Mr. Davis and Brooke exchanged a few trivial pleasantries along the way... Then, they arrived in silence at the only restaurant Brooke knew in the area.
BROOKE : I hope you're okay with Asian food...
MR DAVIS : It's perfect! And I'm starving!
They went in and Mrs. Chang sat them at a table in the front... Brooke saw herself there a few days before with Lucas.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : It was tense between him and me that night... At first, at least. And then we had a great evening...
No time to remember their exchanges before Mrs. Chang brought her out of her memories.
MRS CHANG : Madam, Sir, welcome! I've brought you our card!
Just as Brooke realized, relieved, that she hadn't recognized her, she was disappointed when she came back with the cards.
MRS CHANG : Miss, didn't you come about two weeks ago with our dear Father Lucas?
BROOKE : Yes, it's me.
MRS CHANG : It seemed to me... And as they say, there's no better compliment for a restaurateur than seeing the customer come back!
Faced with his touching enthusiasm, Brooke didn't dare tell him that she didn't have any other options.
BROOKE : Absolutely, your noodles deserve to be tasted by everyone!
Mrs. Chang blushed then looked at the man sitting across from Brooke, as if she were waiting for the necessary information.
BROOKE : My father came to visit me!
MRS CHANG : Oh okay! How kind and thoughtful of you, sir!
Mr. Davis smiled a little nervously, Brooke too, for that matter. Fortunately, Ms. Chang left. The atmosphere was a little special... Brooke wanted to break the silence but she didn't know what to say. Her father took care of it.
MR DAVIS : Who is Lucas?
His question took Brooke by surprise even though to him it seemed very ordinary in appearance.
BROOKE : Excuse me?
MR DAVIS : The lady... She said you came here with a certain Father Lucas, at least if I heard correctly...
There, what she wanted to avoid happens... And already at the very beginning of the evening! Brooke swallowed and took on her most detached air possible to answer him in a slightly evasive manner.
BROOKE : Uh... yes. He's one of the monks of the Abbey...
MR DAVIS : And so he took you to eat in this restaurant?
Brooke was convinced that her father's question hid a reproach for Lucas... or, for her, or for both of them.
BROOKE : We had dinner here by chance after a sports session... There's a room right next door.
MR DAVIS : Don't get me wrong, my dear, I'm just glad to know that you're well surrounded...
Brooke looked at him with one eye and one eyebrow raised a little suspiciously... He added:
MR DAVIS : Come on, tell me a little about what you're experiencing here, how's it going?
BROOKE : It's going well, quite well even I must say...
As she began her explanations, they were interrupted by the order taking... Brooke continued, then. She explained to him a little about everything she had been led to do... The tidying up, the preparations for festivities... Then she lingered on the home and the young people... Her father drank in her words and her enthusiasm on this subject.
BROOKE : I think that's really what I prefer here... Sharing time with them, seeing them happy.
MR DAVIS : I recognize you there... Generous, altruistic and emphatic.
Brooke blushed without responding to his compliments which nevertheless touched her a little.
BROOKE : You should see them... So damaged by life but so endearing and despite everything, full of dreams!
MR DAVIS : Again, I'll allow myself a little comparison between them and you... And you, what are your dreams?
Brooke stopped talking and looked at her father, a little stunned and unable to understand his hidden intention. However, what seemed like a dream, recent and unattainable, echoed in her.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : Live my love in broad daylight with Lucas... To be with him for the rest of my life...
BROOKE : I don't have a dream, dad...
MR DAVIS : Nonsense! Everyone has dreams, Brooke!
BROOKE : But I don't have any... So stop pretending that you know everything for me!
The tone of her voice rose a notch when the front door chime rang, she barely paid attention.
MR DAVIS : There are definitely priests everywhere here!
Annoyed by her distraction, Brooke huffed and glanced over at the newcomer who met her gaze.
BROOKE : Lucas?!
LUCAS : Oh, good evening Brooke! And good evening Mister...?
Lucas questioned Brooke's father with a look as if he didn't know who he was. Mr. Davis stood up to greet him.
MR DAVIS : I'm Mr. Davis, Brooke's father. Nice to meet you, Father.
LUCAS : Nice to meet you, sir. I'm Lucas, Father Lucas to be exact.
Brooke watched the whole scene open-mouthed, she was amused but also troubled by his acting.
MR DAVIS : Imagine that my daughter just told me about you...
LUCAS : Oh really, already?
Lucas gave Brooke a look and a smile that said a lot, but that only she could notice.
BROOKE : I was just saying that it was thanks to you that I discovered this restaurant, Father.
Brooke was provoking him by treating him with all the respect and deference required. Lucas smiled at her.
LUCAS : Indeed. And I remember that we had spent a pleasant evening getting to know each other better. Well, on that note... Brooke, sir, I'll leave you... I was just going to pick up a takeout order...
MR DAVIS : Would you like to join us, Father?
Lucas smiled at him then his gaze fixed and locked on Brooke's.
LUCAS : I wouldn't want to disturb you...
His gaze furrowed and Brooke understood that he was subtly asking her opinion. She only had one word to say...
BROOKE : Stay with us, Father!
LUCAS : With great pleasure! Thank you.
A few seconds later, Lucas sat down next to Brooke, she knew it was strategic... On the one hand, he wouldn't see her knowing look during dinner... Which would make their discretion easier. And on the other hand, this will allow for welcome proximity in the event of difficulties, to feel supported.
A few minutes later, the three of them were eating... Mr. Davis wiped his mouth with his napkin.
MR DAVIS : In any case, I thank you for what you do for Brooke, Father... The time you devote to her, your listening and your precious advice...
Mr. Davis' tone was solemn. Brooke pursed her lips to avoid laughing because she thought of everything Lucas had done for her. Kisses, sex, laughter... It had to be said that he entertained her like no one else here!
LUCAS : I do it with pleasure, sir.
His warm gaze avoided Brooke's but his thigh rested against hers to mark their complicity.
MR DAVIS : Did you discuss my daughter's future in your exchanges?
BROOKE : Dad!
Lucas remained calm, he smiled at Brooke briefly then he placed his hand on her knee, as if to calm her down too.
LUCAS : That's a fair question, Brooke. And I know you're thinking about it too... If you'll let me talk about it, of course... I'm not forcing you to do anything...
BROOKE : As long as we don't discuss what came out of our exchanges in the confessional...
Lucas kneed her when he understood her allusion... Their exchanges of saliva, bodily fluids...
LUCAS : Obviously, it's about the secrecy of the confession, my child.
This mixture of seriousness and second level of reading disturbed but amused Brooke... it was light and even pleasant. The tension in her dissipated and evacuated and it became easier for her to talk to her father.
BROOKE : I don't know what I'm going to do... But I'm sure of two things.
MR DAVIS : That's already a good point... Which ones?
BROOKE : The first is that I'm not going to jail and the second is that I'm not coming to live with you.
While Mr. Davis remained silent and a little stunned by her frank statement, Lucas spoke.
LUCAS : Where do you live, if it's not too personal?
MR DAVIS : Currently on Reunion Island... I just wanted to tell you Brooke, I met someone.
BROOKE : Again!?
She laughed openly at her father who announced his relationship with yet another partner... He closed up a little.
MR DAVIS : We've been together for almost three years, you know... It's very serious between her and me.
Brooke couldn't help but roll her eyes, but Lucas' presence kept her reactions moderate.
MR DAVIS : At least, I like to think so. I am very much in love with Delphine, you would like her a lot I am sure...
Understanding that the discussion was likely to get out of hand, Lucas nodded to Mr Davis to change the subject.
MR DAVIS : Either. This isn't the right time to talk about it. Where would you like to live, then?
BROOKE : Here, would suit me.
Brooke's gaze became a little shifty while her father's furrowed... Lucas decided to continue for her.
LUCAS : We can host Brooke until she makes a new start, even after her work sentence.
MR DAVIS : That's very generous of you! I hope you realize how lucky you are, Brooke.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : The chance I have to live more or less close to Lucas, hidden from everyone...
BROOKE : It's certainly not ideal but I don't really have a choice... Let's just say that they are relatively limited.
MR DAVIS : I wanted to tell you something... You know, I saved up some money for you... It's at your disposal.
BROOKE : I don't want your money!
MR DAVIS : I knew you were going to say that but take the time to think... He will always be there for you.
BROOKE : It's all thought out!
MR DAVIS : But what would you live on?!
BROOKE : I have a job offer... Lucas knows the head of a large press group in the Region...
MR DAVIS : That's wonderful! Father Lucas, I'm really going to think that you are my little Brooke's guardian angel...
This time, Brooke completely agreed with her father... Lucas was her guardian angel.
LUCAS : I only know how to give a little push so that the bird spreads its wings...
Suddenly, the chime rang and a man rushed in. He gasped... Brooke recognized him. Lucas too.
BROTHER CHASE : Lucas! You're here!
Brother Chase looked worried and in a hurry at the same time. He approached them and greeted them vaguely.
BROTHER CHASE : Can we go out for a few moments, is it urgent?!
LUCAS : Of course, Chase! I'm following you...
Brooke was not reassured when she understood that Lucas also seemed worried and challenged by this interruption. Her mouth dried up a little and her stomach twisted when Lucas turned to smile at her before walking away... And finally, leaving the restaurant. Leaving her alone with her father, anxious.