One Tiny Lie – Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,37
of the popular crowd. Now, she was realizing how shallow aspects of the upper-crust world could be. No wonder Ava had wanted to break free. Margot assumed because she was beautiful and glamorous that all the world was pining away for her. “That was mighty kind of you,” Luna said, the faintest hint of sarcasm creeping into her voice. Margot wasn’t astute enough to notice.
“It was, wasn’t it?” Margot said, without a trace of guile.
This time, Luna couldn’t help it. Laughter escaped her lips.
Margot’s jaw fell. “What?”
“Nothing. I’m sure Peter will be thrilled to go out with you,” she soothed. Luna felt like she was talking to a child.
Margot sighed heavily. “Work has been a beast today, and it’s only lunchtime. We had four tour busses come through this morning.”
“I’ll bet it will get a lot busier now that harvest season is upon us.”
“I know.” Margot made a face. “I do love my job though. It gives me a sense of purpose.” She gave Luna a superior look. “It must be hard,” she cooed.
Luna was immensely enjoying her croissant. Ava had told her to try the sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich, saying she would love it. And, she was right! The food almost made up for the company. The bistro had a warm ambiance that fit in perfectly with the town square of Sonoma. The brick and stucco buildings exuded an Old West flavor dripping with small-town charm. Luna was falling in love with this area.
“Did you hear me?”
Luna’s eyes widened. She’d gotten lost in her own thoughts, tuning Margot out. “Huh?” She took a quick drink of her lemon ice water.
Margot lifted her chin. “I said it must be hard.”
“What’s hard?” Luna asked dutifully, wondering if this was a setup.
Margot poked at her salad as if trying to find the perfect bite. She speared a tomato and dipped it in her ramekin of fat-free Italian dressing. “Well, you really don’t have a lot to keep you busy right now.”
Laughter rose in Luna’s throat. “What?”
“I mean you’ve got the harvest and the wedding, but you don’t really have anything that fulfills you.”
“That’s not true,” Luna said lightly, as amusement swirled inside her. “I have Hudson.” She caught a blip of resentment on Margot’s pretty face before it was smoothed away with a benevolent smile. “I know,” Margot cued, “and the two of you are so cute together.” She smiled, scrunching her nose. The sweetness in her voice sounded more saccharine than sugar. “But what about your dreams and plans?”
Luna tipped her head. “What do you mean?”
“You used to talk about lighting the world on fire.” Margot’s voice picked up its pace. “You wanted to sing and perform. That’s why you studied music performance in college, remember?”
“Yes, that’s true.” It was hard to hold back the grin threatening to spread over Luna’s lips. She felt a burst of pride for Ava, knowing that her sister was living her dream. If only Margot knew, she’d burn with envy. Okay, that was a mean thought. Still, Margot was obviously baiting Luna, trying to make her feel like she was nothing because she didn’t have a job. She had no idea that Luna was also living her dream. Her songs were getting published, and Lonely Moon had hit number one on the charts. After Hudson left the night before, Luna had been flying so high that she sat down and penned an entire love song. So, in all actuality, she felt very productive and fulfilled.
Margot gave her a pitying look. “I just hate to see you settle.”
“I’m not settling,” Luna countered. Was Margot so insecure that she had to belittle others to make herself feel good? It was sad, actually.
Uncertainty seeped into Margot’s eyes. “You’re not?”
Luna chuckled. “Goodness, no. I want to marry Hudson.”
Margot started blinking fast as she shifted. “I just don’t understand where all of this is coming from. It’s me you’re talking to, remember?” She leaned forward, speaking in a low tone. “I know you’re marrying Hudson for the money … to save your parents’ vineyard.”
Luna’s spine went stiff. “Who told you that?”
Margot chortled. “I’m not an idiot. I know how these things work. I hear stuff at my job. I know your parents’ vineyard is struggling.” Her voice hardened. “I just don’t think it’s fair to expect Hudson to dig you out.” She sat back in her seat, spreading her hands. “That’s all I’m saying here.”
Luna pushed aside her plate, having lost her appetite. Circumstance or not, how could her