home would spice things up, and give him some company.
And make him forget that sometimes he felt terribly alone.
And in those moments, he'd think back to Alex, and the past.
And above all, of what they could have built together, if Jonathan Eames hadn't interfered.
- You don't have to thank me, Lucy.
With that, Goren withdrew, leaving Lucy alone and perplexed.
Why didn't she have to thank Goren...
When he was looking after her, and above all, when he hardly knew her.
It was only natural that she should thank him.
In addition, Goren was giving her his room, and he was going to end up sleeping on the sofa in the living room.
And she knew that the sofa wasn't a very pleasant place to sleep, when you had a bed at your disposal.
So, as far as she was concerned, it was only natural that she should thank him for his kindness.
And Lucy was beginning to understand why Goren appealed to her mother.
He was profoundly kind, and thought of others before himself.
And that must have been what appealed to her mother about him.
Well...
She had to put her things away.
So, hesitantly, since she wasn't at home, nor in her own room, Lucy opened her bag, plunged her hands inside, and took out her things, as well as her bedside book, which she laid on the blanket while she took her clothes to the chest of drawers.
When she got to the dresser, Lucy didn't dare open one of its three drawers to put her things away, preferring to place them on the cabinet.
She returned to the bed, and took her book in her hands, "Daddy Long Legs" by Jean Webster, a book she was particularly fond of, given that she had no father.
Her mother hadn't been too keen on it at first, thinking it might make her sad, but in the end, and with much insistence, seeing that she wanted this book more than anything else, her mother finally gave in and bought it for her.
She clutched the book gently in her hands, especially so as not to damage the cover, and walked over to the bedside table on the left side of the bed to put it down, only to discover that there was already a book sitting on it, which must have been Goren's. Lucy hesitated to touch the book, as she was sure that it was her own.
Lucy hesitated to touch the book, thinking that Goren might not appreciate her touching his things.
But strangely enough...
The book's cover attracted her.
There was something about it...
Something that drew her in and made her heart clench without knowing why.
On the cover, she could see a dark-haired man hugging a chestnut-haired woman, who was holding the man's face in her hands, about to kiss him, and both were soaking wet from the rain.
It was hypnotizing, so much so that Lucy could feel emotions from the cover image alone.
And the book was called "The Notebook" by Nichols Spark.
Strange…
How could a man of Goren's age, who actually looked like a man, have such a bedside book?
It was beyond comprehension.
But Lucy knew that sometimes the cover didn't necessarily resemble the summary.
And she wanted to read the summary.
To find out if the cover corresponded to the book's summary.
But could she.
If she touched the book...
It was Goren's stuff, and it didn't belong to her.
But Lucy remembered what Goren had told her.
That she was making herself at home.
So she gently lifted the book in her hands, and put hers in its place.
But something fell out of the book, something white and like a sheet of paper.
Panicking that she'd done something stupid, Lucy put the book down and picked up the piece of paper.
But to her surprise, it wasn't just a piece of paper.
It was a grainy paper, or on it, there was a drawing of a young girl, who must have been fifteen at the most, for she looked very young, and she wore on her long, slightly wavy hair a crown of flowers, holding a bouquet of several different flowers in her hands, with a pretty dress.
But the girl in question wasn't just anyone.
It was her mother.
But years younger.
How could this be...
How could Goren have a drawing of his mother, when at that time they weren't supposed to know each other.
It just didn't make sense.
Something was wrong.
Why hadn't his mother told him she knew Goren, and more importantly, that he had a drawing of her.
But maybe she didn't know about the drawing.
But it didn't matter.
Lucy had too many questions running through her head at the discovery of this drawing, and she needed answers.
And above all, to understand.
- Bobby...
At his name, Goren returned to his room, to see a Lucy who, shocked by her discovery, couldn't take her eyes off the piece of paper in her small hands.
At the sight of the paper, which he immediately recognized, Goren's heart raced.
Good heavens...
This wasn't just any paper.
It was the drawing he'd done of Eames when he was fifteen.
How had Lucy stumbled across this drawing, when it was neatly tucked away in her book.
- I didn't want to rummage. Lucy looked at him worriedly, ready to escape. I just wanted to read the summary... She was panicking more and more, her face turning red. But this paper fell out of the book. She handed him the drawing, but kept her distance, not knowing how he would react. I'm sorry, Lucy.
What do you mean Lucy was sorry.
And what kind of reaction was that.
It was as if Lucy was afraid of him, of his reaction.
Did she think he was capable of getting carried away by so little.
When it usually took a lot to set him off.
Lucy was afraid he'd yell at her, or raise his hand to her.
He would never do such a thing.
If he'd been the violent type, Alex would never have entrusted her daughter to him.
In addition, it was strange that Lucy should react like that.
She'd yelled at him for any reason.
Or worse, someone had laid a hand on her.
Like her father.
And that this was why Eames was no longer with him.
If that was the case, he would deal with Lucy's father himself.
Because to touch Lucy was to touch Eames.
And that he would not tolerate.
In addition, why should he get upset.
She hadn't done it intentionally.
So why all the fear.
He wasn't the violent type.
Even a little too hot-headed for his own taste, according to his brother.
Goren preferred to settle problems with a good discussion, rather than using verbal or physical violence.
If Lucy had discovered drawing.
It was his fault.
He should have been more careful, and put his book away, especially knowing that Lucy was coming to stay with him for a while.
- I'm not angry.
At his words, Lucy gasped in surprise.
She really was.
Goren wasn't angry...
He wasn't angry at her.
Even though she'd discovered her mother's drawing.
Something that, if she'd understood correctly, he'd treasured.
Goren should have been angry, and he wasn't.
- You're probably wondering why I have this drawing.
Lucy nodded, as Goren put his hand to the back of his neck in embarrassment.
- I'll have to explain the origin of this drawing then. He walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge, making the mattress sag under his weight. Because you've got to ask yourself some questions.
Explain the origin...
So Goren was going to explain the origin of this drawing.
And maybe she'd understand why he had this drawing of his mother.
- Come and sit down... Gorenl patted the seat next to him with his hand. We'll be better off sitting and talking.
Lucy didn't hesitate for a second.
She sat down next to him, and was careful not to crease the drawing.
- I'll explain everything.
Or at least part of it.
Because Eames wouldn't like it if he told his daughter about their past, especially certain details.
So he was going to tell her the main thing.
And leave out others.
Lucy didn't need to know everything.
Proud of his idea, he put his hand on Lucy's little golden head.
- Where do I begin...