Page 29 of Luna

Luna removed a handkerchief from her handbag, wiped the rim of chocolate from Laila’s mouth, and quickly finished her drink. She left a tip for the boy who’d waited on them, then she took Laila’s hand in hers and headed outside.

“Let’s go see if your mother is still at her shop,” Luna said, walking with purpose while Laila skipped along beside her to Ilsa’s shop. The door was locked, and the lights were off when they arrived, so they continued down Court Street, turned onto Main, and headed home.

Tony honked the horn on his auto as he drove up the driveway past them and Laila chased after him, curls bouncing and laughter floating on the summer breeze.

It was such a wonderful, sweet moment, with the scent of Ilsa’s flowers perfuming the air, that Luna wished she could catch it in a bottle and save it for one of her dark days.

Admittedly, the dark days had been receding since she’d arrived in Pendleton. Despite her trepidation at coming to the western town, it had been good for her to leave behind New York City, where reminders of her nightmarish experience had assaulted her nearly every time she’d walked down the street.

Every day, she missed her family, but Tony and Caterina were so much like her papa and the rest of the Campanelli family, it eased the homesick ache in her heart just by being around them and hearing them speak with their slight Italian accents.

Tony was fun and full of teasing, like his brothers, and Caterina could talk in rapid-fire Italian and wave her hands with dramatic emphasis, just like Aunt Angelina.

Luna sighed—a sound of joy—and hurried around the side of the house, joining Laila and Tony as they walked onto the porch and inside the house.

It might not be her home, but Luna was profoundly grateful to be in a place where she was loved, accepted, and encouraged to be herself.

Beyond that, there was little more she could ask for in life.

Another vision of Hunter’s bare chest infiltrated her thoughts as she hung up her hat and tugged off her gloves.

If wishes came true, then perhaps her heart could belong to Hunter Douglas. However, that was a wish so grand and outlandish, so far out of her reach, she knew it would never, ever happen.

Mindful of not allowing impossible dreams to dampen the pleasure of the day, she shoved them aside, pasted on a smile, and joined her family in the kitchen.

Tony was busy frying what smelled like ham while Laila sliced cucumbers and Ilsa set the table.

Luna glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’d better hurry, or I’ll be late getting to the restaurant.” She spun around and raced up to her room, where she changed into a dark skirt and a plain cotton shirtwaist. After a quick stop in the bathroom, where she brushed her teeth, straightened her hair, and splashed her face with cool water, she rushed back downstairs. “Have a nice evening!” she called as she pinned on her hat, grabbed her handbag, and hastened out the door.

If decorum hadn’t kept her feet to a steady pace, she would have hiked up her skirts and run all the way to the restaurant. As it was, she arrived five minutes before her shift was to begin. Caterina smiled with warmth and welcome as Luna removed her hat and left it and her handbag hanging from a hook by the door.

She quickly tied on one of the voluminous white aprons, washed her hands, then got to work. The restaurant was packed with hungry patrons, and Luna was kept busy until Caterina turned the open sign to closed and locked the door when the last customer left four hours later.

Exhausted and starving, Luna finished clearing the last few tables, wiped them all down, and swept the floor.

“Come, bambina. You have to be hungry, and the food is warm. Eat, then you can finish setting the tables.” Caterina motioned to Luna as she stowed the broom with the cleaning supplies.

“I won’t argue. I’m so hungry, I might even consider eating Ilsa’s cooking.”

Her comment made everyone in the kitchen laugh, even quiet Harley John, who had just stepped inside.

“You’re just in time, Harley John, to keep Luna company as she eats.” Caterina pulled two plates from the warming oven and set them on the table. Luna filled a basket with slices of bread that were warm and set the basket along with a dish of olive oil on the table, then poured two glasses full of chilled sweet tea. It seemed to be a popular beverage in Pendleton, and Luna found she enjoyed it.

Harley John washed up and waited until Luna was seated to pull out a chair at the table and sink onto it. Luna noticed he grimaced slightly and leaned forward.

“Are you hurt, Harley John?”

“It’s nothing,” he said, lifting the napkin to his lap and bowing his head.

Luna bowed hers and they both offered their own silent words of thanks for the meal. After helping herself to a slice of bread, Luna glanced across the table at Harley John. “It’s not nothing. I saw the pain flash across your face despite your efforts to hide it.”

Harley John sighed, then grimaced a second time and pressed a hand to his side. “I’m fine. Nik said I just needed a day or two of rest, so it’s a good thing tomorrow is Sunday.”

“What did you do?” Caterina asked as she set a bowl of juicy strawberries on the table.

“I was under an automobile working on it this afternoon, and it rolled back over the top of me. Mr. Ashby got a little excited and telephoned Nik. Doc said my ribs are bruised but not broken. I’ll be as good as new in no time at all.”

Caterina’s eyebrows hiked upward. She thrust her hands in the air, muttered several phrases in Italian that Luna was sure Harley John didn’t understand, then placed a kiss on the young man’s forehead. “The angels fly close around you, Harley John.”

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