Chapter 35
Several school buses were parked at Sonisburg Elementary School’s entrance, grouped by class. Winifred sat with Rosalind on the bus. At 8:10 AM, the teachers took roll call and went over the details.
At 8:15, Humbert finally showed up with Leonard. They were the last ones in the class to arrive. The bus wasn’t full, with a few children absent and seats left open. Humbert led Leonard straight to the seats behind Winifred, and they sat down.
Leonard greeted Winifred and then said to Rosalind, “Hey Rosalind, I’ve got gifts for you, and some fun things too. Wanna play together?”
Rosalind looked at Winifred. “Mom, can I sit with Leonard?”
Winifred pressed her lips. When she saw the sparkle in Rosalind’s eyes, she rose. Her eyes flicked to Humbert, who moved his legs aside for Leonard. She glimpsed his face from the corner of her eye.
Winifred didn’t take Leonard’s seat. She found an empty spot on the bus and sat down, feeling stiff and awkward. Inwardly, she sighed.
*****
At 8:30 AM, the driver pulled out. By 9:20, they arrived at Sonisburg Cultural Center. The school bought tickets, and they lined up to enter.
Leonard scratched his head. ‘Winifred, weren’t you sitting next to Uncle Humbert just now?‘
Winifred froze. “Um… I…” she stammered. She hadn’t expected Leonard to ask so suddenly. In fact, kids just saw things differently. Leonard was only being curious and had asked casually.
Winifred added, “Your uncle didn’t move aside. I didn’t want to bother him.”
A mocking chuckle sounded behind Winifred, from above. Winifred ducked her head down. Embarrassed, she squeezed her eyes
shut.
“Uncle Humbert, why didn’t you let Winifred sit?” Leonard asked, like a kid full of questions.
Winifred wanted to clap a hand over his mouth. She fumbled a coconut candy from her pocket, unwrapped it, and stuffed it in his.
Leonard chewed happily, then grabbed her hand, and said, “Don’t be mad at Uncle Humbert. Grandma told me that’s just how he is, but he’s actually super nice.”
Winifred paused, at a loss for words.
Chapter 35
Rosalind glanced her way, tilting her head, but neither child could crack the adult code.
Winifred forced a smile and muttered, “I’m not.” The stare boring into her back felt like a heat lamp on her neck.
“Why don’t you two just make up?” Leonard blurted out.
“What?” Winifred’s brain blue–screened.
Leonard grabbed Winifred’s hand and then Humbert’s, clasping them together like a little peacemaker. “My dad says guys need to step up and take care of girls. Uncle Humbert, you should make it right with Winifred.”
Winifred’s skin tingled under Humbert’s warm, dry palm.
His eyes crinkled, a lazy grin tugging at his mouth, laughter rumbling low in his chest. “So Herman taught you all this? Did he also teach you what to do when the girl’s being dramatic?”
At the word “dramatic,” Winifred’s chin dipped.
The sun was unusually warm and bright that day. Winifred wore a thin beige trench coat over a light blue knit sweater and tan trousers that showed off long legs ending in ballet flats. When she looked down, even her neck turned pink.
Now she got why her kindergarten–teacher friend Nina was always texting her the wildest kid stories. She was living one.
She wanted to brush it off, but the little chubby boy in front of her was dead serious about playing peacemaker.
Eyes still shut, voice tight, she muttered, “S–sorry, Mr. Pierce.”
Humbert said, “No worries, Ms. Nelson. I wasn’t calling you dramatic.”
Winifred glanced up quickly at him.
Suddenly, his hand tightened around hers–like static jumping skin to skin. She jolted.
He tugged gently; she stumbled half a step, almost landing against his chest.
“Excuse us, squeezing through.” Another mother edged in with her daughter, greeting the parents ahead of Winifred. The woman and Winifred had met at orientation; Rosalind waved at the little girl.
The woman grinned and said, “Hey, Winifred! Oh, is this Leonard’s dad? So you know each other.” Her gaze dropped to their still–clasped hands, and she thought, ‘Holding hands, huh? They’re definitely together.‘
Chapter 35
Winifred snapped back and yanked her hand away. “We do, but we are not close.” Instantly, the stare on her back felt heavier.
Humbert’s voice was low, deadpan, right beside her car. “Interesting. Last week, you were calling me ‘honey‘ that night. Today we’re not close, huh?”
Winifred went statue–still.
The other woman chuckled with a knowing smile. Winifred managed an awkward grin; any explanation seemed hopeless.
Leonard said, “He’s
my uncle.”
“Winifred, have you and Uncle Humbert made up?” Leonard tilted his head, looking dead serious, as though it were something of great consequence.
He wondered, ‘I like Winifred. If she hates Uncle Humbert, it’ll be trouble. Uncle Humbert might come across as cold and distant, but deep down, he’s a truly good man. I like him very much!’
Winifred hadn’t expected Leonard to take it so seriously. She couldn’t guess what was going through the boy’s young head and could only nod, her cheeks coloring.
Leonard heaved a sigh of relief. ‘Thank goodness!‘ he exclaimed in his mind.
It was finally their turn to enter. Children from the five classes arrived in batches that day, accompanied by teachers and guides.
Their first stop was the agricultural exhibit hall. Winifred had never been there; Sonisburg was huge, full of places she hadn’t seen before and hadn’t had the time to explore.
As they stepped into Exhibit Hall 1, a chorus of “wows” erupted. The children chattered away, bustling like a flock of little birds.
The teachers sorted things out. Kids without parents stayed with them, and those with roamed freely with their families.
parents
Winifred led Rosalind inside, past rows of sculptures crafted from crops and vegetables.
“Mommy, what’s this?” Rosalind asked.
“It’s a boat made from corn kernels,” Winifred explained. It was over ten feet long, pieced together in the shape of a boat, grand and eye–catching. Winifred found it all fascinating.
Not just the kids were dazzled; she was, too. She couldn’t resist pulling out her phone and snapping a few photos.
Chapter 35
Rosalind stood by a vegetable sculpture as Winifred took her picture. “Winifred!” Leonard ran over. “I want a picture too.”
“Uncle Humbert, could you take a photo of me with Winifred?” Leonard was all sweetness, his words sugary and polite.
Humbert walked over with unhurried strides. He stared at Leonard, whose hands clasped pleadingly. Then Leonard stepped beside Winifred and took her hand.
Humbert pulled out his phone and snapped a photo. Just then, Winifred blinked. He took another shot.
Inside, Winifred had slipped off her beige trench coat, revealing the blue knit sweater. She draped the coat over her arm, standing tall and slim as she gazed at Humbert with a dazed, almost cute expression.
Leonard dashed over, snatched the phone, and said, “Uncle Humbert, I’ll snap a shot of you and Winifred, too.”
田
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.
