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.”

you. There’s a ton of

to a good cause. Plus, I make sure she’s well compensated for

money? No wonder

washing a plate then set it aside on a wet stack. Grabbing a towel,

and began to dry.

and then passing the dishes to me to dry.

many times had we shared moments just

wasn’t all that

to help out the kids

had felt that with all my good fortune from being there, it was the least I could do to pay some of it forward and help the

me. Often times,

never stopped,” he said.

could say the same, but after Elva, with

and I help out at

Nicholas grunted in acknowledgement.

didn’t want to reminisce, but it

I had some of our best conversations like this,” I said. “Do you remember that time

that dish and I caught it? I’ll never forget. I

were going

it.”

was?” I didn’t remember that.

glance at me. His face was entirely passive, but his