A Walk on the Water - Page 67/186

Patrick looked at her and said, "Regardless of who or what you are, young lady, you are the being that God has created you to be. You are beautiful beyond compare." They began walking towards the Chateau once more, Patrick's expression all-too-knowing said "don't doubt yourself, you may never know happiness. There are many things in life that you can't find the words to describe. Do you understand?"

Once again, Alannah was stumped. "But . . . that doesn't mean anything…he acts as though he loves her. WE kissed, he stayed with ME until I was well. What does that mean Patrick?"

"It means you have a chace my dear." he said to her ingenuously. Lifting his gaze to the Chateau, he said, "I can see that the Señora and Dominic are in the glass room, making me remember that you're supposed to be there as well, having your lunch. You had better hurry!"

Something in Patrick's tone was careful which made Alannah wonder if something was wrong. As she stepped into the glass room she looked around Dominic was nowhere to be found - which made Alannah relax a little, but the look on the Señora 's face stopped her in her tracks. She had butterflies in her stomach as she took her seat, it made her insides tingle with an ugly and nervous chill.

Pointing at a small package, the size of a notebook, Señora said, "this arrived for me today, though it mainly concerns you." the Señora told her, indicating a yellow piece of paper at Alannah place at the table. "It is a cable from Dalkey. Your father has learned of your where abouts and is very angry, it seems. The message contained in this cable indicated that he is on his way here. He is coming here for you my dear girl, and that he will be here in a matter of weeks."

Alannah picked up the telegram and read it, she had turned ghostly white, fidgeted in her chair. Reading the telegram over several times before tears fell to the table, she put the telegram down and in a low soft voice, she said, "I am so very sorry, Señora Beringer, but I must leave immediately." Alannah got up, and turned to leave.