Page 72 of Luna

“You seem awfully quiet this evening,” Ilsa said, reaching over from her seat beside Tony to touch Luna’s leg. “Are you well?”

“Just tired, I suppose. It’s been a long day.”

“It was a long day.” Ilsa glanced at Tony who had fallen asleep with a book on his chest and his head tilted against the back of the couch.

“I think I’ll head up to bed. Good night.” Luna smiled at Ilsa, stood, and carried the tray that held their empty teacups to the kitchen, then made her way up the back steps to her room.

Although she readied for bed, Luna didn’t feel sleepy. For a long time, she sat by her window, staring out into the night, studying the moon she was named after, and wondering what her parents would advise her to do. Her birth parents had been good people but so different from the parents who had raised her. Would they give her different words of wisdom, or would they all tell her to follow her heart?

Luna climbed into bed and closed her eyes, picturing the day she’d blown her wishes across Hunter’s land, wanting so badly to be part of his life.

The next morning, she felt encouraged. Often, all a body needed was a good night’s rest for an altered perspective and renewed hope.

She hurried to dress and pin up her hair in a popular style, then rushed down to the kitchen. Tony was already at the stove frying strips of bacon.

“Good morning, Cousin,” Tony said with a smile at her over his shoulder. “You look chipper this morning.”

“So do you, compared to last night, when you sounded more like a bear heading into hibernation.” Luna grinned at him as she poured a cup of coffee.

Tony scowled. “I did not sound like a bear, and I don’t snore.”

“You keep telling yourself that, Tony,” she teased and handed him the cup of coffee, then poured one for herself. “Do you have a busy day today?”

“No. For once, I don’t. The ice deliveries are caught up, and I only have one appointment at the studio today. Laila is going to keep me company. After I take the photographs, we’re going to go for a ride and have a picnic lunch.”

“That sounds wonderful. Laila will love the picnic and getting to spend time with you. Whether you realize it or not, you are her favorite hero.”

Tony turned and stared at her. “You mean it isn’t Kade or Lars?”

Luna smiled as she set butter and jam on the table. “Nope. Her favorite hero is her daddy.”

Tony looked pleased as he turned around and finished cooking the bacon. When he set the platter on the table, he gave her an observant glance. “How are you doing, Luna? I mean really doing.”

“Very well, thank you. I feel more like myself now than I have in a long time. I know I’ve said it before, but I truly am so grateful to you and Ilsa for giving me a place to live. It’s meant the world to me to be here.”

“You’ve been such a help to both of us, Luna, and Laila adores you. When we invited you to stay here, we had no idea what a blessing you’d be to us. Thank you for being here, little Cousin.” Tony gave her a fatherly hug, then stepped back. “You know you are welcome to stay here as long as you like.”

“I know, and I appreciate it. I’ve been thinking about making a trip home. Just to visit, not to stay. I miss everyone there. Mama says the boys are all growing like weeds, and Cara is carrying on conversations and bossing the boys around. They are growing up without me.”

“They are, but they all know you love them, and that will never change no matter where you are. Do you think you might go home for Christmas? Or sooner?”

“I was thinking Christmas, then coming back in February, but I’ll have to see. It is a long and expensive trip, and I’m undecided yet about making the journey.”

Tony nodded in understanding as Ilsa breezed into the room.

He placed his hands on his wife’s trim waist and lifted her off her feet, giving her a tender kiss.

Ilsa hugged him, then thumped him on the shoulder with a light laugh. “Set me down, Tony.”

Laila skipped into the kitchen, rolled her eyes, then grinned at Luna. “They are already at it this morning?” she asked, making everyone laugh.

After breakfast, excitement bubbled in Luna’s belly as she packed the food she’d made to take to Dally’s for their shared lunch. Ilsa grabbed old aprons for them to wear over their dresses so they wouldn’t get paint or wallpaper paste on them, and then they walked down the street to Caterina’s restaurant.

Caterina was just setting a box of food into her auto when they arrived.

“Where’s Rachel today?” Ilsa asked as she climbed into the front seat beside Caterina. With the back seat full of food, Luna scooted in next to Ilsa.

“She is with her father. Kade had a rare weekend free, so he took all three children fishing today. At least out there, the only thing the boys can terrorize is wildlife that will likely fight back.”

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