Chapter 7
Luna
My decision to keep everyone at arm’s length has officially been revoked.
Or rather, because of Cooper’s patience, understanding and thoughtfulness, he has shown me that it might not always be the worst thing to let someone into my heart.
I can talk to him about anything. We are slowly learning about each other with late-night calls, texting and spending time doing activities that interest us both.
I am going over to his house today to spend time with him and also to meet his Mum over dinner. Amy Murphy is usually busy and she has requested to meet me today, when she’s off from work. I am excited to meet her.
I ring the bell, and I hear voices on the other side. The door swings open to reveal Amy standing there, her blonde bob swinging from the momentum of walking to the door, and she beams at me. ‘Come in, Luna. I have heard so much about you from Coop.’
My nerves settle from the warmth and genuineness radiating from her.
Once I step into the house, she pulls me into her and gives me the biggest hug.
I relax in her arms, and the same comfort I feel with Cooper washes over me.
He must have learnt it from her. I like learning more about Cooper and his family.
Once she releases me from her arms, my eyes travel across the room, searching for Cooper. ‘Is Cooper—’
‘He is in the kitchen, getting the plates ready for us to eat.’
Amy and I walk over to the kitchen, and Cooper is placing three plates on the table and setting the food down. He looks up at me, and his face immediately brightens. ‘Hi, Luna.’
‘Hi,’ I respond. I have a feeling that there isn’t anyone else joining us for dinner, but I don’t want to assume. ‘Um, is Cooper’s Dad joining us?’
Cooper freezes in the middle of setting the cutlery down, and the room falls silent, as if the sound got sucked into a vacuum. Cooper’s Mum walks towards me and gently places a hand on my shoulder. ‘He isn’t a part of our lives, love.’
‘I’m sorry.’ Guilt courses through me for asking the question, but it confirms what I suspected about the situation from what Cooper told me at the riverside.
I don’t want to impose on either of them to talk about anything they don’t want to.
I move past the subject. But the guilt steadily seeps into my thoughts.
Amy smiles softly at me. ‘It’s okay, Luna, you didn’t know.’
We take our places at the table. I sit down, and Amy and Cooper follow suit. Cooper sits next to me. I stare into the distance, my eyes unfocused, still feeling bad for the question I asked. I didn’t want to even accidentally make them upset, especially when they are such lovely human beings.
Cooper extends his hand, his fingers tap my elbow. ‘Hey, you alright?’
‘Yeah, I’m sorry again. For asking about your Dad,’ I whisper, not wanting Amy to hear.
‘It’s okay, really.’ He whispers back, he places his hand on top of mine and squeezes gently before taking it away. His fleeting touch both lulls my overthinking and also leaves a tingle in its place.
I eat a bit of everything that Amy and Cooper have made, and my taste buds have the best day ever.
At the end of the dinner, Amy brings out a tray of freshly baked pan au chocolats, and I internally scream with joy.
They look perfectly flaky and golden, and trying one only confirms my expectation that they taste delicious.
I thank her for the decadent pastry, and she suggests I join her and Cooper for their monthly baking session, to which I vehemently nod my head as an acceptance of the invitation.
After I help them clean up in the kitchen, Cooper takes me to see his room for the first time.
I have always wondered what posters he had on his wall, what colour his wall would be and what things were showcased.
When I step in, I am exposed to the navy-blue walls, a double bed and a wall full of posters – of paintings, artists and chess.
He spends the next hour showing me all of his hobbies.
I patiently listen to him talk about his interests and also try my hand at learning Chess, the hobby that he is obsessed with.
I learn the basic rules, but he checkmates me in two to three moves for the first five games we play, so he empathises with me and puts away the chessboard.
I go through his collection of vinyls and CDs of albums from his favourite artists, and he explains when he discovered that artist and what about them he likes.
I spent most of my time for the past year being focused on the world of academics but being here with Cooper, enveloped in his world and interests, shows me that I can experience more by getting out of my room once in a while.