Author’s Note:
I know some of you are waiting for the main plot to finally start moving.
😂
Don’t worry.
These quieter chapters are intentional.
There are things being set up in the background, and you’ll understand why later.
And I hope that once you reach the end of the novel, you’ll tell me whether you noticed the hints I’ve been placing from the beginning up to that point.
For now…
enjoy the peaceful days.
You’ll miss them a lot.
👀
Leo woke up at five forty-five.
Again.
He wasn’t surprised anymore.
He sat on the edge of the bed, looked at the watch on the nightstand—still as usual—then stood up.
He went downstairs.
He automatically avoided the third step.
The kitchen was dark.
But Tom was there this time.
Standing in front of the oven, as usual.
He heard Lio’s footsteps and turned.
“You’re here.”
“I’m here every morning.”
“I know.
But I’m still surprised.”
Leo looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because you’re up at five forty-five.
Every day.
Without an alarm.”
“An old habit.”
“That’s a strange habit.”
“I know.”
Tom laughed.
Then went back to the dough.
Tom made the coffee.
Lio sat in his usual chair.
He looked around.
The refrigerator was working.
The light wasn’t flickering.
The oven was silent.
Everything was normal.
Very normal.
He paused for a moment.
Then took a sip of his coffee.
Sabine came down half an hour later.
As she did every morning.
She was carrying a bag of vegetables and wearing the expression of someone who had slept well.
She saw Leo and smiled.
“You’re here.”
“I’m here every morning.”
“I know.
But I’m still glad.”
He looked at her.
He didn’t say anything.
But he felt something warm in his chest.
Then it quickly faded.
The morning began.
One customer after another.
Tom smiled.
Sabine translated.
“Bonjour,” he said to the first customer.
“Bonjour,” the woman replied.
She smiled.
“You’re improving.”
“I’m practicing.”
“Keep it up.”
She left.
And Leo remained.
Feeling something strange.
Not pride.
And not belonging.
Something else.
Something…
far too familiar.
Late in the morning, between customers, Marinette sat in the chair beside him.
She was holding a small notebook and a pen.
“Come on,” she said.
“I’ll teach you French.”
Leo looked at her.
“Now?”
“Yes.
We don’t have any customers.”
He looked around.
The bakery really was empty.
“Fine.”
She opened the notebook.
She wrote something.
Then held it up for him.
“Read.”
He looked at what she had written.
“Je suis…
Marinette.”
“Read it, please.”
He looked at her.
Then at the words.
“Je suis…
Marinette?”
She smiled.
“Good.
Now say: Je suis Lio.”
He repeated it.
“Je suis Leo.”
“Excellent.
Now—”
“Why are we starting with this?”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Because it’s important to know how to introduce yourself.”
“But I already know how to do that.”
“In French?”
He fell silent.
“No.”
“Then learn.”
He looked at her.
She was smiling.
But she was serious too.
He opened his mouth to say something.
Then closed it.
Then sighed and said, “Fine.
Teach me.”
The lesson lasted half an hour.
Leo learned five new sentences.
“Je suis fatigué.” — I’m tired.
“J’ai faim.” — I’m hungry.
“Où sont les toilettes?” — Where is the bathroom?
She laughed when he said the last one.
“That’s important.”
“I know. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
That’s why I memorized it first.”
She looked at him.
“You’re smart.”
“I know, and maybe I’ll be the smartest person you’ll ever meet.”
“Modest, too,” she said sarcastically.
He smiled.
“You know, this is the first time I’ve learned a language like this.”
“In what way?”
“With someone.”
She was silent for a moment.
Then she said, “Isn’t this better?”
He thought about the question.
Then shrugged and said, “Maybe.”
In the afternoon, while the bakery was quiet, something happened.
Nothing dramatic.
Just…
quiet.
Leo was behind the counter.
Marinette had been with him a minute ago.
She had been talking about a new design.
She said she would bring it down to show him.
She went upstairs.
And Lio remained.
Two minutes.
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
Then she returned.
She came down the stairs as if nothing had happened.
She was smiling.
“Found it,” she said, holding a notebook.
Leo looked at her.
Then at the clock on the wall.
Eighteen minutes.
Exactly.
That’s strange.
He said nothing.
That evening, they sat down for dinner.
Tom talked about a large order for tomorrow.
Sabine planned the ingredients.
Marinette laughed at something Tom said.
Everything was normal.
Very normal.
A little too normal.
Leo looked around the table.
Tom.
Sabine.
Marinette.
A family that had accepted him so easily.
Without many questions.
Without suspicion.
Isn’t that a little too perfect?
He paused, his expression turning serious.
For just a second.
Then he returned to normal.
Then he ate.
He said nothing.
He went upstairs to his room.
The watch was on the nightstand.
He looked at it.
He remained silent for a long moment.
“Maybe things are more complicated than I thought.”
He said nothing more.
And went to sleep.
End of Chapter Thirteen