Page 12 of Luna

“Thank you, Mr. Hobbs.” Luna thought Harley John was attractive, though he seemed reserved.

“I won’t interrupt you ladies. I stopped by to change before I go to work for Mr. Ashby.”

Caterina latched onto Harley John’s arm. “Harley John is learning to be a mechanic. Lance Ashby owns the blacksmith shop, but they’ve been making as many repairs to automobiles as they have to anything else. I thought you were working for him this morning?”

“I was and did,” Harley John clarified. “I promised I’d help at the newspaper office for a few hours and just finished up there. I’ll put in another three or four hours with Mr. Ashby before I call it a day.”

“I’ll fix a sandwich for you to take along. You can eat it on your way to work.”

Harley John looked as though he might refuse, then his face softened into a smile. “Thanks, Aunt Cat. I appreciate it.” He turned to Luna and dipped his head. “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Campanelli. I hope you enjoy your time here in Pendleton.”

“I’m sure I will, Mr. Hobbs. Have a pleasant remainder of your day.”

He nodded once, then rushed up the stairs.

“There’s an apartment up there I rent out. Harley John moved in when Sadie went off to medical school,” Caterina walked over to her enormous refrigerator and took out meat, cheese, and lettuce. She set them on her work table, grabbed a loaf of bread, and cut four thick slices, then assembled two sandwiches.

Luna watched as she placed them in a paper sack, then added a handful of cookies and a huge pickle wrapped in waxed paper.

Sadie Thorsen planned to move in with Uncle Franco and Aunt Angelina soon. In fact, she was likely already in New York. Luna wished she’d had an opportunity to get to know Sadie. She recalled hearing someone say she had a beau in Pendleton. He had to be the man who lived in the apartment upstairs.

Harley John reappeared just as Caterina folded the top down on the bag. “Thanks, Aunt Cat.” He took the bag, kissed her cheek, then waved to Luna and Ilsa before rushing out the door.

Luna tried to make sense of why he referred to Caterina as Aunt Cat but decided to decipher that another day.

“I should get to the mercantile and butcher shop if I hope to have dinner ready on time,” Luna stood and carried her empty tea glass to the sink, then moved over by the door.

“You’re welcome to eat here, Luna. I’d be happy to have you all,” Caterina said, looking at Ilsa as the two women stood.

“I’d really like to fix the meal this evening, but thank you for offering, Caterina. I’m sure you’ll get tired of me being underfoot when I begin working for you next week.”

“Never, dear girl. Never.” Caterina gave her a tight hug, kissed her cheeks, then turned her loose. “Go out the front door. Cross the street, go down a block, turn left, and go another block. You can’t miss the mercantile. The butcher shop is across the street and around the corner from the mercantile.”

“Thank you.” Luna gave Ilsa a quick hug. “I forgot. I locked the doors to the house, but didn’t know how to get back in.”

Ilsa smiled. “There is a key beneath the flowerpot full of pastel pansies by the back door.”

“I’ll be sure to return it there,” Luna said, then hurried out the front door of the restaurant.

She stood on the sidewalk, looking around the busy town, wondering if someday it might feel like home.

With a spring in her step, she set off toward the mercantile, grateful she’d made the trip to Oregon. Regardless of anything else, she felt relieved to escape the constant reminders of her painful past.

Chapter Five

“Do you have any questions?” Caterina asked after she walked Luna through the work she expected her to do at the restaurant.

Luna had assumed she’d be in the kitchen, perhaps helping with prep work or washing dishes. Instead, Caterina wanted her to clear away dirty dishes from tables and reset them, pour water and coffee, and help seat patrons when the restaurant was busy.

A multitude of questions flew through her mind, but none that would help her do the job efficiently or successfully.

As though Caterina sensed her hesitation, she gave Luna a one-armed hug and waved her hand in the air, encompassing the restaurant. “You will do a fine job, Luna. If, for any reason, working in the dining room makes you uncomfortable, you can help in the kitchen.”

Luna already felt uncomfortable at the notion of being around so many strangers. What if she dropped a tray full of dirty dishes? Or spilled coffee on someone? What if … Luna forced aside her fears and expelled a nervous breath. “Thank you.”

“I’ll find an apron for you, and then you’ll be ready to get to work. Until we open the doors for the evening, you can help Elizabeth make sure all the tables are ready.” Caterina gave Luna a huge white apron, then showed her a second time where to find everything she’d need from clean napkins, silverware, and dinnerware to trays for carrying dirty dishes to the kitchen.

Elizabeth was a young harried-looking woman, probably close to Luna’s age, who appeared exhausted. However, she bustled through making sure each table was set to Caterina’s demanding standards, and kept an eye on the clock as she worked. She added water to the vases of flowers on the table and even discarded a few blooms that appeared wilted. Luna watched as the woman replaced the faded flowers with fresh stems Caterina kept in a bucket in an old ice box.

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