One Tiny Lie – Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,34

though the comment wasn’t necessarily meant for her, it stung. And, it threw her for a loop. Totally not what she was expecting.

He rushed on. “I don’t mean to throw a monkey wrench into the evening.” He hesitated. “I just want to make sure we’re on the same page. I’m in this for the long haul.”

Tears misted her eyes. “So, am I.” She felt his vulnerability. It was both surprising and endearing. They shared a smile.

“Are we really doing this?” he asked, hope shining in his eyes.

“Hudson Davenport, regardless of what happened before, I promise you that so long as you want me, I will never leave your side.”

A joyous expression overtook his features. “I will always want you.”

“That’s so beautiful,” Rosalyn sniffed.

Luna and Hudson both turned, surprised to see her standing off to the side.

“I didn’t realize we had an audience,” Luna said, giving Rosalyn a sharp look.

“Lo siento,” Rosalyn said with a sheepish shrug. She held up a finger. “I’ll go and get dinner.” With that, she hurried away, wiping at her eyes.

“Rosalyn’s great,” Hudson said with a grin.

“Yes, she is. A jewel.”

“How’s her granddaughter doing?”

Luna stiffened. Rosalyn had never mentioned anything about her granddaughter. “I think things are going okay,” she answered evasively. She was itching to know more, but she didn’t dare let on that she didn’t know what he was talking about. Her mind worked to come up with a neutral question that would hopefully give her some answers. “What did Rosalyn tell you about her?” she asked carefully.

“She hasn’t ever said anything to me directly, but I heard my dad talking to your dad. Her granddaughter, Isabela, has been running around with a rough crowd.” He lowered his voice. “Evidently, she’s been dating a guy with a record.” He shook his head, his expression sympathetic. “I’m sure it’s hard for Isabela, considering how her mom left when she was a baby. Poor Rosalyn has tried to raise her the best she could, but there’s only so much a grandmother can do … on her own.”

A pang of compassion went through Luna. She had no idea about any of this. Rosalyn had never spoken a word about her personal life. Luna realized that she’d been so consumed with her own problems that she hadn’t taken the time to look outside herself enough to ask probing questions. Rosalyn would be surprised to learn that Luna could relate to Isabela on many levels. Her mother never meant to be neglectful, but her broken heart had left her so devastated that she’d shut herself off from Luna. Then, when she passed away, Luna felt completely alone. If it had not been for Grandma Peach, she didn’t know what she would’ve done.

“Are you okay?”

She jerked, offering an automatic smile. “I’m fine. Why?”

“You had a strange look on your face.”

She sighed. “I was just thinking about Rosalyn and Isabela, wondering if there was anything we could do to help.”

“It would be nice to be able to do something.”

“Dinner is served,” Rosalyn said grandly as she stepped up to the table. She placed the plates of steaming hot food in front of them. “Dig in,” she said encouragingly as she left to give them privacy.

Luna inhaled appreciatively, the tangy scent of the marinara sauce tingling her nose. She was about to take her first bite when she saw the look on Hudson’s face.

“You made parmesan chicken.”

“Yes,” she answered warily, “your favorite, right?” Wings of panic fluttered in her stomach. Why did he look so disappointed?

There was a tinge of hurt in his eyes. “You don’t remember?”

“What?”

“I used to love parmesan chicken, but then I got food poisoning from it. Remember? I had to go to the emergency room. I thought I was going to barf up a lung,” he said with a dark chuckle.

Her eyes bulged. “Oh, no.” A blazing hot heat stung her cheeks. “I’m so sorry.” She wanted to strangle her sister for not remembering.

He pushed his plate away, giving her an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, but I can’t eat this.”

“It’s okay.”

“You went to so much trouble,” he lamented. “I feel bad.”

For some crazy reason, a chortle of laughter rose in her throat.

“What?” he asked.

“I’m so sorry. I goofed, didn’t I?”

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “Yes, you did.”

“I guess we really are starting from the beginning.”

His features lightened. “I guess so.”

She looked past him at the streaks of orange and pinks pushing their way across the darkening sky that was backlit with strands of gold. “Look,”