CHAPTER 17

"Granuu, she won't be babysitting that 26 year old widower. Please" Eva said pacing back and forth in Anna's room where her grandmother sat on the bed and Anna was standing beside her. She was quiet since she heard about his late wife, thinking about it over and over again, why did she feel hurt? She did not know.

The Lorraine's were still sitting outside as they patiently waited for their approval to send Anna with them to be around Raven, the doctor had told them that if she will be around, he might recover soon. But Eva was not ready for it, according to her, sending Anna to some unknown people's house to nurse a 26 year old, mentally disturbed man is dangerous. What if he is just acting it all out?

Charlotte had offered to pay Anna for doing that and also would provide her a separate room with clothes and all the different necessities with luxury. Now they were seated in her room, to find a way out of it. Anna somehow was willing to go and help Raven, be with him for some more time. A part of her mind said it was wrong to feel something like this for a man whom she barely knew, another part said, helping someone in need isn't wrong. She was confused within her own thoughts and messed up feelings.

"Eva, if Anna can help someone then let her do it. I have observed that boy, he doesn't seem to have any bad intentions." The old lady said, trying to put forth her views to Eva who was not ready to give in any soon.

"Firstly Granuu, he is a man not a boy and secondly, it's a No. And that's what Anna feels too, right?" Both of them turned to the girl who was quiet all this while as she looked up at them.

Without saying anything, she turned around, walking away from the bed and towards the window, looking outside, she got lost in her thoughts again, Eva was still arguing with the old grandmother but Anna could hardly hear anything because her heart was thumping against her chest, as the battle within her would not let her relax. Taking a deep breath, she turned around to both the ladies arguing, "I know what I have to do" she said as both of them looked at her in confusion.

Not waiting for their reactions, she walked out of the room and into the living room where The Lorraine's were still seated. Charlotte stood up followed by Ric as soon as they saw Anna walking towards them. Raven looked at both of them ,then towards the direction of their eyes. A smile spread across his lips when he saw Anna standing at a distance, but remained seated in his place.

She licked her dry lips before clearing her throat, "Mr. Lorraine, Mrs. Lorraine...."

she started, they looked at her expectantly,

"I know this is very tough time for you, with all these things coming up one after the other, first the accident then the memory loss but.." she breathed, "I can't leave here, I am sorry. My grandmother will be alone if I do so and I can't let that happen so..."

Charlotte looked down, disappointment evident on her face as Ric nodded, understanding Anna's point of view.

"But there's a solution" her grandmother said from behind as all the eyes shifted to her. Anna looked at her confused. The old lady walked up to them and stood in front of the couple, "If Raven could live here, Anna would not have to leave and your son can be taken care of too" she said smiling down at Raven who smiled back at her.

The couple looked at each other in unison, their faces showed a mixture of confusion and concern. Of course, the man lived his life till now in luxury, surrounded by people to server him. How could he settle in a middle class house overnight?

"Alright, we can do that" Ric said nodding his head as Charlotte held his arm still not sure of the decision. He placed his hand over hers before nodding at her, "We can do that for our son Charlotte" he said as a small smile tugged at his lips, she looked at her son who was staring at Anna with puppy eyes.

"Maybe she could help him recover soon"

She recalled the doctor's words, as she closed her eyes, before looking up at Anna, nodding her head. Anna gave her a weak smile as both of them sat down again. Charlotte's eyes teared up looking at her son, "Raven..." she almost whispered as he looked at her with doe eyes, oblivious of everything that was going on. "Why are you crying Mother?" He asked as he wiped a tear off her cheeks. She smiled painfully as she shook her head.

"Mrs. Lorraine, you can take him home and bring him back tomorrow or maybe after a few days if you feel..." The old lady said as Charlotte shook her head softly, "I want my son to be his normal self as soon as possible." She said rather softly as she took his face in her palms and kissed his forehead. Ric patted Raven's back as he stood up, "I shall wait outside. Thank you so much for this favour Mrs. Smith" he said with a small smile on his face as the grandmother nodded her head before he walked out of the house.

Charlotte got up and walked over to Anna , she held her hand as Anna looked at their hands and then back at the lady. "Please take care of my son" she said in almost a pleading voice. Anna could see the pain and sorrow in the mother's eyes, seeing her only son in this state would have been so difficult for her, but still she agreed to leave him to someone else's care just in hopes that he would recover sooner. Anna smiled at her as she placed her free hand above the lady's, "I will try my best".

Charlotte turned around as Raven stood up from his place, she hugged the tall man as he hugged her back with a grin. "Take care baby" she said pulling back as he blinked at her. "Are you leaving me Mom?" she did not say anything as she tried holding back her tears. His head suddenly turned towards Anna, "So , I will be living with Noona?" He said excitedly as he left his mother's arms and went over to Anna and held her hand, "Is it?"his eyes sparkling as he asked her. She nodded with a weak smile.

Anna looked over Raven's shoulder as Charlotte was walking away towards the door. Suddenly she remembered something and walked around Raven to go behind Charlotte as he pouted at the loss of her contact, "Where is Noona going?"

The grandmother chuckled as she patted the young man's shoulder, "Are you hungry ?"

His eyes lit up and he nodded quickly looking at the old lady "Then come , I'll make noddles" she said walking towards the kitchen as he followed her like a puppy and Eva who was standing quietly all this while sighed sitting down on the couch.

"Excuse me Mrs. Lorraine" Anna called out as she stepped onto the front porch. "Yes, what is it dear?" Charlotte asked as Anna hesitated a bit, "Umm....Could there be any specific reason why he calls me Noona? I mean he never called me Areum so.." she said nervously. Charlotte smiled softly at her,

"Areum was from Korea and she was older to Raven, in Korea boys address older girls as Noona. When Raven had been to South Korea for his business thing, he met her at some event. It all began there, in Korea and..... it ended there as well" she whispered the last past looking down.

"Oh" that's all Anna could say. Now this was something new she had come across, but she was younger than him so it makes no sense. But he thinks she is his late wife so she can't help it.

"So, I'll get going, Goodnight" Charlotte smiled at her.

"Goodnight Mrs. Lorraine".

Although she said Goodnight, she had a gut feeling this night wasn't gonna be any good and whenever she felt that it's sure as hell something would happen.