Page 61 of Loving Luna

“What was that?” a familiar feminine voice asked. I recognized it immediately and jerked my head to the side. Sure enough, there was my mom standing beside me, bundled up from head to toe.

“Mom!” I cried, wrapping her in a hug, genuinely excited to see her. “What are you doing here?”

“Honestly, son, I don’t even really know. Luna called and begged me to come tonight.” My mom hugged me back then pulled away and looked around us. “Where is she?”

“Oh she’s around her somewhere. She got carted off by a bunch of elves the second we got here.” I chuckled, already feeling better at seeing my mom out and about. I talked to her every day at least once, but I hadn’t seen her since she’d gone back home to Porter’s Corner. Every time I talked to her she was crying before I called, and despite my pleas, she refused to come back to the Ranch, swearing up and down that she was “fine” and “couldn’t bear to impose even a second longer”.

It broke my heart, and I prayed every day that she wouldn’t end up moving back home, but if I had to listen to her sob on the phone one more time, I knew I might just end up driving her there myself.

“What is this event, anyway?” my mom asked. “Luna was very cryptic about it on the phone.”

“Was she now?” I took in that tidbit of information, and my unease grew. “Well, it’s supposed to be some sort of tree lighting ceremony, I guess. That’s what I was told anyway.”

“Oh.” My mom nodded and was quiet for a moment as she looked around the space. After a minute, she whispered, “Where’s the tree?”

“Right? That’s what I was wondering.”

Before we could get any more suspicious, the music around us stopped and Santa made his way up to the middle of the stage.

“Good evening! Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas,” Master Derek as Santa bellowed, holding his belly that was very obviously made from a pillow. “Welcome to the first, maybe last, possibly annual Rawhide Ridge Christmas Tree Lighting Festival!”

“First, maybe last, possibly annual?” I whispered in disbelief. This night was just getting more and more absurd.

“The Christmas Tree Lighting will take place in about an hour. In the meantime, we encourage you to walk around and enjoy all the fun Christmas activities the Littles have set up for you. We’ve got sleigh rides, hot cocoa, cookie decorating, a Christmas coloring station, pictures with Santa—one of my helper Santas, not me. I’m too busy making my list and checking it twice to see if all the Little Boys and Girls at Rawhide have been naughty or nice.” Santa—Master Derek—chuckled loudly, obviously pleased with his speech, then continued. “We’ve got booths with fun wares set out for those of you who might still need to finish your Christmas shopping and if you’ve brought an ornament for the Christmas ornament contest, don’t forget to take it on over to the booth near the hot cocoa stand right away so we can go ahead and get those looked over and judged. We want to announce the winners before the tree lighting. Those who win awards will get to be the first to place an ornament on the tree!” A raucous cheer erupted from the crowd, and I just looked around, still wondering where the tree was. Apparently it wasn’t a light-up deal if they were planning to hang real ornaments from it.

“What is going on?” I whispered again as Master Derek finished up his speech by telling everyone to have fun and be good and remember that Santa was watching.

“I’m so confused,” my mom said beside me. “Was I supposed to bring an ornament? Luna didn’t mention anything about it.”

“First I’ve heard about it.” I shrugged, growing more annoyed with every second. “Oh well, I guess. I’m totally lost andconfused, but whatever. Want to go grab some hot cocoa and popcorn? And then I don’t know, sit and people-watch I guess? Hope Luna eventually shows back up?”

I held out my arm and my mom threaded hers through the crook.

“Sounds like a plan.” She smiled. “I’m very glad to see you and very grateful to Luna for insisting I come out, but I’m still not really sure why I’m here.”

“Join the club.”

We got our hot cocoa and sat on some folding chairs set up in front of the stage next to one of the many outdoor heaters that had been strategically placed around the park.

Mom held her cocoa in one hand and took mine with the other. “How are you holding up, son?” she asked, as if we hadn’t spoken every day.

“I’m doing okay, Mom. I’m trying to take your advice but it’s hard. Sometimes it takes everything I have just to get through the day. Luna’s been great though, and I’m back at work, so that helps.”

She sighed and squeezed my hand. I could see her tearing up again. “I’m so happy that you have Luna, and all these people around.” She yanked her hand away and wiped at her eyes. “I love Porter’s Corner, and love living so close to you, but being in that house is so hard, and…” She trailed off and shrugged. “I don’t know. I just miss your dad. I just hope it gets easier somehow. I might go home after New Year’s.”

My eyes narrowed, but I forced myself to soften. This was the announcement I’d been dreading. “Like for good?”

My mom didn’t answer and stared off into space. “I just meant for a visit,” she finally said, “but I know it’s going to be hard to come back.”

“Don’t go back to that house, Mom,” I begged. “Stay with me and Luna. At least until after the holidays. We’d love to haveyou.” It was the same thing I said every day and I already knew her answer.

Just as I’d expected, she shook her head. “No, Drake. These days are too important to you and Luna’s relationship. It’s too fresh and new to have to deal with your mother lurking around all the time. I remember those days. You’re supposed to be staying up all night talking and getting frisky in the kitchen making dinner, and having sex anywhere and everywhere, not dealing with a sad old widow.”

“Mom.” I stuck my hands in my pocket because they were cold and no longer holding hers and felt the ring box. Maybe knowing I was going to propose soon would change her mind. Probably not, but at least maybe the news would bring her a tiny bit of joy. “Mom, listen,” I began. “I have to tell you something.”

“What is it, son?”

“I—” I didn’t get another word out before Luna ran up, her cheeks flushed and her long locks flowing behind her. “There you guys are! I’ve been looking all over for you!” She squished between us on the bench and laid her head on my shoulder. “Are you guys having fun?”

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