Humbert knew that Winifred and Claire were completely different people. Outside of his dreams, he wouldn’t confuse the two. Still, he felt uneasy.
He repeated Winifred’s name in his mind.
The teacher tapped on the desk. “Leonard, your uncle is here. This is Rosalind’s mother. Please sit down.”
Winifred sat there stiffly. Her hands were hanging at her sides, clenching and unclenching nervously.
She never thought Leonard’s uncle was Humbert.
Rosalind turned around and looked at Humbert with surprise, her gem–like eyes wide. “Hi, Dr. Pierce,” she said.
“Hi,” Humbert replied, walking over. He squatted down, still higher than the girl. He reached out, using his long fingers to smooth her hair. “I apologize for Leonard; he shouldn’t have messed up your hair.”
Rosalind thought for a moment and looked up at Winifred.
Winifred was facing the teacher and didn’t turn around or look at Humbert.
The teacher noticed they knew each other. “Alright, since you two are familiar with each other, it should be easier to talk. Kids getting into little fights is normal, but they need to learn how to behave.”
The two kids apologized to each other.
At this point, it was time for the afternoon bell. Winifred took her daughter’s hand and prepared to leave.
She didn’t have anything more to say to Humbert. Just as they left, Humbert took Leonard out with him.
“Uncle, do you know Rosalind’s mom?” Leonard asked.
“Not really,” Humbert answered.
Leonard said, “Uncle, it’s rude to stare at people you don’t know.”
Humbert looked down at the little chubby boy and playfully pressed his palm on Leonard’s head. “Do you want me to tell your mom about this?”
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“Uncle, I was wrong!” Leonard quickly replied, shaking Humbert’s hand.
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Humbert helped Leonard into the car and then leaned outside to light a cigarette, smoking it before getting in. Leonard was in the back seat. “Uncle, let’s go to Chick–fil–A for lunch,” he
said.
“I’m taking you to your grandma’s house,” Humbert replied.
“Then let’s go to Chick–fil–A first before going to grandma’s place.” Leonard saw Humbert’s lack of response and added, “Uncle, you’ve changed. You’ve become cold.”
Humbert glanced at him.
Just across the street from the school, a pizza place had opened up. It was rush hour, and the road was congested.
In the crowd, Humbert spotted a slender figure wearing a short khaki top and beige pants. Her long hair was cascading down her back.
It was Winifred, holding hands with her daughter as they walked into the pizza place.
Humbert stopped the car and pointed at the restaurant. “Let’s eat there.”
“That pizza place isn’t good at all. Chick–fil–A is way better,” Leonard said.
“Forget it then,” Humbert retorted.
“Fine, I’ll go.” Leonard quickly nodded.
The restaurant was packed, mostly with parents and kids. Almost every table was taken.
In the meantime, Humbert made a quick call to Jessica to let her know that Leonard was with
him.
Jessica immediately guessed what had happened. “Did he make trouble again and didn’t dare to call me, so he called you?”
“It’s nothing serious. I’m just taking him out for a meal,” Humbert said.
Waiting in line for food took about 15 minutes, and Humbert looked around with his tray.
“Uncle, over here!” Leonard shouted.
Humbert turned and walked over.
Leonard was seated next to Rosalind. Kids don’t hold grudges for long; a little fight and they’re back to being friends. Their world was simple.
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Winifred was sitting next to Rosalind. She ordered snacks and a pepperoni pizza for her daughter, taking a few bites herself.
With four seats at the table, Humbert sat down across from Winifred. His long legs brushed against hers, and she shifted back a little.
“Rosalind, your pizza looks delicious. I want to get pepperoni next time,” Leonard said, clearly enjoying the meal the most. Humbert had ordered a pineapple pizza, two orange juices, and a snack. Rosalind was eating quietly.
Seeing this, Winifred handed a slice of pizza to Leonard. Leonard glanced at her, and his face suddenly turned bright red.
Humbert raised an eyebrow and looked at Leonard. “Did you thank her for the food you’re eating?”
“Thanks,” Leonard said.
Winifred smiled.
Leonard wasn’t just being polite. He felt guilty too. “I’m sorry, Rosalind. I only wanted to tug at your pretty hair because it looked nice and smelled good. I won’t do it again.”
“It’s okay. I shouldn’t have scratched you,” Rosalind said.
Winifred looked at Leonard.
She hadn’t thought that the boy who had tugged at her daughter’s hair was Humbert’s nephew. Although she had never met Humbert’s sister, she guessed that blood ties were indeed fascinating.
Maybe it was just her imagination, but she felt like Leonard and Rosalind shared some similarities.
Under the table, Humbert stretched his long leg forward and brushed against Winifred’s leg.
Winifred lowered her gaze to the floor. She had already moved back a little. ‘But he can’t be doing this on purpose, right? I must be overthinking it,‘ she thought.
Humbert’s leg came into her view, long and clad in sleek black casual pants. Winifred shifted back a bit more,
Humbert didn’t normally cat fast food, and watching Leonard’s face covered in grease while Rosalind ate with grace made him feel the contrast. She had a lovely, fair face with beautiful, gem–like eyes, and she looked adorable.
Maybe due to her health issues, she was smaller in size. She picked up a piece of pizza and
Chapter 26
offered it to Winifred. “Mom, I’m feeding you.”
There was only one slice left in the box.
She looked at Humbert. “Mr. Pierce, do you want this last piece?”
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Leonard quickly grabbed it with his small hand. “My uncle doesn’t want it; I’m eating it.”
Humbert reached over and swatted Leonard’s hand lightly, looking with feigned disdain at the oily mess on his hands. “Who said I’m not eating?”
Taking the last piece from Leonard, Humbert took a bite and surprisingly found it quite good.
“Uncle, I thought you never ate this stuff,” Leonard said, licking his lips with a hint of regret for not getting the last piece of pizza.
Humbert not only ate the pizza but also finished off the orange juice that Leonard had been eyeing closely.
In the past, when he took Leonard out for these types of meals, he wouldn’t drink the juice. The extra drink would usually be finished by Leonard.
But today, he downed the last sip.
Leonard looked even more forlorn. “Uncle…” he murmured.
“What?” Humbert asked, elegantly pulling out a napkin to wipe his fingers.
Winifred suddenly thought Humbert seemed a bit childish. She couldn’t help but smile softly for a moment.
Her lips curved slightly as she looked down, and Humbert caught that fleeting smile, like a tranquil flower blooming, quiet, beautiful, and refreshing.
Humbert, holding the plastic cup, stared at her smile, momentarily lost in thought. He ran his tongue across his teeth, his gaze fixated on Winifred’s soft pink lips.
Even when Leonard smeared his oily hands on his jacket, Humbert didn’t react.
When Winifred noticed her daughter was done eating, she stood up and held Rosalind’s hand to leave.
Rosalind waved goodbye to Leonard. “Goodbye, Dr. Pierce. Goodbye, Leonard.”
As Winifred walked by, a gentle breeze followed her. It was not like a perfume but rather a natural scent, soft and light, brushing past Humbert’s cheek.
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Humbert bit down on his straw, finishing the last sip of orange juice. He glanced at Leonard beside him and said, “Let’s go; I’ll take you to your grandma’s place.”
Leonard was still fixated on the orange juice he hadn’t had. “Uncle, let’s get another drink. I’m going to be thirsty on the way.”
“Nope,” Humbert said, lifting Leonard by the back of his collar and lightly patting the little guy on the shoulder. “It’s time to go. Your mom found out about you pulling a girl’s hair, and you need your grandma’s protection.”
“Uncle, you betrayed me!” Leonard wailed, clutching Humbert’s sleeve.
Humbert stared at the greasy handprints on his sleeve. “Not only am I betraying you, but I’m also going to tell Jessica how much junk food you ate today.”
Jessica had been limiting Leonard’s junk food intake because she was trying to help him lose weight, giving him only occasional rewards with healthier homemade snacks.
As they stepped outside, the lunch rush was over, and the streets weren’t too crowded. The school across the road had only a few people lingering.
Suddenly, they heard a panicked, youthful voice. “Mom, are you okay?”
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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.
