a little stiff as she began strumming on the guitar. She played the intro and began singing. As the song progressed, her courage increased. Luna was not a performer by any stretch of the imagination. She had no doubt that Ava could do a thousand times better. All Luna could do was to sing straight from the heart.
Tattered dreams and intermittent screams fill the chamber of my searching heart.
You say you want a fresh start, but trusting you … well, that’s just not smart.
I see your lying smile and hope you’ll stay for a while. My heart knows what my head will refuse. It’s no use, because there’s always another excuse.
Don’t mind me, because I’m free to go back to my lonely moon.
Lonely moon.
Forever in my room.
Always there.
Always plays fair.
My lonely moon.
I won’t leave you so soon.
As Luna sang, her mind went back to the modest house of her youth. She’d sat in her room at night and gazed out the window at the large, luminous moon, wishing for a better life. She realized now that any love she thought she felt for Douglas Wellington was the illusion of a brokenhearted little girl who was desperate to be loved. Luna had found love with a wonderful man. Her eyes locked with Hudson’s as she sang the last notes of the song. There were tears in his eyes. He looked so proud.
Applause broke out as Luna rose to her feet. She looked at Beverly and Todd. Tears were streaming down Beverly’s cheeks, and Todd’s eyes were glistening. Isabela was grinning from ear to ear, and so was Rosalyn. Luna felt a burst of victory. For the first time in her life, she felt like she’d broken out of her shell. She’d done the impossible.
Beverly stepped up to Luna. “That was so beautiful,” she said. Smiling, she reached for the microphone. Her voice was coated with excitement. “Now, Ava and Hudson have an announcement to make.” She waved a hand. “Hudson, come on up here.”
“Stop!” a woman demanded.
Luna stiffened. It took her brain an instant to process that Margot was marching towards the platform.
“What’re you doing?” Beverly asked indignantly.
Margot’s face was a hard mask of determination as she came up the steps and over to the microphone.
“You’d better have a good explanation for your behavior,” Beverly warned in a low tone.
“I do,” Margot asserted, her voice ringing with confidence. She glared at Luna and spoke in a loud, accusing voice. “This woman is not Ava Giles. She’s an imposter.”
Murmurs rippled through the audience.
Luna felt the blood drain from her face. Clutching the guitar, she looked at Hudson. He looked completely baffled.
Beverly’s face turned bright red as she zoomed in on Margot. “This is outrageous! You need to leave,” she demanded.
Margot jutted out her chin, her dark eyes shooting daggers. “It’s true. Her real name is Luna Ellison.” She grunted. “I knew there was something fishy about you from the get-go.” She kept her eyes trained on Luna. “Then, I happened upon a YouTube video of Cash Romeo and Ava singing together.” She smiled smugly. “When Ava started twisting her hair around her finger, I knew the truth.”
“Margot, I have no idea what you’re babbling about, but you are way out of line,” Beverly seethed.
Everything came at Luna in a blur. She looked at Beverly’s disbelieving expression. It was commendable how adamant she was in her stance, but she would soon realize that she’d been duped. Hudson’s expression was confused. Juliette and Alistair Davenport were looking at Margot in disdain.
Luna had no idea how she was going to make it out of this in one piece. She wished Ava were here to help her through it.
Margot riddled out a hard laugh. “I’m sorry Mrs. G. I don’t mean to ruin the party, but I wanted you and everyone else to know the truth.” She raised her voice. “The real Ava—”
“Is right here.”
Gasps sounded as Ava threaded through the crowd and up to the platform. Her arm was in a sling. Her blonde hair was flying out behind her like wings, her chin set with fortitude.
“What’re you doing here?” Luna croaked.
Ava flashed an apologetic smile. “It was meant to be a surprise for you and Mom and Dad.” She shot Margot a death glare. “Until some idiot ruined everything.”
Margot’s face registered triumph. “Welcome home, Ava,” she said sarcastically.
Ava’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve had your little moment in the spotlight. Now, I suggest you slink back to your hole.”
Margot laughed. “Is that any way to talk