The Luna Choosing Game

With a statement like there, I had no polite way of backing out. Not that I would. These kids needed me,

and Elva was already having fun with them, playing on the slides.

Nicholas and I would just have to put aside our differences long enough to help the kids. After that, we

could go back to not getting along as usual.

After confirming I would be staying, the caretaker offered to lead me and Mark inside.

“I’ll stay out here,” Mark said. “Keep an eye on the kids.”

I was grateful. If he watched Elva, I knew I wouldn’t have to worry.

Inside, I joined Nicholas in the kitchen. He was washing dishes, preparing for the day’s main event:

lunch. And what an extravagant lunch it would be, if the piles of containers were any indication.

“Did you bring all this from the palace?” I peeked under the aluminum foil on one of the containers. Inside was at least ten servings of garlic potatoes.

“One of the cooks is particularly fond of me,” Nicholas said. “She makes special servings when I ask.”

like you. There’s a ton of

I make sure she’s well compensated for

money? No wonder she liked

washing a plate then set it aside on a wet stack.

and began to dry.

was… domestic. Him washing and then passing the dishes to me to dry. It reminded me

had we shared moments just like

wasn’t all

out the kids at the orphanage like this all the

there, it was the least I could do to pay some of it forward and help the less

always accompanied me. Often times, he went even when

never stopped,” he said.

with her sickness, we couldn’t always go like

and I help out at

Nicholas grunted in acknowledgement.

reminisce, but

I had some of our best conversations like this,” I

caught it? I’ll never forget. I felt like a superhero with

going to surprise me. You

it.”

remember

a dish to glance at me.