by Lara Norman
“Stay with me.” She yawned.
“No place I’d rather be than right by your side.”
Chapter 24
They slept for the rest of the evening and through the night. He woke before she did, then just watched her sleep. She looked peaceful; the dark circles under her eyes from the previous day were gone. He kissed her jaw and waited to see if she would stir.
“Luna, it’s morning.”
Her eyes popped open. “I forgot where we were for a second.”
“My parents’ house.”
“Right.” She closed her eyes again and snuggled against him. “I want to stay right here with you.”
“We could do that. For a little while,” he amended.
“But we should speak to your parents.”
“If you truly want to begin our life together, I think we need to, yeah.”
Luna sighed. “There’s nothing I want more than to begin my life with you on the right foot, and nothing I want less than to face your disapproving mother.”
“I’ll be right there with you.” He skimmed a hand over her hip. “Then we can either stay here or go home.”
“I vote for going home to our place.”
“I like that idea.” Davis kissed her cheek.
“Okay, let’s get up and get dressed. The sooner we do it, the sooner it’ll be over.”
Davis sat up. “Look, I know she was awful to you, but I believe all she wants is to see me happy. She went about it wrong, but she’ll understand that before we leave, I promise.”
“I hope you’re right.” Luna got out of bed and went into the bathroom.
Davis stayed where he was for a minute, contemplating what his mother had done. She had to realize she was in the wrong. She wasn’t entirely unreasonable, just territorial. Luna had proven herself over the years, and surely his mother knew that.
Luna emerged from the bathroom and headed to her suitcase in the corner of the room. Davis traded with her so they could both get ready for the day.
When they were dressed, he took her down the back staircase, knowing his mother and father rarely used them. His mother planned their meals in her study with Evelyn, and his father just didn’t bother with any of it.
They found Evelyn alone in the kitchen. “Nice to see you two up and about.”
“Good morning, Evelyn.” Davis kissed her cheek and led Luna to the table to sit down.
“I’ve got coffee and tea, scrambled eggs and bacon.”
“Coffee sounds great, thank you,” Luna said.
“And I know what Davis wants, so I’ll get that for you two.”
“Does all of this ever feel surreal, or are you just used to it?”
Davis studied Luna’s face before he answered. “Evelyn has been with my family since I was tiny. Tabitha was hired when I was about ten. I didn’t grow up in this particular house, so it’s a little different.”
“So the answer is that you’re comfortable like this.”
“I only have Sorensen at home. I’ve grown accustomed to making my own food or eating out. I don’t have a housekeeper, but I do have a maid service once every other week. Any of this a deal breaker?”
Luna accepted the cup of coffee Evelyn handed her with quiet gratitude. “Nothing is a deal breaker, Davis. Just wondering what I need to expect.”
Davis leaned back when Evelyn brought plates of fluffy eggs and crisp bacon. “If you want them all gone, I’ll do it. You know I would do any damn thing you asked of me. Sorensen would easily fit in here.”
“I don’t want you to fire anybody, but I don’t want you hiring more help, either.”
He saluted her with his mug. “It’s a deal.”
They ate in silence after that, both of them thinking of the conversation yet to come. Evelyn moved about them without speaking, just making preparations for lunch.
Finally, Davis drained his coffee. “Ready?”
Luna set down the fork she’d be twirling. “Thank you for breakfast, Evelyn.”
“My pleasure, dear.”
Luna stood, accepting the hand Davis held out and following him down the hall. She took several deep breaths, but her stomach was twisted into knots. They walked down a long hall with blank walls before turning down a different hall with pictures lined up like soldiers at intervals. One more turn and they entered the two-story foyer Luna had seen when she arrived. There was one more hall with family portraits; she recognized Davis as a child in several of them.
He stopped eventually. Luna peered over his shoulder to see what she thought was called a parlor. Mr. Healy sat by the window using a laptop, and Mrs. Healy was speaking to Tabitha at the other end of the long room.
“Mom, Dad.”
They looked up at his voice. Sophia spoke quietly to Tabitha in dismissal before turning expectantly to Davis and Luna in the doorway.
“Luna came to visit.”
Luna thought that statement was probably unnecessary, seeing as how she was right there, but it was also an ice breaker.
“Luna,” Ian said, standing and crossing the room to them. His eyes were warm as they gazed past Davis. “It’s so nice of you to come.”
Luna stepped around Davis and accepted the brief hug from Ian. “Thank you.”
Sophia crossed the room as well, but Davis would have described her expression as guarded. “Welcome, Luna.”
Unlike her husband, she didn’t move in for a hug. “Hello, Mrs. Healy.”
“I’m sure it’s fine with them if you call them by their first names,” Davis said. “After all, we’re going to be family soon.”
Luna smiled weakly.
“Of course, Davis. That’s what I was going to say.” Sophia sat down on the loveseat next to Ian. The only other seating in that cluster was two separate armchairs.
Davis solved the seating dilemma by pulling Luna on his lap in one of the overstuffed chairs. “Mother. Have you had the chance to look at rings?”
Luna shot him a frown.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you about the Healy tradition. The eldest child is entitled to the family wedding rings. Mom has to give hers up to you, but she gets to purchase something brand new.” He looked at Ian. “I suppose that means I get yours, Dad.”
Ian grinned. “You’ll have to have it resized; your hands are bigger than mine.”
Luna relaxed at Ian’s obvious lightheartedness. “That’s an interesting tradition.”
“It dates back five generations, so the rings aren’t fancy,” Sophia said.
“Good,” Luna shot back. “I don’t want anything fancy.”
“We were just discussing staff and how Luna doesn’t want any,” Davis interjected. “But we did agree to keep on Sorensen. You have to admit he’s a big help,” he said to Luna.
She tried not to squirm as he stroked a hand up and down her side. She knew he was making a point to his mother. “Yes, he’s a big help.”
“What are your plans for the rest of the time school is out, Luna?” Ian asked.
“Oh, to pack up my apartment. Davis and I thought we’d attempt subleasing it since that’s acceptable in my rental agreement.”
“And how do you like teaching?”
Luna felt Davis growing tense underneath her. As much as she preferred the small talk, she knew he needed to clear the air with his mother. “It’s very fulfilling. Um, Davis and I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Oh?” Ian leaned forward, all ears. Sophia studied her manicure.
“Yes,” Davis said. “It’s about what you said to Luna four years ago, Mom.”
Oh, so we’re jumping right into the frying pan, Luna thought.
Ian’s eyebrows disappeared into his hairline as he focused on his wife. “What did you do?”
Sophia uncrossed her legs and recrossed them, shifting in her seat. She didn’t respond.
“She waited until I went to the bathroom and you were getting a drink to decide my future for me.”
Her head snapped up. “That’s not wh
at I did.”
“Isn’t it?” Davis fired back.
Luna swallowed the lump in her throat and gripped her hands tightly together. “In my opinion, four years of me avoiding every advance Davis made because of your interference would equal deciding his future.”
“I didn’t ask your opinion, did I?”
“Sophia!”
She sank into the cushions behind her at Ian’s tone.
“Why in God’s name would you speak to Luna in that manner?”
“I only want what’s best for him!” Sophia shouted at Ian.
Luna mumbled, “What a coincidence.”
“Mom, you can’t decide for me. If Luna had been after fame and fortune, that would have been my mistake to make. Your actions caused the exact opposite of what you intended. I would have been happy with her for the past four years instead of trying to convince her to go out with me at every turn.” He leaned around Luna to narrow his gaze on his mother. “I’ve been miserable, Mom.”
Sophia sighed. “I am sorry for that.”
“But not for what you said to her?” Ian asked. “Then and a few minutes ago?”
Sophia threw her hands up. “Okay, yes. I shouldn’t have opened my mouth, but she’s a stranger! How was I supposed to know she wasn’t looking for a handout?”
“She isn’t a stranger, she’s my fiancée. Don’t ever speak to her that way again, or you’ll be the one that’s cut off. I love Luna, and you must respect her.”
Sophia narrowed her eyes. “You’ve never spoken to me that way before her.”
“Wrong. I’ve always spoken up for myself when necessary. You can’t blame my ire on Luna.” His arm tightened around Luna’s waist. “If you want to be in my life, you have to accept the fact that Luna is moving in with me, that I’m planning on proposing to her, and that we will be married soon. If you want to attend said wedding and meet future grandbabies, then figure your shit out.” Davis nudged Luna until they both rose. “We’re leaving within the hour. Make your decision.”
Luna shook like a leaf all the way up the massive front staircase and to the third floor. She feared Sophia would choose stubborn pride over her son, but at least Ian liked her. Davis wouldn’t be cut off, but he might have to cut his mother out of his life. Luna didn’t like that idea.
As soon as Davis closed his bedroom door behind them, Luna spoke up. “I don’t want you to pick me over her.”
“That’s my decision to make, Luna.”
She dropped her head. “You’re right, but I don’t like it.”
He tipped her head up with a finger under her chin. “I love you with everything I am. I would give up all I have to be with you if it came to that, including my snobbish mother.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
He kissed her. “I do hope that, but I’ve also accepted that it might.”
Luna threw her arms around him. “I love you.”
“Damn right you do. No more hiding or keeping quiet for my benefit.”
She shook her head and buried her face in his neck.
They heard a knock at the door. Davis pulled away from Luna and gave her a look before opening the door.
“Mom.”
“Davis.” She looked into Luna’s eyes. “Please forgive me. I’ve always worried that one day he’d fall for the wrong kind of woman, someone that would pretend to be who he wanted in order to have access to his money. I . . . should have trusted him to know his own heart.”
“I accept your apology.”
Sophia nodded at Luna and waited for Davis to speak.
“That’s all I want, Mom. Thank you.”
Davis hugged his mother and kissed her cheek. She framed his face in her hands for a moment and then went back down the hall.
“I suppose that was hard for her,” Luna said.
“No doubt Dad laid into her when we left the room.”
Luna chuckled. “He’s on your side now.”
“We discussed my job when I arrived, and he’s going to make a stop at the Maryland offices after the holidays.”
“That’s great, baby.”
Davis went back to her and hugged her again. “I want to go home and make love to you on our bed.”
She grinned and kissed his nose. “I’m in.”
Epilogue
She beamed as she walked down the aisle in her lacy white gown. He waited impatiently at the other end, eyes locked on her approach. It had taken longer than they’d anticipated, but they were finally getting married. It was everything they wanted and more; their friends and family were there, and the setting was simply beautiful. The cake topped out at five layers with a tiny bride and groom adorning the top.
When the words were said and the rings exchanged, they joined the wedding party for pictures. Everyone laughed and hugged, kisses were freely exchanged, and not one of them had any negative thoughts. They’d all managed to put aside their grudges ages ago, though it hadn’t been without effort. Three of them were teachers, but they all came from completely different walks of life. It had taken work to come to understand each other and what motivated them.
Hudson wanted autonomy from his family name and to work in a profession that brought him fulfillment. Reagan wanted to become a special education teacher, but also to be able to make choices some thought she wasn’t old enough to make. Grant wanted someone to understand what drove him as a person, which was pride in his family and hard work. Alex wanted someone to be wild and carefree with, but who also loved her despite her crazy tendencies. Davis wanted to be seen for something other than his family’s wealth and to work hard to prove he wasn’t a spoiled rich kid. Luna wanted to make a difference in the lives of the children she taught and to be found worthy for who she was.
They’d found these things and more in their partners and their friendships. They’d created a family, a life together, and bonds to last a lifetime.
“You’re getting so close,” the bride said as she rubbed her friend’s belly.
“Four more weeks. You’re lucky I found a dress that fit me.”
“And that she didn’t have the baby in the middle of the ceremony,” Davis added.
The women laughed. “It’ll be you soon enough,” Reagan said.
Luna groaned. “Not yet. Everyone keeps asking when we’re going to have kids.”
Davis slung his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “It’s obligatory. When are you going to get married morphs into when are you going to have kids.”
“And then they ask when you’re going to have more kids,” Grant said with a wink at Alex.
“That’s pretty much the gist of it,” Alex agreed. Grant rubbed her belly and she grinned when the baby kicked his hand. “He loves you already.”
“Of course he does,” Reagan said. “He’s going to make the best dad, Alex, you wait and see.”
“We’re going to get started on that soon, right?” Hudson asked Reagan.
“As soon as I get out of this fancy white dress,” she joked.
Grant let out a groan. “No sex talk in front of me, jeez.”
Hudson chuckled. “Oops.”
They smiled for the camera and eventually joined the other guests at the reception. Reagan had removed her veil and she and Hudson sat at the head table with their best friends.
Davis stood and tapped his spoon against his glass. When everyone else quieted down, he spoke. “I first met Reagan five years ago at a soccer field. I knew immediately that she was someone I wanted as my friend. She has a sharp wit, tenacity to go for what she wants, and a heart that’s larger than life. I admit it took me longer to accept her choice in mate, but I couldn’t ever deny how he felt about her. Hudson wears his heart on his sleeve, much to his chagrin, and he’s only had eyes for Reagan since they met. I know without a doubt that they will go the distance.”
He raised his glass and took a sip of champagne; everyone else followed suit.
“Thank you,” Hudson said as Davis sat back down.
“No problem.”
Luna kissed Davis on the cheek. “That was sweet.”
“I only speak the truth.”
“That’s what makes it sweet.”
Davis shrugged. “He gave a nice toast at our wedding, and I wanted to do the same.”
