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.”

really like you. There’s a ton

Plus, I make sure she’s well compensated for

wonder

then set it aside on a wet stack. Grabbing a towel, I went to his

and began to dry.

and then passing the dishes to me to dry.

had we shared

location wasn’t all that

used to help out the kids at the

there, it was the least I could do to pay

accompanied me. Often times,

never stopped,” he said.

the same, but after Elva, with her sickness, we couldn’t always go like

Elva and I help out at an orphanage

Nicholas grunted in acknowledgement.

to reminisce,

some of our best conversations like this,” I said. “Do you

dish and I caught it? I’ll never forget. I felt like

and you knew you were going

it.”

I didn’t remember

to glance at me. His face was entirely