Chapter 24 – Letter from Laurent

A reply arrived from Eloise. Considering how worried Sasha had been from the long silence, fortunately, it was all good news.

[To my already-missed friend, Sasha.

Sorry for the late reply. I got so caught up in sightseeing around the city that I forgot to write you. Laurent is the most wonderful and splendid city in the world. It can’t even be compared to the country village of Manolie. You wouldn’t believe how stylish and kind people are. Thanks to that, I’m doing really well.

And if you receive this letter, I hope you’ll visit where I’m staying as soon as possible. After you meet me and return, please tell my parents that I’m living fabulously. Even when I contact them, they can’t seem to relax. I’ll write my address below.

Don’t forget. Enter the alley across from the square with the bull statue, and it’s the first floor of the red-brick house with the big red door. The doorbell is broken, so knock and say you’re looking for Eloise—they’ll let you in.

Oh, and you don’t need to bring a gift! My uncle and aunt are very generous to me. There’s so much more I want to say, but I’m short on time, so I’ll finish here. I need to sleep soon and get up early tomorrow. I’ll tell you the rest when you come to Laurent.

So, 14 Bastille Avenue-16043, waiting for you desperately in Laurent—Eloise.]

Sasha read Eloise’s letter aloud in the first-floor dining room, then got permission from Mr. Vinoche and immediately packed for Laurent. The next morning, she set out bravely, leaving her grandmothers’ worries behind.

“Sasha? Are you going to Illemang alone? To meet Enzo?”

As Sasha stood waiting for the train, a man approached and greeted her from behind. The old man with a big red nose was the stationmaster of Manolie’s only train station. Sasha shook her head.

“No. I’m going to Laurent. To see Eloise.”

“Oh, Eloise. Her parents must be worried, sending her to the city alone. You should’ve come just a day earlier. Mr. Robert took the train to Laurent yesterday.”

“Mr. Robert?”

Sasha’s heart sank. No wonder he hadn’t been seen since yesterday. The note she left at Hawthorn Mansion that morning suddenly felt pointless. He’d said he’d stay in Manolie this summer. She felt a bit disappointed, but decided to let it go. Maybe he just had business in Laurent and would return soon. Sasha chose to believe that.

“There’s no guarantee you’ll ride the same train just because you leave on the same day.”

“Well, he always takes first class. He must be rich.”

“I wouldn’t know. Maybe.”

Learning this for the first time, Sasha felt awkward holding her third-class ticket. The stationmaster pointed to the canvas Sasha had slung over her shoulder.

“What’s that?”

“A painting for the Baron. I usually mail it, but since I’m going to Laurent, I thought I’d deliver it myself.”

“That’s the man who sends you sponsorship money?”

“Yes. I promised to paint him at least one piece a year. I don’t know if he’ll like it, though.”

Hearing Sasha’s uncertain tone, the stationmaster frowned.

“Is it because of that painter, Camille’s husband? Forget that unlucky interference. Why did Camille marry such a show-off?”

“It’s true I’ve never won a contest, but the advice I got that day was helpful.”

“Helpful, my foot… What a rotten guy.”

The stationmaster grumbled. The distant sound of a train approached. Amid the noise and smoke, the stationmaster, pipe in mouth, saw Sasha off. The train, after a brief stop at Manolie station, soon carried Sasha Vinoche away, heading for Illemang, where the train to Laurent was.

* * *

“Sasha!”

Sasha, getting off at Laurent’s station, turned at the loud call. A young man in a shirt, brown pants, and flat cap was running toward her. Damien had received word from Mr. Vinoche and was waiting for her at the station.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You look even more impressive than I expected.”

Sasha looked at him in surprise, and Damien’s cheek twitched. He approached and grabbed Sasha’s luggage, almost snatching it. On the way to catch a shared carriage, he chatted excitedly, unable to stop. Damien was smiling at the thought of having Sasha all to himself in Laurent, when she was always with other kids in Manolie.

“You’re going to Eloise’s house, right? Give me the address—I’ll take you there.”

“You don’t know where Eloise lives? You’ve never run into her?”

At Sasha’s innocent question, Damien laughed.

“Silly. Laurent’s so big, you’d never just bump into someone. I didn’t even know she was here.”

“So we’re going straight to Eloise? You’ll come and say hello too?”

“No, let’s go to my house first. My aunt prepared a huge dinner since you’re coming. I’ll take you to Eloise tomorrow.”

Damien guided Sasha skillfully. They took a shared carriage to Ford Avenue, where Damien’s uncle lived. Damien gladly gave Sasha the window seat, knowing she was curious about Laurent. As she put down her luggage and looked out, Sasha felt the scenery was surprisingly familiar.

Just then, the carriage passed Hotel d’Ecran. The lit fountain, golden relief bronze doors, and the lion statue guarding the entrance. At the time, she hadn’t realized how grand that luxury hotel was. She probably wouldn’t ever go inside again. Sasha swallowed her regret and turned away.

Their carriage passed the fountain in front of the hotel and went much farther.

“Is that Etienne Forest?”

Sasha pointed to the woods where children holding balloons ran around and asked Damien.

“Oh, you’re seeing it for the first time. Etienne Forest is so big, you can see it from anywhere nearby. There are lots of kids here, but the other side, by the lake, is prettier.”

Damien explained proudly.

“I see.”

Sasha nodded, gazing at the dark woods. She remembered hearing a story from Robert about Etienne Forest, though the details were vague—only his bright smile was clear.

* * *

Maybe it was the beer served with dinner, but Damien was more excited than usual, and Sasha started to feel uncomfortable.

Damien’s uncle, Mr. Green, ran a large flour mill on the outskirts of Laurent. The Green couple, wealthy enough to employ a kitchen maid, had a good relationship but no children. During summer vacation, when they needed extra hands, they called on nephews from Manolie to help.

“So we don’t think of Damien and his brothers as nephews, but as our own children. Before Damien’s brothers married, we always invited them for a meal at least once.”

Mrs. Green explained kindly, watching Sasha closely. Each time she filled Sasha’s plate, she asked about her parents’ work, siblings, and whether Sasha had lived in Manolie since birth.

“Damien is a bit special. We don’t have children, so we’re thinking of leaving our estate to him. What do you think about living in Laurent after marriage, Miss Sasha?”

Mr. Green, face slightly red from beer, asked generously. Sasha replied she hadn’t thought about marriage or leaving Manolie yet. When the Greens left for the kitchen to bring dessert, Sasha quickly pulled Damien outside. He let himself be dragged out.

“What is it?”

“Did you tell them we’re getting married?”

Damien flinched when Sasha asked in the small room behind the dining hall.

“I didn’t say that much. I just said you were a girl I liked… They jumped ahead. Sorry if it was awkward.”

Seeing Sasha’s pale face, Damien quickly added,

“But if we really got married, I’d treat you well. Except for Enzo, your family likes me. I swear, I’ll make sure you can do anything you want.”

Damien grabbed Sasha’s hand.

“I asked you to marry me before.”

“That was just once when we were kids! And I thought it was a joke. This isn’t right. Something’s off.”

Sasha shook her head and pulled her hand away.

“I’m not staying here tonight. I’ll say goodbye to Mrs. Green and go to Eloise’s house. Later, you can tell them it was a misunderstanding.”

Damien frowned at her words.

“No, you can’t. It’s too late. There are drunkards wandering at night—it’s dangerous. I’ll take you tomorrow. Stay here tonight.”

“Damien, I’m really fine. If you do this, it just makes me more uncomfortable.”

“I’m not fine. If you leave, Aunt will think you’re upset. And visiting Eloise’s relatives so late would be rude. Please, I’m begging you.”

Damien pleaded desperately. Sasha couldn’t bring herself to refuse. When they returned to the dining room, the Greens exchanged meaningful glances, thinking the two had had a private conversation. Damien hurried Sasha to her room, worried she might say she wanted to go to Eloise’s house.

Lying on the bed Mrs. Green had prepared, Sasha felt overwhelmed. She’d never thought of Damien that way. Couldn’t they just stay friends, like with Eloise? She didn’t want to lose any more childhood friends.

Sasha buried her face in the pillow, thinking she was too selfish. After hearing his confession, she couldn’t go back to how things were with Damien. As she decided this, she felt tears coming. Nothing could ever be as before. Sasha remained in Manolie, but her childhood friends were all moving on into adulthood.

Sasha was afraid of her friends changing and her surroundings shifting. But being scared and retreating wouldn’t solve anything. She buried her face in the pillow again, her cheeks burning. Her first night in Laurent was as confusing as the dangerous whirlpools sometimes found beneath the cliffs of Manolie’s beach.