Chapter 42: Fragmented (7)
Herschel Hopkins was smiling softly. Compared to his young and vibrant self of the past, he had aged considerably. Wrinkles formed at the corners of his eyes, and the skin around his mouth had sagged a bit. The signs of aging were clear. His hands, too, showed wrinkles, and his strength had waned compared to his youth. Yet, he still possessed a gentle charisma that seemed to grow stronger with age.
He took a sip of tea and looked at me. “Isn’t he a funny guy?”
I recalled the image of Liam from my memories. A chubby-cheeked boy, mature for his age, often reciting words with a precocious air. He also had a wild, untamed spirit like a rebellious horse. So many thoughts flooded my mind at once. He was lovable, sometimes cheeky. His younger self was like that. But none of these thoughts escaped my lips; I just smiled.
What should I say? It felt as if the distance between Liam Moore and me had slightly narrowed. Though he might not feel the same, having seen him as a child made it inevitable for me.
After a brief pause to choose my words, I finally managed to speak. “…He was quite the pretender, wasn’t he?”
“I hope you don’t think of him as lazy, Miss Jane. I now feel like he’s half my nephew.”
That made sense. To Liam Moore, Herschel Hopkins was a mentor, an understanding friend, and almost like a brother to his father. Even though Liam now addressed him with a casual ‘you,’ bordering on disrespect.
“When did Liam start calling you ‘you’?”
“When did he start calling me that?” Herschel replied.