Merging Hearts (Smitten Hearts #1)

Chapter Twenty-seven

Hazel

“You said he did what?”

“He replied to me. Henri Leclair replied to me,” I reply absentmindedly as I continue staring at my phone, the glow of the screen bathing my face in a soft light. I still haven’t torn my attention away from it.

How could I? The email I have waited for all my life is staring at me, but I can’t do anything than to freeze. This is a symphony of dreams coming true. I try to blink several times to make sure it’s not just my imagination. My fingers tremble and I clutch my phone tighter in my hand, the reality sinking in on me. This is it. This is my dream coming true right before my eyes.

“Henri Leclair replied to you? That’s a lie, you wouldn’t be so —”

A burst of joy erupts from me suddenly and I grab her hand, spilling the news for the twelfth time. “HENRI LECLAIR REPLIED TO MY EMAIL!”

Her voice fills with mirrored excitement that almost makes my eyes water. “OH MY GOD! Hazel, this is amazing. This is incredible news. We’re totally drinking to death tonight.”

I wipe the corners of my eyes with my sleeves and giggle. “No, we won’t drink to death. I have to go home and tell everyone. I have to tell Rain, Angela, and Frank. Tell everyone. Oh my God, I have to call Ysabelle too.”

She pouts and clamps her hands together. “Then when will we celebrate?”

“Tomorrow. I promise you.”

“Fine, I’ll chat Reina up. We’re meeting tomorrow night, no excuse.”

“Yes ma’am, no excuse.”

I finally succeed in convincing Su-mi that she, Reina and I will have a drink night tomorrow and she lets me go. I book a cab, requesting him on a different route instead.

“Please branch to any local market first.”

I get to the local market and pick out gifts based on every one of the staff’s preferences, with a sickening smile on my face. I can’t wait to tell everyone.

You mean tell Rain?

Weirdly enough, the reason I’m buzzing with so much excitement is because I can’t wait to see and hear Rain’s reaction to me finally securing a place under Henri Leclair.

I hand out the presents to everyone at home and the atmosphere is laced with happiness. They’re all so happy without even hearing my news.

“What is the good news, Sonnenschein?” Angela asks me as she stares at her present with a smile on her face. I got her a box of her favorite orange flavored perfume that Rain hates so much and can’t seem to stand.

“Henri Leclair has replied to one of my emails. I’m heading to their academy in less than a week to complete my registration and get my schedule. I’m finally a student.”

They all clapped and cheered, even those who don’t know how important it is for Henri Leclair to reply to my email. Angela’s eyes twinkle when she walks over to me. She lifts her eyebrows in a silent question and I nod to confirm again. She pulls me in a hug, rocking us side to side.

My eyes sting as I stare at these people who act like my dreams are intertwined with theirs. They revel in my success as if it is their own, and my heart warms at how many people love and want the best for me.

“When did that happen? I was still bugging you to send it two days ago, right?”

“It happened a few minutes after I closed for work. I couldn’t believe it either. I haven’t sent an email as of recently, but it’s possible that he just found an old email and decided to reply to it—” I tilt my head and draw in breaths with my teeth. Something’s not adding up. The last email I sent was about three to four months ago. Henri Leclair is a busy man that gets hundreds of emails a day. How did he search for and find my email from four months ago, when even his Foodcademy advises to send a new email every three months?

“He suddenly sent you a reply without you sending an email? That’s … a miracle.”

“He probably found an old email,” I insist although I know deep down that something else happened.

“Right,” Angela drawls, still lost in thoughts. “This is such a coincidence.” Her murmur almost passes my ear, but I pull her back before she can leave.

My heart echoes in my ears as I ask. “What is such a coincidence?”

“Last night, I saw Rain in your room after he returned from work. He had your blue book with him and I told him to return it on the table because it contains the emails you still haven’t sent to your dream teacher. Do you think…”

Do I think Rain sent my mail for me? I hear the sentence before it fully leaves her lips. My lips part with no words coming out of it. Rain sent my email for me? I mean, that’s the only explanation, right? The only explanation as to why I suddenly got attention from the mighty Henri Leclair.

Only Rain can send an email last night and get a reply in the span of some hours.

“Why would he do that?” I mutter more to myself than to Angela. I’m confused at how he acts like he doesn’t want to see me sometimes, and how he helps me with things I can handle myself, like getting whatever I want with my own money, and getting my email delivered to Henri Leclair.

“Maybe this is the way he does his things. Maybe this is the way he wishes to show his attraction towards you. Action over words.”

Action over words.

A smile grazes my lips and I hold my purse tighter. A mix of gratitude and uncertainty settles within me. What if Rain just wants another favor from me? Or what if he sent it by mistake?

Sent it by mistake?

Play along, I’m just trying to find a reason as to why he would do this.

I take a deep breath in and turn to Angela with a smile on my face. “I’ll ask him during dinner.”

Anticipation bubbles over me and the time passes by awfully slow. I prepare one of his favorites, gnocchi with some sauce. It’s almost nine. He should be home anytime soon. I’ve prepared myself for each conversation, including the jerkass responses that might come out of him.

The night wears down quickly, the clock’s hand already itching toward midnight. Yet, the door is still closed and my husband’s footsteps haven’t echoed through the hallway yet. Minutes turn into hours and I sit alone in the sitting room, the excitement slowly starting to wear away, giving room for disappointment and a little bit of fear.

Rain has never not come home. Unless he has gone on another business trip without informing me. Will he ever learn? Angela walks into the sitting room with a loud yawn.

“Sonnenschein, you really should go to bed. I have to wake up early to pack too.” She mumbles and rubs her eyes.

“Is he not coming? Is he all right?”

A frown contorts her face and she drops her hands beside her. “What is today?”

“August 12. Why?”

Horror crosses Angela’s eyes, followed by deep sadness that makes my head spin from fear. “Oh God. Rain probably won’t come home.”

“Why not?” I ask again.

“Just go to bed, Hazel.”

I obey without any more argument and make my way to my room. I lay on my bed, the ache in my heart mingling with the joy, creating a bittersweet cocktail of emotions.

I’ve always thought my sister would be the most important person I wouldn’t wait to share the news with, but now there’s someone else in my life and he isn’t even here to celebrate with me.

Exhaustion settles in, both from the emotional rollercoaster and the anticipation that turns into waiting. I give a loud long yawn with a sigh and soon fall into a deep slumber.