Page 78 of Luna

“Did I hear my name?” Tony asked as he stepped into the kitchen with a pail of milk.

“There’s something I wanted to talk to all of you about.”

Tony nodded and set the milk on the counter by the sink. “Let’s eat first, then talk.”

Luna helped him serve the casserole he’d made of leftover ham mixed with eggs and cheese. They enjoyed it with cinnamon apple muffins left over from those she’d baked yesterday morning.

Once they’d all eaten, Tony sat back and looked at Luna. “You’re leaving us, aren’t you?”

Luna nodded, forcing herself not to cry. “I don’t want to leave, but I have to. Being here with you all has been an experience I’ll never forget, and I’m so very grateful to the three of you for making me so welcome and giving me a home while I was here.”

“You can’t leave us, Luna. You just can’t!” Laila wailed and jumped out of her chair. She plopped onto Luna’s seat beside her and gave her a tight hug. “I’ll miss you so much!”

“I’ll miss you too, Laila. All of you. I hope you’ll come and visit us in New York again. Perhaps in the spring?”

“Perhaps,” Tony said, nodding slowly. “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

“It’s not what I want at all, but it is what I need to do.”

Laila’s sobbing increased, and Ilsa stood, pulling her daughter up with her. “Come along, darling. Let’s give your daddy a few minutes with Luna.”

When they left the room, Tony cleared his throat, and Luna met his gaze. “I can’t stay here, Tony. Not when I love Hunter so much.”

“Did he say or do something to make you want to leave?” Tony’s expression darkened. “If he did, I’ll—”

Luna held up a hand and interrupted him. “No, of course not. He’s a gentleman. Caring. Kind. One of the best men I’ve ever encountered.” A sigh worked its way from the depths of her heart. “Hunter lives in a different world than I do, Tony. He’s used to luxury and wealth and sophistication. I’m none of those things and never will be. He needs to marry someone who knows what an oyster fork is and how to use it, not a girl who is content just to have a knife, fork, and spoon to use.”

“Hunter doesn’t care about all that nonsense. He cares about you.”

Luna stood and started pacing the kitchen. “But he shouldn’t, Tony. I’m not good enough for him and never will be. He deserves so much better. What if we were at some fancy dinner party with his parents, and I had one of my anxiety episodes? They would be embarrassed, and I would be mortified. Hunter would be so much better off with someone more suited to his lifestyle.”

“But Luna, you can surely see …” Tony paused and sighed. “If you want to go, nothing I say will change your mind. Are you really planning to leave today?”

Luna nodded. “Yes. I’d like to leave on the morning train if it isn’t too late to get a ticket. My trunks are packed, but I won’t need anything in them right away. Perhaps you could send them whenever you have time to leave them at the depot?”

“Sure, Luna. I can take them sometime this week. I’ll drive you over to the depot, but I have a few errands to see to first. Will that be okay?” Tony stood and walked over to her, wrapping her in one of the fatherly hugs she’d taken such comfort in during the past few months.

“Yes, and thank you, Tony. For everything.”

“You’re welcome, Luna. I hope you’ll come see us again someday.”

“Someday.” Luna stepped back from him and went upstairs to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything important.

She heard Ilsa on the telephone as she carried her traveling bag downstairs, but she didn’t linger to listen to what she was saying.

An hour later, Tony, Ilsa, and Laila drove her to the train depot. When Luna got out of the automobile, Caterina, Kade, and their children were there.

Caterina started to cry, and Luna found herself unable to hold back her tears. Soon Ilsa, Laila, and Rachel joined them until it looked like they were all in deep mourning.

“Oh, stop with the waterworks,” Tony finally said, settling one arm around Ilsa and the other around Laila. “Let’s celebrate these months we’ve had with Luna instead of acting like we’ll never see her again. It’s not like the train will stop running between here and there.”

Caterina sniffled and dabbed at her nose with a handkerchief Kade handed to her. “Well, of course we’ll see her again. We’ll plan a trip to New York next year.” She took one more look at Luna, pulled her to her and began muttering in Italian. Luna understood what she was saying, but it didn’t make her heart hurt any less as her cousin told her how much she was loved and needed there.

“All aboard!” the conductor called.

Luna took a handkerchief from her pocket, wiped away her tears, then hugged Tony, Ilsa, and Laila again. She kissed Ben and Brett on their cheeks, making the boys blush. She hugged Rachel and Caterina, then found herself pulled into a tight embrace by Kade.

“We’re sure gonna miss you, little Luna.” He kissed her cheek and grinned at her, then patted his pockets. “Would you mind doing me a favor when you arrive in Baker City?”

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