Chapter 42
When Luna got home, she went right to the kitchen and opened the pantry door. Luke followed her.
“So Luna, we have some news we want to share with you. Will you come sit with us?” Luke guided her toward the couches, where I was already seated, nerves humming beneath my skin.
“Can we have a snack first?” Luna pleaded.
I shrugged, making eye contact with Luke. I didn’t mind if she wanted to have a snack first.
He kept guiding her into the living room. “News first, snack after. It will be quick, I promise.”
“Okayyy,” she whined. I fought my smile.
“So,” Luke started, “I should have practiced this.” He took a deep breath. “Val and I are together.” Luna gave us no indication she knew what he meant. “As a couple. We love each other. We’re boyfriend and girlfriend.” He squinted at her. “Does that make sense?”
“You love each other?” Comprehension started to take over her features. “Like Nan and Pop? And Aunt Cesca and Uncle Jeremiah?”
“Yes, exactly like that,” I answered.
“But, don’t you have to leave and go back to New York someday?” Luna asked, a hint of panic in her tone. Luke must have reminded her throughout the summer that I might not be there forever.
“No.” I reached for her hand. “I’m staying here on Martha’s Vineyard.”
“Forever?” Her brown eyes widened.
I stole a glance at Luke. “That’s the plan, yes.”
Her wide-eyed gaze pivoted back and forth between me and Luke, like she was looking for her dad’s confirmation before she got excited. When he nodded, a big smile plastered on his face, she jumped and gave him a hug. Then she quickly released and hugged me, too.
“Are you going to live here? Can we get our nails done every week? And make cookies?”
I laughed. I skipped her first question and said, “Maybe not every week, but we can certainly get our nails done and make cookies.”
She beamed, and it filled my heart. When I pulled her in for another hug, I got choked up.
My life looked so different now than it did six months ago, and I couldn’t be happier.
If anything, the feeling of peace and certainty I felt running back to South Station yesterday sunk deeper roots inside of me.
“And I can braid your hair whenever you want,” I added, flipping a lock of her hair around in my hand. Her ponytail had all but fallen out at school.
“Yes!” She pulled back from me. “Can we have a snack now?”
She made her way into the kitchen, and Luke and I looked at each other, shaking our heads.
My heart released a breath. Thank goodness she’s happy.
Later, I was teary-eyed in the kitchen. Luke was finishing up the dishes, and we’d poured fresh drinks. It felt like we were celebrating. “I’m so happy she’s happy.” I swallowed.
I couldn’t help but watch Luna when we had dinner, searching for any signs she was uncomfortable.
Luke grabbed my hand on the table at one point, and she didn’t bat an eye.
She pontificated happily about her trip to Hershey Park with her grandparents last week, adding that we should come next time—both of us.
Some stress left my shoulders when she said that.
When she mentioned she wasn’t sure which outfit to wear for her second day back at school, I told her I’d love to help her pick it out. She dragged me up to her room to decide right then and there.
“What’d you expect?” Luke asked, turning to look at me. I leaned against the counter next to him.
“I don’t know. She’s a kid. Kids don’t always like change.”
“That’s true. But it’s not really a change for her. You’ve been there for her all summer.”
I smiled. Luke dried his hands and used his thumbs to wipe away my tears.
“They’re happy tears, I promise,” I said.
He kissed me. The soft press of his lips, his now familiar taste, felt like home.
When we settled on the couch, drinks in hand, baseball game on mute on the television, music playing at low volume from the speakers, my entire body relaxed.
This, my heart and my mind sang in unison, finally aligned.
Luke looked at me, suddenly pensive. “You look at her the way Monica used to. I’m sorry it took me so long to see it.”
I reached for his hand. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
“I think maybe she knew—my sister. She knew that someday I’d meet someone like you, and we’d have a family, that Luna would have a family that loved her. Is that strange?”
I loved that he was already thinking of us as a family.
“No. I kinda believe in the divine. But I also know you well enough by now to know your sister chose you because of who you are. Luna has had a family this entire time.”
“Thanks, Val.” His voice was soft and full of something deep. He said it like my words meant something to him. Maybe everything to him.
He pulled me closer, pressed his warm lips to my cheek, and said, “It just didn’t feel complete until now.”