Alexander(2)

"Do you want it yes or no?"

"Yes,"

I say.

"Where did you find fresh milk?"

I put the improvising tray on his lap.

"It's long talk milk."

When I lifted the towel, I discovered a full plate of sautée lamb with small vegetables and slices of butter butter still hot. I couldn't help laughing.

"You will not accompany me?"

I hesitated for a moment, then shook my head then grabbed the flyers from the mailbox and disappeared. I watched him go away, sensitive to his flexible and rhythmic approach, then, throwing my fish sandwich, began my meal The lamb sautée was as delicious and fragrant as I had imagined. Alexander Delatour did nothing by half. You needed perfection or nothing. She was enjoying her last bite of butter bread when I came back to her.

I put a part of the cherry clafoutis near her and went to settle down a little further. With my back pressed against a piller, I started to eat my dessert.

"Want another glass of milk?"

She declined my offer and bit into her pie.

"A wonder, it is you who made it or you use an army of cooks who work for you night and day to satisfy your every whim?"

Amused by her expression of pure bliss I answered her.

" I am the only culprit. To be honest, the ingredients come out of my little vegetable patch. I just prepare and mix them carefully following the recipe."

For a few moments, we stared at each other in silence.

"Thank you very much for this wonderful lunch."

She said softly.

"Forgive me for welcoming you so badly."

I seemed a little surprised, then finally replied.

"It's nothing."

I was not used to people apologizing for hurting me except for my family. Usually everyone has something to ask me. And the girls around me think only of climbing without my bed. Suddenly I heard her sigh and I gave her a sharp look. What was she thinking about? I was not one to worry about what was going on in the minds of others, but, curiously, it interested me to know what was going through her mind.

Her drooping eyelashes veiled her gaze. She was staring at the river, but suddenly seemed sad. She turned to me and supported my gaze with candor, disarming frankness. Once again I let myself be taken by its charm. A dangerous charm for me at the moment. Because for some, time it would be my only contact with the outside world and could easily become essential to me. Better to stay on the defensive.

" The river without return,"

She murmured.

"Sorry?"

"This is what the people here call this river. Because the waters of the river are impetuous and fast that it is impossible to go upstream."

" If I remember correctly there is a film with this name."

" Yep, with Robert Mitcum and Marilyn Monroe, she clarified. Are you watching that kind of movie? The girl had lost one of her shoes, but doesn't care. The man he loved came to chase her. She leaves with him."

"An end to an extravagant and unrealistic fairy tale,"

I replied.

"I know that you are in a difficult situation and that you have had trouble trusting people. But you are very young, I hope everything will work out for you."

She expressed herself in a convinced tone. In her tone I know that she was trying to console me. There was extreme tenderness in her eyes. I wonder how she got the name of Ice Beauty. To see her now you would think she is a naive little girl. But I know one thing, it's that she's like that towards those she considers her friends. Compassionate, sensitive, I must go, she said after a few minutes of silence. An inexplicable force drew us towards each other. I realized this by meeting her gaze again. He was shining with an unusual luster ... the luster of desire. I saw her blush, and I knew that the same thing was reflected in my eyes too.

My heart suddenly started to beat, like when I had seen it for the first time, when I was cutting wood in the small clearing, the irresistible urge that I had to touch it ... She rose suddenly, all suddenly and my thoughts were interrupted.

" I have to go,"

She repeated nervously.

"That's it, go."

" You really are an idiot."

" I remind you once again that I do not need your pity."

" I have no pity on you,"

She said softly.

"You are a solid person, both morally and physically. A person of lesser scale, would not have been able to solve with so much mastery the problems which were posed to you."

" Thank you for this vote of confidence."

I had a brief smile.

" I am going away and fear not, I will not disturb you any more. If you need anything, tie a ribbon around the mailbox and drop your message inside. I will come, even if I have no mail to send you."

" I don't think I have to ask you anything."

" Perfect."

" What is your name?"

" What?"

" Your name, what is your name ?"

" Grace, Grace Harper."

Grace, I repeated, watching her disappear. I would have thought that you would keep your father's no, but it seems to me that your situation is not as good as you let it appear. Grace, a female first name, a first name that would be sweet to whisper in caressing her, taking her in my arms.