Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Leonard pouted without thinking. “Well… A peanut allergy. Rosalind told me she and her mom both have a peanut allergy.”
He wondered, ‘Why is Uncle Humbert looking so scary? What’s wrong?‘ He stammered, “Un–uncle Humbert…”
The girl at the ice–cream counter handed over three ice creams. Leonard picked up his and started eating, tucking the others into a bag with ice packs.
Humbert grabbed Leonard’s collar, sat him in the booth, and warned, “Eat here and wait for me. Don’t run off anywhere, understand?”
“Yeah.” With food around, Leonard wasn’t going anywhere.
Humbert left. After a few paces, his steps quickened.
Humbert ran the distance between Exhibit Hall 1 and Exhibit Hall 2, his chest heaving as he reached inside Exhibit Hall 1. He clenched his fists, his gaze sweeping over the bustling crowd.
He drew deep breaths. A sharp wind seemed to slice through his chest, but he couldn’t quell the tremor within. For a fleeting moment, a thought swelled monstrously in his mind.
He seized it. He thought it was absurd, yet he held tight. ‘What if… what if it were true?‘ he wondered.
In the sea of people, Humbert spotted a woman’s back–a figure in light blue wearing a matching knit top, long, brown hair spilling down her shoulders.
He ground his teeth, shouting at her back, “Claire!”
The woman didn’t turn, though she was just a few feet away. People nearby shot him looks. Humbert strode over, grabbed her hand, and spun her around. His brow furrowed instantly. It was not Winifred.
A strange woman stared at Humbert, surprise on her face. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Humbert released her hand and said in a low voice, “I’m sorry.”
He took a deep breath and steadied himself. The whole thing had been absurd. He wondered, ‘Just a shared peanut allergy. How could I mistake Winifred for Claire? That’s impossible,
‘It’s not just the build. Claire is a bit shorter. And the records showed Claire had a son, while Winifred has a daughter and a husband overseas.
Humbert felt awful. He hated how the sudden, wild emotions took over his mind, making him act so irrationally.
her
The thick air pressed down on his chest, stifling his breath. He spun and hurried out. After patting his pocket, he bought cigarettes and took a few quick puffs, his expression calm and stern.
He wanted to quash the absurd thought within him. Winifred wasn’t Claire.
10:46 Fri, Sep 12
Chapter 37
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He could admit he’d been drawn to Winifred before, but he refused to accept it was because she reminded him of Claire–it tore him up inside. Winifred wasn’t a substitute, and he wouldn’t let his mind keep stirring up those absurd notions.
Humbert was unaware that when he shouted “Claire,” Winifred heard it.
She stood nearby, taking photos of Rosalind under a massive pumpkin vine. A sign noted it was a giant specimen grown in a record year. Kids gathered for pictures, as the pumpkin towered over six–year–old Rosalind. She was thrilled, having never seen anything so big.
At the call of “Claire,” Winifred’s back stiffened. That familiar voice brought tears to her eyes almost instantly.
She stood just paces from Humbert, lost in the crowd where he failed to spot her. She watched Humbert bolt toward a girl in a matching blue top, grab her hand, and then walk away–self–mockingly, shoulders slumped in defeat.
“Mommy, what’s wrong?” Rosalind clutched Winifred’s hand, shaking it gently. “Why’re you crying?”
“Rosalind, my sweetheart.” Winifred crouched and gathered Rosalind close, resting her chin lightly on Rosalind’s shoulder.
Leonard finished his ice cream. He kept waiting, but Humbert never showed. Meanwhile, the other ice creams were starting to melt.
He wondered, “If they melt, what a terrible waste. Winifred and Rosalind can’t eat melted ice cream either. Grandma has told me that wasting food makes me a bad kid and it’s shameful.‘
By the time Humbert returned, Leonard had finished both other boxes of ice cream. He felt a pang of guilt. He peered up through his lashes, stealing a glance at Humbert’s face.
Seeing Humbert’s stormy expression—just like when Jessica was about to blow up at home–Leonard slumped off the stool, head hanging low. “If I left them, they would’ve melted… What a waste.”
Humbert looked down at Leonard. Realizing his expression had startled Leonard, he reached out and ruffled his hair. “Where to next?”
Leonard realized Humbert wasn’t angry, and his face lit up like sunshine as he shook Humbert’s arm. “Let’s go find Winifred and Rosalind.”
“Sure,” replied Humbert.
Leonard went back for three other ice creams. But since Humbert refused his and wouldn’t let Leonard have more, he only bought two.
He took Humbert’s hand and headed for Exhibit Hall 1, chatting away like a little bird.
“Could you message Winifred on WhatsApp to ask where she is? My watch battery is dying,” Leonard said. It was all because he’d forgotten to charge it the night before.
10:46 Fri, Sep 12
Chapter 37
55 vouchers
Later, he asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to try some? The pistachio one is really tasty.”
He also muttered, “Uncle Humbert, stop looking so gloomy. Grandma says girls don’t like it when you do that.”
“Uncle Humbert, what’s this?” Leonard stopped in his tracks.
The agricultural exhibit hall was enormous. Over time, it had become one of Sonisburg’s main tourist attractions, with plenty of souvenirs for sale.
Leonard was too short to reach it. A saleswoman handed him a palm–sized wooden music box with a dancing rabbit on top. When he opened it, music played and the rabbit danced.
The rabbit was also carved from wood, plump and cute with tiny bee wings on its back. The wings were a bit small for its size, making its dance funny and charming.
Leonard loved it but was short on cash. “Uncle Humbert, can you lend me some money?”
Humbert looked down at him. Leonard’s cheeks flushed pink. “I want to buy this for Winifred.”
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10:46 Fri, Sep 12
Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
