Page 11 of Fated Despite the Moon

They hit the landing, and she looked around the loft. A futon sat in the middle, low to the floor. On one side bookcases flanked the wall, filled with dozens of family photos as well as a few trophies she assumed were from high school, as well as colorful models of vintage cars and trucks. A desk sat on the other side, strewn with blueprints and papers.

"This way." He led her across the landing to the first door.

He pushed it open with his boot. The vaulted ceiling led up to a center chandelier made from antlers. A large wooden bed faced the door, decorated in a bright pink floral comforter and pillows. It was all so very… country- but not in a cute shabby chic kind of way. A beautiful antique dresser stood in the corner under a large picture window, by the closet. And directly across from the bed, a large stone fireplace burned low with embers next to a door leading to the bathroom.

"Did you pick out the bedspread?" she asked.

He set down her bags and snorted. "Nope. That was all mom. She thought it was time for an upgrade from the quilts my grandmother made. So, she got that off the internet. If you don't like it, I can get something else."

She wrapped her arms around herself and nodded. It was all too much. Him, his mom, the room, all of it. Every inch of Wolf River spoke of family, tradition, and unity. Something she’d only ever felt with her father. And now that he’d passed on… Memories of the accident bombarded her.

"I think I'd like to take a nap." She barely managed to choke the words out as everything that had happened to her piled up in her mind like a stack of bricks ready to topple over and crush her.

"Of course." He headed for the door, pausing as he neared her. For a moment she thought he might touch her, but then he continued out.

Makayla closed it behind him then ran to the bed and flung herself onto the hideous bedspread. She pushed her face into the pillows as tears streamed out. Images flashed in her mind.

Red and blue flashing lights. The sound of ripping metal. Damp asphalt on her back. Her father hanging upside down in the driver’s seat of his Tesla.

She pulled the pillows closer and tried to hold herself together. If only her dad was still alive, then none of this would be happening.

* * *

Caleb staredat the instructions for setting up the cabinets and arranged the boxes accordingly. He glanced at the clock on the microwave then glanced upstairs. Makayla had been asleep for over four hours. Or at least, she hadn't made an appearance in four hours. It was half past six, and his stomach growled. He scanned the cans of ravioli, spaghetti, corn beef hash, and soup, and his eyes lit on a can of condensed tomato soup. It was about the only thing in the house that didn't have meat in it.

He opened the can and took it and a saucepan to the hotplate. Turning it on, he set the pan on top then plopped the tomato soup inside. He grabbed milk from the fridge and stirred some in then fixed a grilled cheese for her as well. She needed to keep her strength up, and though canned soup wasn't the most nutritious food on the planet, the milk and cheese had calcium in it. That was good for babies, right?

Sandwich plated and soup in a bowl, he set the feast on a tray with a glass of water and headed upstairs.

He knocked on the door but there was no answer. He entered to find her curled up under the covers completely asleep. He set the tray down quietly on the nightstand.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Sorry if I woke you." He ran his hands through his hair.

"You didn't." She pointed to the tray. "What is it?"

Red blotchy patches marred her cheeks and deep circles shadowed her eyes. The damp scent of salt hit his nose. She’d been crying.

"Uh… I didn't have much vegetarian stuff, so it's just some tomato soup and a grilled cheese."

"I can't have dairy."

Damn. "Oh. No problem. I can go to town and—"

"I'm not really hungry, but thanks."

"Is there anything I can get you?"

She shook her head. "I think I'm just gonna get some more sleep."

"Shouldn't you eat something? At least for the baby?"

She blinked and opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, and opened it again. "I think the baby will be fine waiting to eat until tomorrow. They are supposed to just take what they need from me anyway, so the baby won’t starve."

He wanted to protest but it wasn't really his place, not yet. So, he walked out and closed the door behind himself.

He'd known it would be hard for her to adjust to life in Idaho, but nothing had prepared him for this.

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