himself. > Would she give me a chance now? Probably considering her family tragedy, she won't, but one day? <A movement in the corner of his eye tore him from his thoughts. Cleo, the current cat in the house came into the room. Marge had found her injured on the street at the time. The vet saved the animal, but there was nowhere for the cat to go to the McLaines' house. Their gray fur gleamed in the falling sunlight. Ryan rose quietly and approached the animal. The cat shows no signs of fear, but looked at him piercingly with its yellow eyes. Ryan knelt down and began to scratch her velvety fur. Satisfied, she only let out a loud purr. Ryan didn't notice that Claire slowly opened her eyes and watched him lovingly.“Apparently you can be loving with animals.” Slightly startled, Ryan turned to her. “Not really, but Cleo has known me for a while.” Claire had sat up in the meantime and reached for her cup of coffee. Ryan sat down in a chair across from her and did the same. After they both had a sip, Claire gave him a piercing look. "You seem to know your way around here very well. How come?" "Well, I didn't mean to tell you earlier, but I live here." "You live here? Why?" "It should only be a few weeks. My house Burned down 14 days ago and your parents were kind enough to let me live here in the meantime. If you mind, I can get a hotel room. ”“ Keep calm. ”Claire took another sip of coffee before she continued speaking. “Has the doctor called?” “Sorry, no. But I'm sure your father is doing better.” He immediately noticed the sad expression on her beautiful face again.It seemed as if she had remembered the terrible events of the past few hours. Ryan tried to comfort her, but still felt a stab in his heart. "I still can't understand your parents. They were such good and nice people. Why exactly them? I just don't understand." Claire looked at him and he saw a gleam in her eyes. “I wonder all the time.” Before continuing, she got up and went to the pictures on the wall. When looking at them she had to smile. One was showing a theatrical performance from high school, bowing. At that time she had played the role of Juliet in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". Her mother was so proud of her that they had an ice cream together after the performance. "It was my greatest wish to play Julia one day. You made it come true." Her mother's voice said this behind Claire's forehead. Tears welled up in her eyes again and she looked at the next photo.During her memory, she did not notice how Ryan stepped behind her and examined the pictures as well. "I can still remember the theatrical performance. I also acted back then. Unfortunately, my talent was only enough for the role of old Capulet. I admit that Bobby Smith was certainly a better Romeo than me, but I was jealous of him All the girls fell in love with him afterwards. "" How true, "thought Claire. "It's been the same for me. He's been a wonderful actor and heartbreaker. I'd be interested in what his job is today." "Well, Bobby had a lot of talent, but it didn't seem to be enough. Shortly after you moved away, he wanted to escape Maryland too, but came back after a few months. His parents still say that God and the world were to blame for his failure. His girlfriend at the time left him too. Poor guy. No money, no Job and not a girlfriend.I felt really sorry for him. "" How is he now? "" Well, thanks to his parents' influence, he got a job as a secretary in the town hall. From what I've heard, Bobby is making good money too. The only thing missing is a woman. "Claire had been listening to him the whole time while she was looking at the rest of the pictures. Then she turned around and sat down on the sofa again. After one last sip, the cup was empty and she leaned back. Cleo came back into the room and jumped." next to her. Carefully she curled up next to Claire and closed her yellow eyes. With the back of her hand she stroked the animal. "Tell me, what kind of job do you have, Ryan?" "Before answering, he went to the window and looked out." What am I working on? Well, I own an inn in the village. Perhaps you can still remember the "Lake Inn". It used to belong to my parents, but they died three years ago. My father had a heart attack and my mother died of a broken heart.I used to work as a lumberjack before I took over the Inn. If you want, we can go there once. "Claire looked at him enthusiastically." I would like to do that one day. I used to be there with my friends. Those were good times. "" You are now working as a dancer, as far as your mother told me. Is that why you moved away from here? "Before answering, she was silent for a moment. Ryan noticed, but didn't want to inquire." Well, it was one of many reasons. When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a famous dancer. My parents had a hard time leaving Maryland, but I had to leave. I can't explain it to you in more detail, please forgive me. "" It's okay. You don't like to talk about the past. I'm right? "Claire looked at him in shock. They didn't know each other well, so why should she justify herself about the reasons for her" escape "from the small village.A slight anger rose inside her and Ryan could see it in her eyes. The sadness had faded into the background and a sparkle made itself felt in its place.

Luckily the phone rang just as he could say something. Claire jumped up and picked up the phone. A queasy feeling spread across her stomach. The doctor spoke to her in a calm and soothing voice. "Mrs. McLain, I have terrible news to bring you. I am sorry, but your father has had complications. We have now noticed that he is worse injured than we suspected. that he has internal bleeding. Maybe you should go to the hospital again and see your father before he dies. Unfortunately, there is nothing more we can do for him. Mrs. McLain? Are you still on the line? Phone. When she heard of the terrible news, they lost all strength.Suddenly everything around Claire went black. From a distance she recognized Ryan's voice calling her name. Then nothing more.

When Claire opened her eyes again, she felt two strong arms around her body. Dazed, she tried a pitiful attempt to break free, but Ryan was stronger. “Are you all right again?” He looked at her with a concerned look. Claire saw pity, comfort and understanding on his face.

"It's all right. Let go of me, please." Hesitantly, he granted her wish. Ryan made sure she could stand on her feet without his help and decided that she could do it.

Though she was still pale, her voice was firm and cold. "I have to go to the hospital right away, Ryan. Please be so kind and drive me there. I can't do it alone." This request was a bitter acceptance. She had always been happy to cope with everything on her own, but at the moment she lacked all strength.

With a nod, Ryan pushed Claire to the door and took the car keys that he had put on a chest of drawers as he entered.Again that day, the drive seemed like forever to Claire. In the meantime it was dark and it had started to rain slightly.

She immediately went to the hospital in the intensive care unit and found the doctor on duty. He had already been waiting for her.

"Miss McLain. I need to talk to you. Would you come to my office, please?" Ryan stood a bit to one side and decided not to follow the two of them. He would find out soon enough what had happened.

The doctor led her into a small but smartly furnished room and made an inviting gesture on a chair in front of him. “Please have a seat.” Claire did so and looked at him. "I'm sorry to tell you, but your father died a quarter of an hour ago. We tried everything, but unfortunately our efforts were in vain. Your father bravely tried to fight to the end."

Claire's voice failed completely now. Her only family had died in just one car accident.Now she was alone in the world. What would happen now? Alone and without parents? Hot tears flowed down her cheek from her eyes. She felt like a soulless doll in a bad horror movie. Not even the person she disliked least would have wished for such a situation. What should she do?

"Miss McLain? Do you hear me? Come to yourself." When Claire still didn't react after a few minutes, the doctor went to get Ryan.

Immediately he came up to her and knelt down in front of her. He spoke to her in a low, calm voice. "Claire? Come back to me. Please." She was still staring down at him. Her voice cracked as she spoke. "I'm alone. Nobody is with me. Everyone is dead. I'm so alone." "No Claire, you are not. I'm here and I need you. You have to be strong now." "I have to be strong? Yes "I have to. Ryan, you are right." Life came back to her eyes and gave him a thankful look.A slight smile appeared on his mouth and he took her in his arms. "You will do it. I will help you. Rely on it."

The next morning, Claire woke up very late. She thought of the last day with a bitter taste in her mouth. Ryan had helped her as promised, filling out all the forms while she sat slumped by it. They didn't talk to each other on the drive home, and right after getting out of the car, Claire went to her old room to lie down. She had hoped that she would be better the next morning, but it didn't. > I am alone and no one will help me. I have to be strong, thought Claire, but suddenly she remembered. She wasn't alone. Ryan would still be with her, but what did she know about him? She could still remember her youth, but not him. Could she trust him? > Will you be able to Claire.He already proved that yesterday, 'she echoed to herself.

She was torn from her thoughts by a knock on the door. Shortly afterwards, Ryan's face appeared through a crack in the door. "Good morning Claire. How are you today?" "Well, definitely a little better than yesterday. I want to thank you for your help."

"I'm happy for you. I'll make coffee for you now. Just come downstairs then."

After Ryan disappeared from the room, Claire got up. Only now did she