Chapter 42 Nova
nova
“We’re going to be late, you two,” I cried from the bottom of the stairs, glancing at the clock for the fifth time.
Today was not going as planned. The movers, who were already late, had finally shown up on the exact day Scarlette was supposed to visit her new school.
Technically, it wasn’t a regular school day. The kids were about to go on break, but her teacher had invited her to join the preschool program’s holiday pageant. I figured it was the perfect opportunity for Scarlette to get acquainted with the school before starting in earnest.
“Beauty takes forever,” Luna yelled from upstairs.
I sighed.
“We’ve got this handled. Go to the performance,” Aunt Mae said, placing a calming hand on my arm.
I gave her a tired smile and pulled her into a quick hug. “Thanks for watching her, Mae. You’ve been a lifesaver these past few weeks.”
She patted my back gently. “It’s been a joy getting to know her better. You’re doing great, sweetheart.” She hesitated, then added more softly, “And how’s everything going with Ollie?”
I shrugged, trying not to let the ache of missing him creep into my voice. “It’s been about eight weeks since he applied for his visa. We’re hoping to have him home before the holidays. He’s anxious to get here.”
“I can imagine,” she said, glancing around at the maze of moving boxes cluttering the living room. “On the bright side, at least the house will be unpacked by the time he arrives.”
I smiled faintly, looking at the home we were building piece by piece. “True.”
My eyes wandered over our new space. It was a newer build with the charm of an older home—tall windows with black mullions, a wraparound porch perfect for summer evenings, and clean, yet cozy finishes inside.
The hardwood floors looked reclaimed, even though they were brand new, and the high ceilings gave every room a bright, airy feel.
The backyard stretched far and wide, connecting the main house to the guest house at the edge of the property, where Luna lived.
Unlike in London, where we shared a tiny garden between us, the distance here felt substantial.
It wasn’t a quick step out the door—it was a proper walk across a sprawling lawn, and in the biting Chicago cold, that sucked.
We told each other it was the first time we’d actually lived apart, even if we were much closer than most.
I already missed the convenience of yelling through an open window or popping over for tea without bundling up first. Luna was covering a third of the cost, I’d fronted another with what was left of Austin’s money, and Ollie had insisted on paying the final share.
It was a compromise he’d only agreed to because Luna and I refused to let him buy the whole thing.
“Mama, I’m ready.” Scarlette’s little voice broke through my thoughts as she appeared at the top of the stairs, her sparkly red dress twirling as she spun in excitement.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart.” I smiled up at her.
“Her hair is the best part.”
“Luna.” I stared at Luna’s white fur coat. “What are you wearing?”
“This ole thing?” She laughed and gave me a spin.
It was too much for a holiday performance at an elementary school, but Luna’s spark had come back since I’d moved back here with her.
She was herself again. It wasn’t back fully, but she was working things out with Dirks.
It was nice, but at the same time, I felt bad for keeping her in a place that was making her miserable.
We all kissed Aunt Mae goodbye and headed outside to the car.
“I hate that you drive on the other side,” Scarlette grumbled, and Luna and I laughed as we buckled her into her car seat.
“It takes getting used to.”
“Can we call my Ollie?”
“Of course, baby.” I pulled out my phone and plugged it into the car.
I hit the dial button, and the Bluetooth speakerphone crackled to life. Ollie answered on the first ring, his deep voice filling the car.
“Hello, loves,” he said warmly, the sound of his voice instantly soothing the tightness in my chest.
“Hi, Ollie,” Scarlette squealed, her excitement radiating from the back seat.
“Hi, Scar,” he said, his voice softening. “How’s your big day going so far?”
“She’s off to charm her new classmates,” I chimed in, glancing at Scarlette in the rearview mirror.
“And we’re late,” Luna added with a dramatic sigh, earning a laugh from Ollie.
“Never change, Luna.” I could hear the grin in his voice.
“I wish you were here,” Scarlette said quietly.
“Me too, sweet girl. I’ll be there soon, I promise. And when I am, we’ll have so much to catch up on.”
Scarlette kicked her feet against the seat lightly, a small pout forming. “You’d like my dress. It’s sparkly.”
“I bet you look absolutely beautiful. You’ll have to have Mum take lots of photos so I can see you, okay?”
“I will!” Scarlette chirped.
“I’ll make sure she gets all the best angles.”
“Good. And you, love . . . make sure to take some pictures of yourself, too. I miss seeing you.”
My breath hitched at his words, warmth flooding my chest. “I miss you, too,” I whispered, barely able to speak over the lump in my throat.
Luna leaned closer to the phone. “Don’t worry, Ollie. I’ll send you the most candid, unflattering ones I can find.”
He laughed, a sound that somehow made the distance feel smaller. “I’ll take what I can get.”
The conversation paused for a moment, the weight of separation hanging in the air before Scarlette broke the silence. “When you come home, will you come to my school, too?”
“Absolutely. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Okay, we’re almost at the school,” I said as we pulled into the parking lot, the large brick building adorned with holiday decorations coming into view. “Say goodbye to Ollie.”
“Bye, Ollie. Love you,” Scarlette called out, her little hand waving at the speaker as if he could see her.
“Love you, too,” Ollie replied warmly. “And love you, Nova. Don’t forget those pictures.”
“I won’t,” I said softly, my heart aching as I ended the call.
I parked the car, and we climbed out, the cold Chicago air biting at my cheeks. Luna stepped out beside me, zipping her coat higher as she surveyed the area.
“Wow,” she said, looking around. “This place is bougie.”
Scarlette tugged on my hand, her excitement bubbling over as she pointed toward the entrance. “Come on, Mama and Daddy Luna. I don’t want to miss it!”
“All right, all right,” I said, letting her drag me toward the doors, Luna trailing behind us.
We hurried into the school, and I dropped her off backstage with her teacher while Luna saved us two seats.
“Hi, Ms. Peterman.”
Fortunately, Scarlette’s teacher had emailed me last week with a little bio about herself so I could get Scarlette familiar with who she was.
“Oh my gosh. You must be Scarlette. We are so excited to have you start school after break. Thank you for joining our performance.”
Scarlette smiled shyly, hiding behind my leg.
“She’s a bit nervous,” I said, smoothing Scarlette’s hair.
“That’s completely normal, and I know just the person to help.” She gestured toward a blonde woman standing nearby. “Come, let me introduce you to Mrs. Astor. She’s leading the performance today.”
We followed Ms. Peterman through the crowd of students backstage.
As we approached, Mrs. Astor turned toward us with a radiant smile.
Her long, golden blonde hair fell in loose waves down her back, and her vibrant red sweater with small bows on the sleeves paired perfectly with a plaid skirt.
She exuded warmth and elegance, the kind of presence that made you feel at ease.
Mrs. Astor crouched down to Scarlette’s level, extending a hand. “It’s so nice to meet you, Scarlette,” she said in a southern accent. “I’m Mrs. Astor. We’re going to have so much fun today.”
Scarlette tentatively reached out to shake her hand, her small fingers disappearing in Mrs. Astor’s gentle grasp.
Ms. Peterman chuckled. “You’ll have to start using your new name.” She nudged Mrs. Astor lightly.
Mrs. Astor laughed, a warm, tinkling sound that seemed to lighten the room. “Still getting used to it,” she admitted, giving Scarlette’s hand a playful squeeze.
Scarlette giggled, clearly charmed.
“Now, let’s get you backstage and ready to shine,” Mrs. Astor said, guiding her away.
They waved to me as they moved into the crowd, Mrs. Astor leading Scarlette toward the stage with ease. I watched them go, my heart swelling with pride at how quickly Scarlette seemed to warm up.
I made my way to the back of the auditorium, where Luna had saved us seats. The lights dimmed, signaling the start of the program.
“Tonight, we’ll be going in grade order, starting with our youngest performers.
” The woman’s cheerful voice cut through the hum of the crowd.
“First up, we have our wonderful preschoolers and kindergartners. The preschoolers will be on the left side of the stage”—she gestured with a flourish—“and our kindergartners will be on the right. They’ve been working so hard, and I know you’re all going to love what they’ve prepared. ”
And then, like a shot in the quiet auditorium:
“Scarlette!”
Luna’s voice boomed so loudly and enthusiastically that even the preschoolers froze mid-step, their tiny heads turning toward the sound. The audience collectively swiveled to look at us.
I whipped around to face Luna, my face burning with embarrassment. “Are you serious right now?” I hissed, elbowing her in the ribs.
“What?” she said, completely unfazed. “She looks adorable!”
“She can hear you, Luna. Everyone can hear you,” I snapped, my voice barely above a whisper as I sank as low as I could in my seat.
I tried to look anywhere, but at the stage or the sea of judgmental stares. Instead, I stared hard at my hands, pretending I wasn’t associated with the human megaphone sitting next to me.
“Relax.” Luna leaned back with a grin. “I’m sure the kids needed a confidence boost.”