by Deanna Chase
“I figured you would. Just wanted you to know I have your back.” He pressed his lips to her temple and gave her a soft kiss. His gentleness made her feel warm and safe even though she knew she was about to walk into something that would likely send her reeling.
“I know. Keep that offer on standby just in case I need to bail? she asked.
His blue eyes turned serious as he nodded. “You got it.”
Levi hung back, scanning the parking lot and then peering through the window to get a look at the restaurant. “She’s already in there.” He jerked his head toward a booth in the back.
Luna followed his gaze and spotted a thin woman with honey-blond hair that hung limply around her gaunt face. She had features that indicated that she’d been pretty once, but now she looked haggard, as if she’d lived a hard life.
It’s now or never, Luna told herself. She pushed the door open and strode into the restaurant.
“Good luck,” Chad said quietly as he and Levi followed her in.
“Thanks,” she said without looking back. Steeling herself, she held her head high and made her way to the table. “Gia?”
The woman’s head snapped up, and tears suddenly filled her eyes. “Hope? I mean, Luna? Is that you?”
“Yes,” she said stiffly. There was so much emotion rolling off the woman that Luna had no trouble understanding why Levi had been worried about how it would affect her.
Gia stood and slid out of the booth, holding her arms open wide. She reached for Luna and gasped out, “My baby!”
Luna quickly stepped back out of the woman’s embrace and placed her hand in front of her in the universal stop motion. “Sorry. I don’t know you.”
Gia immediately dropped her arms and took her spot in the booth again. Staring down at the plain white coffee mug, she muttered, “Sorry. This isn’t a situation one can be prepared for.”
She could say that again. Luna let out a quiet sigh and slid into the booth opposite her. The woman’s face was heavily lined with wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, making her appear older than Luna originally guessed. But she knew enough about potions to know that they’d likely aged her faster.
“I’m sure you have a lot of questions,” Gia said.
“A few,” Luna admitted. But instead of asking her mother anything, Luna just sat there looking at her. She thought she’d feel more… well, just more. Instead she just felt numb.
“Okay.” Gia’s expression was hopeful. “I’ll answer anything I can.”
“Why?” Luna blurted.
Gia’s face flushed, and she twisted her napkin nervously. “Um, why did I give you up?”
“Yeah. Why?” Anger started to curl in Luna’s belly, and she wasn’t sure exactly why. She’d long ago accepted that she’d been given up for adoption and assumed her birth mom had good reasons. And by the looks of her, Luna had been right. A potions addict had no business raising a child.
“I wasn’t in a place where I could take care of you,” she said very quietly, not looking at Luna.
“I guess that’s pretty obvious.” There was bitterness in Luna’s tone.
Gia sucked in a breath that turned into a sob.
Luna just sat there waiting as resentment settled in her bones. Listening to the woman break down about a choice she made over twenty years ago frustrated her. Luna was the one who’d been abandoned; she was the one who should be upset. Instead she just felt guilty for not feeling more.
“I need to apologize,” Gia said with a sniff. “It’s part of my program.”
“Right. You’re an addict?”
Gia nodded. “Potions. I’m an earth witch and I… well, I had a talent for them.”
“And you’re clean now?” Luna asked, studying her again. She didn’t look like she was high, and her coloring was good, but there was no denying she’d done some hard living over the years.
“I’m clean now,” she said, beaming. “The program is working.”
“That’s good,” Luna said softly. She still didn’t feel anything, and she started to question Levi’s spirit ability. He’d been insistent that the meeting would be too emotional for her, but so far, he was dead wrong.
“I’d like to… um, see you again after this. Maybe start a relationship?” Gia asked hopefully.
Luna stiffened. “I don’t know how to answer that.”
“It’s okay, baby,” Gia said, reaching out to cover Luna’s hand with her own. “We can take it slow.”
A shadow fell over the table, and Luna glanced up expecting to see a waitress had finally come to see if she wanted anything, but instead she looked up into the angry face of Faith Townsend. “Faith, what—”
“What’s going on here?” Faith spat out, her eyes glancing back and forth between Gia and Luna. “Do you two know each other?”
“Faith I—” Gia started and then just stared helplessly at Luna.
Luna cleared her throat, having no idea why Faith was so upset. But her boss obviously wasn’t pleased she was sitting with this woman. Maybe she’d had trouble with Gia in the past? Luna had no idea what the issue was, but there was no reason to lie. Luna hadn’t wanted the town to know about her past in juvy, but this? She had nothing to hide. “Faith, Gia is my biological mother, and—”
“What?” Faith cried, her expression stormy now as her gaze swiveled between them. Then her gaze landed on Luna and something like recognition lit her eyes. She ran a shaky hand through her blond hair and whispered, “Son of a witch. You even look like her a little.” She took a step back, shaking her head. “I can’t believe this.”
She turned her attention to Gia and the anger was back in full force. “You’re a real piece of work, you know that? Don’t call me again.”
Faith spun on her heel and started to stride away, her entire body shaking.
“Faith, wait!” Luna called, sliding out of the booth and running after her.
Faith stopped in her tracks, spinning around so quickly she nearly knocked Luna over. “How dare you come to my spa and lie to me. I can’t believe you. Don’t come back. You’re fired.”
“Fired? What?” Luna stared at her, stunned. “But—”
Faith turned and ran to the front door where her fiancé Hunter was waiting for her, his jaw set with tension. She grabbed his hand and the two of them disappeared outside.
Luna’s entire body started to tremble.
“Hey,” Chad said from right behind her. “Are you all right?”
She turned and glanced up into his handsome face, her mouth working to get words out, but she had no idea what to say. She didn’t even know what had just happened.
“Hey,” he said, cupping her face with his hands. “What was that with Faith?”
Luna blinked. “She just fired me.”
He jerked back, shocked. “Why?”
“I have no idea.” Luna glanced past him at Gia, who was still sitting in the booth. Her arms were resting on the table, and her head was down. The slight shake of her shoulders indicated she was crying. “Excuse me,” she said to Chad. “I’ll be right back.”
She brushed past him and slid back into the booth. Her voice was laced with ice as she said, “Start talking. How do you know Faith, and why is she so pissed off?”
Gia lifted her head. Her eyes were watery, but the tears weren’t flowing. She sniffed. And when she spoke again, her voice cracked. “Faith is your sister. My legal name is Gabrielle Townsend.”
Luna’s entire body went ice cold. “Sister?”
Gia… Gabrielle nodded.
“So that means Abby, Yvette, Noel—”
“Your sisters,” Gabrielle confirmed.
Luna let out a loud gasp. “And Lincoln? Is he my father?”
“I… um.” Gabrielle grimaced. “I don’t think so.”
“You don’t think so?” Luna yelled, her voice going high-pitched. “Does that mean you don’t actually know?”
She shook her head. “I was involved with someone before I left Lincoln. That other ma
n, he could be your father.”
“What’s his name,” Luna demanded.
She shook her head again. “I just knew him as Michael.”
Luna’s stomach turned. “Oh, gods. I’m going to be sick.” She bolted out of the booth and ran to the women’s restroom. Once she was in one of the small stalls, she stood over the toilet, her mouth watering as her stomach continued to churn. She took deep breaths, over and over again, until the nausea cleared. But that didn’t keep her head from spinning.
She had sisters, and maybe had found a father who surely hadn’t known she existed. He wouldn’t have let Gabrielle give up one of his daughters if he’d known. She was sure of it. Lincoln Townsend was all about family. Her eyes burned with the thought that she might’ve grown up as a Townsend in Keating Hollow. It was enough to gut her.
“Luna?” Chad’s voice held a note of panic. “I’m coming in.”
She wiped at her eyes and stepped out of the stall just in time to see him move through the door.
“Hey,” he said, rushing forward and wrapping his arms around her. “I was worried about you.”
She pressed her head to his shoulder and just held on.
“I’m sorry, Hope,” he said. “You don’t deserve any of this.”
It didn’t escape her notice that he’d used her given name, but even though she’d left that name behind years ago, she liked hearing it on his lips. It was the name he’d called her before, when he was the only person in her life that she trusted.
“Take me home,” she whispered. “I just want to get out of here.”
“Anything you want.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and then wrapped her hand in his as he led her back out into the restaurant.
Gabrielle jumped out of the booth as soon as they passed her. “Luna, wait.”
Luna shook her head, and with Chad’s firm hand on her back, she kept going. Levi held the front door open for her, and without even a glance backward, she escaped into the dark parking lot.
Chapter Twenty
Silence filled the truck cab all the way back to Keating Hollow. Luna had brushed off both Chad’s and Levi’s attempts to ask if she was okay, and instead of pushing it, they’d both let her be.
Chad could only imagine what was going through her head. She had sisters. And maybe a father. And a life that had been stolen from her when her mother had given her up for adoption. It must’ve been a brutal blow. But what had made it worse was the altercation between her and Faith, Luna’s boss and friend. Chad just hoped that after the shock wore off, the two could talk and repair the damage their mother had wrought.
“Do you want me to stop and get you something to eat?” Chad asked as they turned onto Main Street in Keating Hollow.
She shook her head.
“There’s food in the fridge. I can make her something,” Levi said from the back seat. His voice was low and full of concern.
“I’m not hungry,” Luna said and pressed her head against the window.
Levi didn’t respond. Chad watched him in the rearview mirror as he slumped lower in his seat, his eyes cast downward.
Chad clutched the wheel tighter and turned right, then left, and finally pulled into Luna’s driveway.
She was out of the truck and running to the door of the cottage before he could even get the vehicle in park. Chad watched her as she stumbled inside and disappeared into the darkness of the house.
“She’s vomiting,” Levi said with a slight shudder.
“Nerves?” Chad asked.
“Yeah.” Levi undid his seatbelt and climbed out of the truck.
Chad met him near the walkway, and the pair followed Luna into the house. Levi went straight to the kitchen while Chad went upstairs to Luna’s bedroom. The light was on, but the bathroom door was closed, and the water was running. After a moment, he decided she was in the shower and left to go find Levi again.
The teenager was in the kitchen heating tomato soup and working on a grilled cheese. “I know she said she isn’t hungry, but she should try to eat something.”
Chad grinned at him. “Good call.”
He shrugged. “My mom used to always make grilled cheese and tomato soup any time I was sick or upset. Even if I didn’t eat it, the fact that she went through the trouble always made me feel a little better.”
Chad clasped his hand over the teenager’s shoulder. “It’s good to be taken care of every now and then.”
Levi gave him a nod and went back to monitoring the grilled cheese.
The pinched expression on Levi’s face made Chad wonder when Levi had last been cared for. Certainly, the night he and Luna had picked him up and taken him to the healer, but before that? He feared it was far, far too long.
“Here you go. Take this up to her.” Levi handed him a plate with a cup of the soup and the grilled cheese already cut in half.
“You do it,” Chad urged. “I’ll be up in a minute.”
Levi chewed on his bottom lip. “You’re sure? I have no idea what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Your presence will be enough.” Chad opened the cabinets and started rummaging around.
“What are you looking for?” Levi asked as he moved toward the stairs.
He reached up and grabbed a container of cocoa. “Just taking stock of the options.”
“Dessert?” Levi asked, clearly reading Chad’s mind.
Chad chuckled. “Chocolate is always a good idea.”
“No argument here. I’ll be right down to help you.” Levi disappeared up the stairs while Chad gathered a bunch more ingredients, and after texting Barb for her recipe, he got to work on a batch of double chocolate cupcakes.
“Luna?” Chad called from the hallway just outside her bedroom. The door was cracked open, and a sliver of light spilled out onto the hardwood floor.
“Yeah,” she said softly.
He pushed the door open and found her sitting up in her bed. Her hair was up in a messy bun on top of her head, and she was wearing a faded T-shirt and soft pajama pants. A pair of glasses rested on her nose as she stared down at a tablet. “Levi and I made cupcakes.”
Her lips twitched into a tiny smile. “That was sweet of you.”
He glanced over at the plate Levi had brought up for her over an hour ago. There were a few bites taken from the grilled cheese, but the soup was gone. Good. She’d managed to eat something at least.
“Here.” He handed her one of the cupcakes and put the second one on her nightstand next to the plate.
Footsteps sounded behind him, indicating that Levi had followed him upstairs.
The teenager swept into the room. “I’m just grabbing your dinner dishes,” he said. “Was it okay?”
Luna nodded at him. “Thank you. It was just what I needed.”
Levi frowned and ran a hand over his brow. “You’re still really upset.”
Chad peered at her. She seemed a lot better than she had an hour earlier. What was Levi seeing that he wasn’t?
“I’m just…” She waved a hand. “It’s a lot to process.”
Levi sat down on the edge of the bed. “I wish I could do something to fix it. My magic means I sense it all, but I can’t change anything. It’s frustrating! What’s the point of being magical if I can’t help anyone?”
Luna’s eyes lit with interest as she studied him. “Did you know I work for a healer a couple of days a week?”
“I remember you saying something about that,” he said.
Luna removed her glasses and tilted her head. “Why don’t you come with me next time and meet Healer Snow? She might have some suggestions.”
“Sure. I guess.” But his frown only deepened as he watched her. “That doesn’t help you now though.”
Luna’s mask suddenly fell, and her seemingly normal expression vanished. Her eyes were wary and her skin pale as she sucked in a deep, shaky breath. “I think I just need to get some sleep. Let my subconscious work through everything.” She placed the uneaten cupcak
e on her nightstand and leaned against the headboard with her eyes closed. “I’m sure tomorrow will be better.”
“Right,” Levi said, grabbing the dinner plate and rising from the bed. As he passed Chad, he pressed his free hand to his chest and whispered, “Don’t leave her alone. It feels to me like her heart is breaking in two.”
“I won’t,” Chad said automatically, pain striking his own heart.
Once Levi disappeared, Chad took his place beside her on the bed. He picked up her hand and cradled it in both of his. “I’m not going to ask how you’re doing. I can see for myself.”
She let out a humorless laugh. “It’s that obvious?”
He lifted her palm and kissed it. “Anyone would be shaken up. Are you worried about your job at the spa?”
Luna nodded. “I know we need to talk, but the uncertainty… it’s what’s giving me a stomach ache. If I don’t have a steady, full-time income, I can’t stay here. Levi and I… we’ll have to find something cheaper until I can get a new job.”
“Well, you’ve already got one client.” He squeezed her hand. “You can put me on the books for three days a week. Whatever it is you’re doing to my hand, it’s the best it’s felt since the accident.”
“Really?” She closed her fingers around his damaged hand. It still radiated trauma, but it did feel a little better than it had when she’d first massaged him.
“Really.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you.”
She started to run her fingers over his, letting her magic slip over his skin. A slight shudder ran through him with her touch, the kind that warmed him from the inside out, more from the connection they’d formed than anything that was inherently sexual. He just felt closer to her when she was caring for him. And right then, he wanted to be the one who cared for her, wanted to show her he could shoulder her burdens with her.
Chad gently pulled his hand from hers, whispering, “That feels wonderful, but let me take care of you now.”
“I don’t—”
“Shh.” He pressed one finger to her lips and tucked a fallen lock of hair behind one ear. “You’re exhausted. Let me help you relax so you can get some sleep.”