As Lucas opened yet another door... He finally came across Brooke's room.
LUCAS' THOUGHT : She's sleeping... Of course she's sleeping.
As Brooke lay asleep on her bed, Lucas watched her silently. A part of him felt terribly guilty... Guilty for doubting her but also for intruding on her privacy. But this other part of him was completely captivated and unable to look away from her.
LUCAS' THOUGHT : My God, she's so beautiful... She looks like an angel. A beautiful angel.
Still standing in the doorway, Lucas mechanically felt compelled to move towards Brooke. He took a step forward. Hesitant, he would have liked to move closer or sit on the bed but, for fear of waking her, he remained standing, motionless. His eyes then roamed Brooke's body lying above the sheets, detailing each part of it. His conscience told him that he should turn back but the fire burning inside him told him otherwise. Faced with this vision that fascinated him, Lucas decided to observe her a little more. Here he was now in front of Brooke's room like an obscene prowler... He almost felt guilty of voyeurism. The weakness of his humanity sent him back to the inevitable admiration of Brooke's body that he found so voluptuous. He examined her hips, exquisite and mysterious waist, whose graceful curves he could make out.
LUCAS' THOUGHT : What is she dreaming about? Who really is this mysterious little woman who showed up and turned my whole orderly life upside down?
Lucas, too respectful, would not go any further in this delicious nocturnal interlude... He left.
- The next morning -
Brooke woke up, rested, after having had a very good night. She was surprised to see herself under the covers when she thought she remembered that she had fallen asleep on her bed. She put it down to waking up at night and her usual chilliness and didn't pay any more attention to it. On the other hand, there was something that came back to her mind... Owen and his call yesterday. She moved around in her bed thinking about how she could find him the hiding place he needed... Instinctively, she obviously thought of Lucas but she didn't want to involve him in this, not yet. Going through Debie seemed risky too, maybe Sister Karen...
She turned and turned the options in her head but only Lucas could help her and she knew it. Uncomfortable with the idea, she didn't know how she was going to go about it yet. But the first thing to do was get up and get ready for the day.
As she had a quick lunch in the convent kitchen, Sister Karen was drinking a hot chocolate next to Brooke.
SISTER KAREN : What do you have planned for today, my dear child?
BROOKE : Nothing special! I have to go back to the gym but for now I'd like to find Brother Lucas.
SISTER KAREN : You two seem to get along well... don't you?
Sister Karen's question seemed ordinary but given the direction her relationship with Lucas was taking, Brooke was anxious.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : Um... Could she be that perceptive?!
BROOKE : Yes, he's... Let's say, not too annoying for a priest. Why the question?
SISTER KAREN : Well, because it's a good thing for your stay, come on! Don't make that face! It's almost as if you can't believe how much you appreciate a pious and merciful person.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : If she knew how much I've grown to appreciate him... But he's not as pious as she thinks!
Brooke took a sip of chocolate, simply rolling her eyes to express a certain detachment.
SISTER KAREN : If you want to see Lucas, just follow me, I was just planning on setting off!
BROOKE : Oh... Were you going to see Lucas too?
SISTER KAREN : No... Well, sort of.
Sister Karen looked at Brooke with a mischievous eye but didn't say anything and Brooke didn't understand what she was implying.
BROOKE : Sister, I'm not following you at all...
Sister Karen smiled at Brooke and then quickly looked at her outfit in more detail. She shrugged.
SISTER KAREN : Well, it's not optimal, but it'll do for a first time. Let's go.
Karen was now showing a genuine smile and hurried out of the kitchen. Brooke followed her with her toast.
BROOKE : Well, and are you sure we'll find it where you're taking us?
SISTER KAREN : Sure!
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : She thinks it's funny too!
Just as Brooke gave up trying to find out more, Sister Karen finally solved the mystery.
SISTER KAREN : What day is it today, my daughter?
BROOKE : April 26th, right?
SISTER KAREN : Yes, that's right... But I was thinking more about the day of the week in my question.
BROOKE : Well, it's Sunday.
SISTER KAREN : Do you happen to know where the French word "Sunday" comes from?
Brooke looked at her puzzled, still not understanding what she was getting at.
SISTER KAREN : Like the others this week, Sunday comes from the Christian Latin: "dies dominicus" is the day dedicated to God.
Still skeptical, Brooke followed her as she hurried toward the church entrance.
SISTER KAREN : Come on! You're going to your first mass, my girl... Rejoice!
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : Oh no!
Taken by surprise, Brooke continued to follow Sister Karen into the bustling church building. Sister Karen motioned for Brooke to sit down as chants rang out to unite the congregation in liturgical prayer. Father de Luc, serious and hard, stepped up onto the platform and placed his hands on the altar. He then venerated it with a kiss. He then greeted the congregation and made the sign of the cross. Everyone dutifully followed suit.
FATHER LUC : In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. May the Lord be with you. And with your spirit.
Faced with this unanimous communication, Brooke felt a little lost since she was the only one who remained mute and ignorant. When the hymn of Glory to God began, Brooke sank into the pew to make herself as small and discreet as possible. But quickly, she saw Lucas join the Abbot in his opening prayer. He lit the large candles one by one.
Lucas then came to stand just behind the Abbot, his hands crossed in front of him, he swept the assembly with his gaze. Amused to surprise him in his element, Brooke straightened up so that he would notice her, which he did not fail to do.
LUCAS' THOUGHT : What is she doing here?
As the Abbot prepared his Bible to begin his first reading, Lucas glanced briefly at Brooke.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : It seems that eye contact is more than established ... Even if not yet fully assumed.
Even if she was delighted each time by the effect she had on Lucas and that she played on it a little ... Or a lot! She had to admit that he had a very particular effect on her too, which was still unknown to her ... She knew that eyes could be a powerful weapon of seduction but what she did not know was that Lucas was already seduced ... Her little game only served to distract him a little more.
As the verses were being read, Brooke noticed each of Lucas's brief but regular sidelong glances. She smiled. After several seconds of a slightly more insistent look, Brooke gave him a soft, frank and sincere smile. Lucas, charmed, couldn't help but smile back at her... He then looked down, blushing. The rest of the mass continued and Brooke and Lucas' eyes continued to flirt tenderly throughout the sermon. Absorbed by this visual communication, Brooke didn't notice the vibrations of her cell phone until the ringing... Several accusing glances turned towards her, scandalized. Embarrassed, she quickly took her cell phone out of her pocket. She turned off the sound as quickly as possible and rushed out of the church in the middle of mass, via the central aisle.
Once outside, she felt her stomach twist in her belly when she saw that her father had left her a voicemail. She hesitated for several seconds, staring at the screen... Unable to decide what she wanted to do with it. She took a deep breath and then, while walking, she dialed the number for her voicemail. Her throat tightened.
BROOKE'S FATHER'S VOICEMAIL : Hello Brooke, it's Dad. Listen... I know you don't want to talk to me and I respect your choice. I hesitated for a long time before calling you... But the fact is that you're in trouble... Serious trouble. And you need help. To be completely honest with you, I was contacted by your legal assistant who explained your situation to me. I know you don't approve of my life choices but I am and will remain your father no matter what. For once, put your pride and resentment aside, I implore you and let me help you. Once you're out of this mess, you can cut me out of your life again if that's what you want... Please, my dear, call me back. Take good care of yourself... And Brooke... Don't forget that I love you.
As Brooke was still recovering from the words spoken by this man she blamed for her mother's depression, she didn't see Lucas come out the side door. He walked quickly towards her, looking worried.
LUCAS : Brooke, is everything okay?
In her confusion, Brooke hesitated for a few seconds.
BROOKE : I... It was a call from my father.
Lucas sensed her confusion and melancholy. He looked around briefly then brought his hand to Brooke's face. His palm came to rest on her cheek reddened by emotion, his thumb delicately caressing her cheekbone.
LUCAS : Why do I feel like this isn't really good news?
BROOKE : It's complicated. I haven't spoken to my father in a few years. But he learned that I was here... You know...
LUCAS : I get it, Brooke. But what did he say to you to put you in such a state?
BROOKE : Oddly enough, he didn't say anything about it specifically... He... He just showed me his support. He wanted to help me.
Lucas seemed lost by her reaction but he didn't want to rush her. He tried a little touching remark.
LUCAS : Personally, I'm reassured to know that I'm not the only man watching over you...
Brooke then gave him a smile and a look full of gratitude.
BROOKE : You should probably go back... I'm just going to get some air!
LUCAS : At the risk of disappointing you, but my presence is not so essential... Father Luc will do very well without me.
Lucas studied Brooke for a few seconds as if he had an idea in mind. Then he launched into it.
LUCAS : What if we went for a walk together... How about a little trip to the market in the village?
BROOKE : A market, you say? That seems like a much more fun Sunday activity, indeed!
LUCAS : And if you still had to hesitate, there is a half-Norman specialty that you absolutely must taste!
BROOKE : Half-Norman? You intrigue me!
They exchanged a soft but deep smile and they set off.
Brooke and Lucas walked side by side without touching but their two bodies were ardently attracted to each other. They stared straight ahead as if to convince themselves that their walk was natural and easy.
LUCAS : Brooke, it's not the desire that I lack but I can't take your hand.
Lucas looks at her and Brooke could read the pain in his eyes. The distance between them was painful, almost heartbreaking. They stared at each other for a long time and intensely... Their eyes spoke for them. But strangely, a pleasant and comforting feeling invaded Brooke despite everything ... She had taken the bad habit of being mistreated and even of liking it, Lucas, him, held her in esteem. Lucas surrounded her with thoughtfulness and interest while her daily life was only indelicacy and agitation ...