Would Lennon think that she was humiliating him?
A sense of unease crept over Cherise at this thought. She bit her lip.
âMr. Belcourt, I didnât mean to⦠You know that I suffer from amnesia. After I lose my memory, I often find myself confused. Somehow, I keep forgetting about social cues and etiquetteâ¦â
She turned to him with a sincere gaze. âPlease donât take this to heart. Donât feel bothered by this. Iâll ask Frances to change this for youâ¦â
Frances pursed her lips as she approached and reached for the half-full plate of pierogies before Lennon, only to be met with his glare.
His eyes narrowed, and his tone was cold. âI said thereâs no need for that!â
He lowered his head. Gazing at the food on the plate, a bitter smile filled his face as he began to eat.
Cherise was speechless.
She innocently turned her eyes to Damien and mouthed, âWhat should we do?â
âIgnore him.â
Damien narrowed his eyes and said plainly, âHe has a tendency to blow up like this.â
He glanced at Cherise. âWhat did Lucy come for?â
âShe came to take Alexis with her.â
Cherise pursed her lips. âShe said that theyâd found her. So, this time, sheâs going somewhere they would never find. She wonât return for a while.â
Her reply caused Lennon to pause momentarily from eating.
After a moment, he forced another bitter smile, lowered his head, and began stuffing the pierogies into his mouth.
âUm, Mr. Belcourt, please be careful not to choke.â
Worried that Lennox was enraged, Cherise kept an eye on him while talking to Damien.
She could not help but give Lennon advice when he began wolfing down the pierogies.
Lennon stopped while keeping his head lowered, asking, âDid she mention when she would re âAh.â It took Cherise a moment to process that Lennon was talking about Lucy. Is Mr. Belcourt and Lucy acquainted?
She looked at Lennon carefully. âAre you acquainted with Lulu as well, Mr. Belcourt?â
Lennon furrowed his brow and mustered a wan smile. âIâm not sure if you can say weâre acquainted,â
he said.
âCherise.â
Beckham, sitting at a side quietly, could sense Lennonâs apprehension. He interrupted the conversation to stop Cherise. âHave you remembered anything lately?â
Cherise pursed her lips and promptly responded, âI did recall some things, but there isnât much that Iâve remembered, and the memories are hazy.â
âVery well.â
Beckham nodded.
âDamien told me that youâll be heading to Shawbury tomorrow. Thatâs a good plan. I will be traveling to Europe for a while for some work. If visiting your former residence helps with your memory, when I return, Iâll take you to visit the Tanner Residence and the places where your mother and I used to bring you.â
Cherise nodded earnestly. âAll right. Then Iâll rely on you, Dad.â
âThereâs no need to say thanks between a father and his daughter.â
Beckham smiled and lifted the wine glass on the table. âLetâs toast for our wishes to come true.â
Damien nodded, raised his glass, and clinked it with Beckhamâs. âI toast for your safe journey, Beckham.â
Lennon set down his spoon and raised his glass as well.
Beckham shot a look at Lennon.
âThereâs no need to be so downhearted, you young one. Losing something important to you is not frightening; Whatâs worse is staying in the situation and refusing to do anything to salvage it.â
Lennon raised his head and met the earnest gaze of the middle-aged man. âI think itâs too late for me.
to do anything.â