by Deanna Chase
A sob got caught in his throat as he tried to suck in a breath.
That was it. That was the moment Luna lost her heart to the kid. She slid off the stool and rounded the counter, her arms stretched out wide.
Levi turned into her, burying his head in her shoulder, and she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight.
“We’ll find a way through this. Whatever it takes, I’m here for it. Understand?”
He nodded, his tears soaking into her T-shirt.
They stood together in the kitchen, Luna whispering soothing words to him while she just held on, almost as if she was physically trying to hold him together.
Footsteps sounded behind her, and she wasn’t at all surprised when Chad wrapped his arms around both of them and said, “Count me in. Whatever we need to do, I’m game.”
Levi let out a choked chuckle. “You two are crazy.”
Chad let go as Luna pulled back and released Levi so that she could look him in the eye. “You know, you’re probably right. But it’s a good crazy. I’m just crazy enough to move to a small town where I don’t know anyone and build a life for myself. One that now includes a teenager.”
“And a piano teacher,” Chad added with a grin.
She glanced at him, one eyebrow raised in question.
“What? You didn’t think you were getting rid of me now that I’ve found you again, did you?” he asked.
“No. I just… never mind.” She shook her head slightly, wondering if she was getting in too deep with him. The thought almost made her laugh. Getting? She was already there. She always had been.
“What is it, Luna?” he asked, studying her.
“Nothing. I guess I’m just still getting used to having you back in my life.”
His grin was lopsided as he winked at her, making her flush.
Levi let out a loud sigh as he went back to dealing with the stir fry.
“What is it, Levi?” Luna asked.
His eyes were full of affection as he said, “You two are relationship goals.”
“Um, we’re just friends,” Luna insisted. Friends who’d been on the verge of making out upstairs.
“You just keep telling yourself that,” Levi said, turning to the stove and pouring olive oil into a pan.
Chad placed his hand on the small of her back and kissed her on the cheek. “Listen to the kid. I think he knows what he’s talking about.”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help grinning up at him.
They stared at each other for a long moment. Finally, Chad stepped back and pulled a phone out of his pocket. He turned to Levi. “Hey, do you still have Candy’s number?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Hand it over,” Chad said, punching a number into the phone to unlock it.
Levi glanced over his shoulder at Chad. “Why?”
Chad held his hand out. “Because, I need to text her something.”
Reluctantly, Levi handed him the number. “You’re not going to embarrass me or anything, are you?”
Chad laughed. “Of course not.”
“Why is that not reassuring?” Levi muttered.
Luna chuckled as she looked over Chad’s shoulder. The text read:
Hey Candy, got a new phone today. Here’s the number. Text me about Friday. Levi.
He hit send and then held the phone out to Levi. “Here. I picked this up for you today.”
Levi looked back at him again and froze, his eyes locked on the iPhone.
Chad moved forward still holding out the phone. “Please don’t fight me on this. You need a phone. We need a way to get in touch with you, and I’ve already activated it on my contract. There’s no turning it off now, and I can’t use two phones, so you might as well.”
A lump formed in Luna’s throat. Was this really happening? Had Chad really taken it upon himself to get Levi a phone? Of course he had. She didn’t really know why she was so surprised. He’d always been generous. “Take it, Levi. It’s all right, I promise.”
Levi’s breath caught as he tentatively reached a hand out, gingerly taking the phone from Chad. “I still don’t understand why you’re being so kind to me.”
“You’ll get it one day,” Chad said. “When you’re older and you realize you’re in a position where you can help someone, I’m certain you will. Your reasons won’t be exactly the same as mine, but they’ll be close enough.”
Levi studied the phone with wide-eyed wonder. “Thanks, man.”
Chad clapped him on the back. “You’re welcome. The plan is unlimited, so don’t worry about data usage. Sound good?”
“Sounds fantastic.” Levi abandoned his dinner and threw his arms around Chad, hugging him tightly. “Thank you.” He laughed again. “I’ll be working for you for five years just to pay you back. Maybe by then I’ll have some pocket change.”
“You’re not paying me for the phone, kid. I did that for me and Luna, so we won’t worry about not being able to get in touch with you. But lucky you, you now have access to all the things teenagers do that happens to be online. Just don’t be running up game charges or anything. Any extras that show up in the bill are definitely yours.”
“Got it,” Levi said and shoved the phone into his pocket. “Don’t worry. I’m not a gamer.”
Chad just nodded and then wandered over to the couch while Luna tilted her head and eyed Levi. “You have plans on Friday? Did I hear that right?”
“Sure. The Chadster over there is taking you out, so I made a new friend. She invited me out Friday, and I’m going to go and see who else I can meet in this town.”
“Good plan. You sound like a kid who is eager to get his life rolling again,” Luna said.
“I guess I am.”
“Does that mean you’re okay if I meet with the lawyer?” she asked.
He hesitated, his face pinched. Then he closed his eyes and nodded. “Just… can you tell me everything she says?”
“Of course. In fact, why don’t you come with me? I’ll make an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. Sound okay?”
“Yeah. Okay.” He blinked his glassy eyes and turned back to finish the stir fry.
Chapter Eighteen
Lorna White sat at her desk, her straight, long gray hair framing her angular face. Blue eyes peered at Luna as the attorney pressed her fingertips together in thought.
Luna glanced over at Levi. The kid was hunched down in his armchair, worrying the hem of the Nirvana T-shirt he was wearing. She wanted to reach over and squeeze his hand but knew the gesture would be unwelcome right at that moment. Levi had been curling in on himself ever since they’d walked into the woman’s office.
“Levi,” the attorney said. “Do you know of any formal custody agreements between your father and your uncle? Any paperwork that might be on record with the state?”
“No. My father kicked me out and I ended up on my uncle’s doorstep two days later. I’m not sure my dad even knows I was there.”
“So no email communication or texts of any kind?” she pressed.
Levi shrugged. “It’s possible I guess, but they aren’t close. I doubt it.”
“Okay.” She leaned forward and met Luna’s gaze. “Instead of getting Child Protective Services involved—”
Levi winced.
Lorna gave him a sympathetic grimace. “Sorry. I know it sounds awful, and I want to avoid that if at all possible. Understand?”
Levi gave her a nod but sank even deeper into the chair. Luna thought that if he went even another inch, he might just slide right off the thing.
“As I was saying,” Lorna said to Luna, “the best course of action is to get Levi’s father to sign a document giving you physical custody. No courts, no CPS, no red tape.” She turned her attention to Levi. “Do you think he’d be willing to do something like that?”
“As long as it doesn’t cost him any money,” Levi blurted.
It was Luna’s turn to wince. The fact that Levi’s father cared so little for his own son wasn’t a surpr
ise, but that didn’t make it hurt Levi any less. And even though he was speaking matter-of-factly, Luna knew there was no way he wasn’t affected. She sucked in a deep breath and said, “It won’t.”
The attorney nodded. They’d already discussed that Luna wasn’t interested in asking for money from the man, and any fees that were incurred during the process, she’d pay.
“Then I’m sure he won’t care.” Levi turned his head, avoiding everyone’s gaze.
“And your mother? Where is she?” Lorna asked.
“She died when I was really little,” Levi muttered. “Overdose.”
Luna wanted to cry for him but forced herself to stay calm. She knew from experience that pity usually made everything worse.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Lorna said. “Okay, one last question for you, Levi.”
The teenager looked up at her, his mouth stretched into a thin line.
“Do you want to stay with Luna? Do you want me to pursue this avenue?”
He let out a humorless laugh as he glanced at Luna. “Do you really expect me to say no with her sitting right here?”
Luna held Levi’s gaze, searching for his truth. There was a mixture of emotion in his eyes: sadness, wariness, frustration, dejection, and maybe even a little bit of hope.
“You can be honest with me, Levi,” Luna said. “I hope you know that. I only want what’s best for you at this point. If staying with me isn’t the right fit, I’ll help you figure out where you should be.” Though, honestly, she’d already fallen for the kid. If he bailed out, she’d be heartbroken. Still, she’d do what was needed to make sure he was safe.
The tears were back in Levi’s eyes as he tore his gaze away from Luna. He focused on Lorna and said, “I want to stay with Luna.”
Relief rushed through Luna, and she let out the breath she’d been holding.
“Good. I think that’s an excellent decision,” the attorney said. She beamed at Levi as she passed him some forms. “If you fill this out, we can get in touch with your father and get the paperwork moving.”
“It can’t be that easy,” Levi said as they left the attorney’s office and stepped out onto the cobbled sidewalk.
“He still has to sign the paperwork,” Luna said, not wanting him to think this was just a formality. It could be, though, if his father really didn’t care one way or another. But if he was feeling vindictive or uncharitable for any reason, he could just as easily tell Lorna White to shove the paperwork into the nearest orifice.
“He will. As long as my stepmonster doesn’t want me there, he’ll do the easiest thing he can to get rid of me. I think this will work.”
“Come here.” She draped an arm around his shoulders. “You understand that I want you here with me, right?” Luna stopped suddenly and turned him so that he was forced to look her in the eye. “That you are in no way disposable?”
Tears welled in his eyes and rolled silently down his cheeks as he shook his head, pain etching his face.
“Levi,” she whispered and pulled him into a hug, and again she said, “You are not disposable.”
He let out a sob and clung to her.
“Some people in this world don’t know how to love. I’m not one of them,” she added, vowing to never let this kid down. They stood on the street for a few more beats until Levi pulled away and wiped at his eyes. Luna squeezed his arm. “Come on. Chad is waiting for you at the pub.”
“What about you?” he asked, his voice still nasally from his tears.
“I… well, I kind of have my own parent crisis to deal with.” She let out a nervous chuckle. “It appears my birth mom wants to speak to me. I agreed to meet her in Eureka this evening.”
Levi squinted at her. Then he shook his head. “You shouldn’t go alone.”
“Why?” she asked as she stepped up to her car and pulled the door open.
He frowned, his eyebrows pinching together in a troubled expression. “I’m picking up on something… it feels tumultuous. Chaotic even.”
She just shrugged. “I imagine everyone feels like that the first time they meet their birth mother.”
“That’s not—”
“Come on. Get in. You can continue to tell me how awful it’s going to be while I drive you to the pub.”
He rolled his eyes but climbed into the car.
Luna jammed the key into the ignition and cranked. Nothing happened. She tried again. Nothing at all. “Oh, come on. Not now.”
“Seems like a battery problem,” Levi said, already getting out of the car. He rounded the front of the vehicle and indicated that Luna should pop the hood. She did as he asked, even though she had no earthly idea if he had a clue what he was doing.
She sent Chad a text to let him know what was going on and then climbed out of the car to join Levi.
“Battery?” she asked.
“Maybe. Could be your alternator, too. We need to try to jump it.” Levi walked away from the car and spoke to an older couple who’d just pulled into the space beside them.
It didn’t take long for the gray-haired gentleman to produce some jumper cables. They got everything set up fairly quickly and then sent Luna back to the driver’s seat. When she turned the engine over, there wasn’t even a clicking noise. She let out a frustrated groan.
“Sorry that didn’t work. Looks like you’ll need to take it to the shop.” The man put the cables away, and Luna shook his hand, thanking him.
“Hey,” Chad said from somewhere behind her.
She swung around, looking for his handsome face, and found him walking swiftly toward her. “No luck?”
She shook her head. “Jumping didn’t help. Not sure what the problem is.”
Chad pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed. “I’ll get a tow truck to take care of it, and then I’ll take you to Eureka.”
“Chad,” she said, shaking her head and reaching for the phone. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll just reschedule or something.”
He stepped back as he talked to the tow truck company. When he disconnected, he said, “They’re on their way. It’s no big deal to run you out to Eureka. Levi and I can get dinner and then drive you back.”
“I already told her she shouldn’t go alone anyway,” Levi said, stepping up beside Chad.
For the love of… jeez. Now they were just ganging up on her. Luna opened her mouth to protest, but Chad spoke first.
“Why’s that?” Chad asked Levi.
“Too much emotion. I can sense it like a premonition.” Levi stared at Luna intently, wringing his hands. “It’s charged enough that it makes me nervous.”
“That settles it.” Chad pressed his hand to the small of Luna’s back and nudged her toward his truck a few spaces down. “You don’t want to worry Levi, do you?”
Luna rolled her eyes at him but tamped down the urge to smile at them both. It just felt good to have people in her corner worrying about her. While she tended to get frustrated when other people tried to take control of her life, in this case she just felt a ball of warmth in her chest. It was nice to be cared for.
The tow truck appeared, and Chad gently took her car key from her hand and ran it over to the driver. After a brief conversation, he jogged back. “Okay. All set. The shop will give you a call in the morning with the diagnosis.”
“Okay. Thanks.” She glanced at the tow truck driver, waved her appreciation, and then turned to Chad’s truck. “Let’s go. I don’t want this to last all night. In and out. Just long enough for coffee and a piece of pie.”
“Pie?” Levi chimed in, his tone nervous.
“Oh, damn,” Luna said, pushing her thick hair out of her eyes. “We’re meeting at Pies, Pies, and More Pies, but you two can go somewhere else and come back for me if you want.”
“No,” Levi said thickly. “It’s fine.” He climbed into the back seat of the truck and closed his eyes as he rested his head against the window.
“You sure?” Chad asked from his spot in the driver’s seat. “Does your
uncle hang around there? Is there reason to believe we might run into him?”
“No. He was only there to try to force me back to work for him. He holes up in his tiny house until later at night, then he ventures out.” Levi let out a humorless laugh. “It’s like he’s a vampire or something.”
“Most drug runners are,” Luna said, her voice solemn as if she had reason to know. And she did, too. But now wasn’t the time to talk about her experience.
“If you’re worried, we can drop you at Luna’s,” Chad added. “We can bring you back some dinner or something.”
Levi shook his head, a determined expression flashing over his features. “Nope. Let’s go get some pie.”
Luna glanced back at him, admiring his spirit. He was strong. That was good. He was also a fighter, just like Luna. She had an overwhelming sense that no matter what happened next, Levi was going to make it through this for the better. The feeling settled her, and as she leaned back into the seat, a small bit of the tension she’d been carrying around since she’d received her mother’s note drained from her limbs. If Levi could find it within himself to be strong, then so could she.
As Chad pulled out onto the two-lane highway, he reached for Luna’s hand, holding it gently while he stroked her palm with his thumb. No words were necessary. He was telling her everything she needed to hear. He was there for her, and that was all that mattered.
Chapter Nineteen
Luna hesitated just before she walked through the door of the restaurant. Her heart sped up, and suddenly it was hard to breathe. Did she want to do this? Was she ready? Her fight or flight reflexes were kicking in, and everything inside of her was screaming for her to run. She knew she didn’t owe this woman anything, but she also knew that if she walked away now, she’d always wonder.
And she had questions. So many questions.
“We can walk back to the truck and just drive away if you want,” Chad whispered in her ear. His voice washed over her, calming her with his steady support. “Whatever you need.”
She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a grateful smile. “Thanks, but I think I need to see this through.”