Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Charlotte was left alone in the living room while Jack took the dinner dishes to the kitchen. She looked around the room, decorated with rustic yet comfortable furniture.

As she approached the couch, Charlotte smiled when she saw the same kitten that had been stepped on earlier, now lying down and sleeping, completely relaxed. The little animal seemed to have recovered quickly from the scare, and his calmness was almost contagious.

Charlotte sat down softly next to the cat, being careful not to wake him. As she gently stroked the sleeping feline, she felt a great tenderness for the little feline. The house, the farm, and even the kitten, everything was starting to become part of her new reality.

She looked around the room once more, taking in every detail: the curtains that looked old and the fireplace that looked inviting for cozy nights.

Lost in her thoughts, Charlotte didn't notice when Jack came back into the room. He stopped in the doorway, watching her with a tender smile on his face.

"I see our little friend has already made friends with you," Jack said softly, so as not to scare the cat. Charlotte looked up and smiled. "Yes, he seems quite comfortable now." Jack came over and sat down beside her, petting the cat as well. "This farm may seem big and scary at first, but it has its charms, doesn't it?" Charlotte nodded. "Yes, it does. And I'm starting to realize that maybe I can find my place here too." Jack sat down beside her, but didn't try to touch her, feeling that it wasn't the right time for hugs or holding her hands yet. He sighed and said, "I'm sure you will. And I'll always be by your side." She looked at him with her big eyes. For a moment, he thought she liked the comment. Charlotte didn't know why, but she felt that all the nightmare she had lived since meeting her father seemed to be dissipating. She honestly thought her father's friend was an ogre like him, but it seemed she was wrong. So far, he had been polite and sweet. Everything her father had said about him seemed to be a lie. Jack and Charlotte remained silent for a few moments. The cat continued to sleep peacefully between them. Jack finally broke the silence. "Tomorrow, I'd like to show you more of the farm. There are many beautiful places you haven't seen yet." Charlotte smiled, excited at the idea. "I'd love that." Jack smiled back, relieved to see Charlotte more at ease. "Great. Let's start first thing in the morning. I think it's time for us to rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow," he said after feeling the weight of tiredness. She nodded, standing up too. "Yes, you're right." Jack walked her to the bedroom door and stopped. "Good night, Charlotte. I hope you have a good night's sleep." She smiled, feeling more confident and hopeful than she had ever felt before.

"Good night, Jack. Thank you for everything."

Jack nodded and walked away, closing the door softly behind him. Charlotte settled in for bed, reflecting on the day and the changes that were happening in her life. Despite the challenges, she felt like she was on the right track.

The next morning, Jack was waiting for Charlotte on the porch. She appeared in another simple dress, one that looked even older than the one from the day before. When the foreman returned, he told her that Clayton had said that everything Charlotte owned was with her. Jack didn't think she had more than three or four dresses.

Looking at her feet, Jack noticed that Charlotte was wearing the same pair of flats from the day before. If he had noticed this earlier, he would have taken Charlotte shopping. But today, he couldn't let that go. He decided that they would visit the promised places in the truck and, on the way back, go straight to the city.

She noticed his eyes on her clothes and swallowed hard, embarrassed. When she lived with her mother, they had been in great need in the last few years, and these were the only clothes she had left from that time. Her father locked her inside the house and only kept her from going hungry because he was afraid that her body would become thin and without curves, making it impossible to exchange for money, as he had said. Those were difficult times. She would have liked to have better clothes, but she didn't want to torment Jack with that. She would continue to mend the clothes as much as she could.

"Is that okay? Can we go?" Jack asked, noticing that she had become inert in her thoughts.

"Sure, I'm looking forward to seeing everything."

Together, they began to explore the farm. Jack drove the truck faster across the flat terrain. He would have liked to have ridden on horseback, but he knew there would be other opportunities. He pointed out and showed her the vast fields, the grazing animals, and the crystal-clear streams that ran through the property. Each place had a story, and Jack made sure to share each one with Charlotte, who listened enchanted.

As they explored, she realized that she was beginning to fall in love not only with the place, but also with the man who guided her with such patience and care.

After traveling a good part of the farm, Jack stopped the truck at a high point, from where she could see a good part of the vast property. He looked at Charlotte with a warm smile.

"So, what did you think?"

Charlotte smiled, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.

"I loved it. I wish I could have stayed a little longer in each place, but I know we will have other opportunities."

Jack nodded, satisfied with her answer.

"I promise we'll come back tomorrow. We can spend more time in each place, explore more calmly. But now, we need to leave." Charlotte looked at him curiously. "Leave? Where?" Jack smiled mysteriously. "Let's go to the city. I think you'll like it." She nodded, feeling curious, as he was vague in his answer. But he hinted that he had a surprise for her. Her curiosity grew with every kilometer they traveled to the city.