Re: lakeside mansion; hugh c./dietre a.
“Hm… I think I’m a dog person by nature.” It wasn’t something he’d had to learn. A dog’s capacity for pure selfless love made them an obvious choice for Dietre, though he had no objection to cats. He hadn’t met enough to form a solid opinion, but starved for affection as he was, he’d adore any creature that deigned to give him a little love and attention. Anything to ease his loneliness.
Hugh did not ask about the hows or whys of his being in the hospital. Instead, he asked about who gave him Sieglinde, which was not something Dietre had been mentally preparing for. The sorrow that lurked in his eyes deepened. “Um… He was… a friend.” Almost more than a friend, but Dietre hadn’t been able to make up his mind. And then he didn’t have a choice anymore, Nilus took himself out of the equation. Probably was the best decision for the angel, Dietre was sure he was happy wherever he was now.
“He gave her to me before he left town. So I wouldn’t be lonely, I think…” That whole time in his life had been a mess, and Dietre kicked himself over everything that happened. He passed over Nilus for Liam only to be rejected and then Liam ended up dead. He supposed it served him right. He deserved it. But Liam didn’t deserve to die.
Why did his thoughts keep turning to Liam? ...Maybe it was because of the lake.
Dietre frowned and took another sip of his chocolate. “People I make friends with tend to do that.” A pause. “...Leave town, I mean.”