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Hyde seemed lost in thought, but the moment he realized that she was about to start crying, he rushed over to her and took her in his arms.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that,” he showered her wet face with kisses, “of course it doesn’t change anything.”
“Promise?” she whined, as Jesse stood behind her, hugging her.
Now, they were standing together again, three bodies pressed against one another, in unity, despite all odds.
“Does your mother know anything about him?” Hyde asked. “Maybe we could learn something about Culore, or about the coins.”
“No, sorry,” Rene shook her head decisively, “she is in a nursing home. Physically, she is well, surprisingly so for her age. And, now I know why. But, her mind is gone.”
“What do you mean?”
“She has dementia,” Rene whispered. “She barely remembers what she did this morning. But, she remembers stuff from 20 years back. Maybe even 30, I don’t know. I never asked her any questions, I just listen to her talk.”
Hyde’s nostrils flared up.
“Twenty years ago?” he repeated. “Was she in touch with anyone from the old country?”
“I think so, yes,” Rene nodded. “I taught her how to use Facebook, and I heard her speak Romanian over the phone more than once. That might mean she stayed in touch with someone.”
“Yes, it does,” Hyde nodded pensively.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Jesse asked Hyde.
Hyde looked at him, then nodded barely perceptibly.
“Could you guys let me in on it?” Rene wondered, a little insulted.
“Do you think we could talk to your mother?” Hyde asked directly.
“With my mother? Why?” she was surprised. “What could she help you with?”
“You said she remembers stuff from 20, 30 years ago. Maybe she remembers her childhood as well. I could ask her some questions which could be helpful.”
“Helpful how?”
“Maybe she knows what happened to Culore’s clan, where he is, where he was off to.”
“But, that was ages ago!”
“Maybe she knows something, anything, maybe your father left her something…”
“Wait, you mean like this?”
She took out the silver chain around her neck and showed them the little silver key that was hanging from it. It looked old, relatively small, but probably big enough to actually serve its purpose.
“A key?” Hyde eyed it.
“My mother said that he gave it to her on her wedding day, with the words that one can run away from who they are, but they can never escape.”
“Does it open anything?”
Hyde was so close to her that she could feel the warmth his body was emanating. He was holding her key pendant in his hands, inspecting it.
“I didn’t think so. I always thought it was just some old pendant, like heirloom or something. Do you think it opens anything?” she wondered.
“I don’t know,” Hyde admitted, “but, if it really belonged to your father, I think it might be important. You just hold onto it for us, OK?”
