“I don’t want you to fire anybody, but I don’t want you hiring more help, either.”
He saluted her with his mug. “It’s a deal.”
They ate in silence after that, both of them thinking of the conversation yet to come. Evelyn moved about them without speaking, just making preparations for lunch.
Finally, Davis drained his coffee. “Ready?”
Luna set down the fork she’d be twirling. “Thank you for breakfast, Evelyn.”
“My pleasure, dear.”
Luna stood, accepting the hand Davis held out and following him down the hall. She took several deep breaths, but her stomach was twisted into knots. They walked down a long hall with blank walls before turning down a different hall with pictures lined up like soldiers at intervals. One more turn and they entered the two-story foyer Luna had seen when she arrived. There was one more hall with family portraits; she recognized Davis as a child in several of them.
He stopped eventually. Luna peered over his shoulder to see what she thought was called a parlor. Mr. Healy sat by the window using a laptop, and Mrs. Healy was speaking to Tabitha at the other end of the long room.
“Mom, Dad.”
They looked up at his voice. Sophia spoke quietly to Tabitha in dismissal before turning expectantly to Davis and Luna in the doorway.
“Luna came to visit.”
Luna thought that statement was probably unnecessary, seeing as how she was right there, but it was also an ice breaker.
“Luna,” Ian said, standing and crossing the room to them. His eyes were warm as they gazed past Davis. “It’s so nice of you to come.”
Luna stepped around Davis and accepted the brief hug from Ian. “Thank you.”
Sophia crossed the room as well, but Davis would have described her expression as guarded. “Welcome, Luna.”
Unlike her husband, she didn’t move in for a hug. “Hello, Mrs. Healy.”
“I’m sure it’s fine with them if you call them by their first names,” Davis said. “After all, we’re going to be family soon.”
Luna smiled weakly.
“Of course, Davis. That’s what I was going to say.” Sophia sat down on the loveseat next to Ian. The only other seating in that cluster was two separate armchairs.
Davis solved the seating dilemma by pulling Luna on his lap in one of the overstuffed chairs. “Mother. Have you had the chance to look at rings?”
Luna shot him a frown.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you about the Healy tradition. The eldest child is entitled to the family wedding rings. Mom has to give hers up to you, but she gets to purchase something brand new.” He looked at Ian. “I suppose that means I get yours, Dad.”
Ian grinned. “You’ll have to have it resized; your hands are bigger than mine.”
Luna relaxed at Ian’s obvious lightheartedness. “That’s an interesting tradition.”
“It dates back five generations, so the rings aren’t fancy,” Sophia said.
“Good,” Luna shot back. “I don’t want anything fancy.”
“We were just discussing staff and how Luna doesn’t want any,” Davis interjected. “But we did agree to keep on Sorensen. You have to admit he’s a big help,” he said to Luna.
She tried not to squirm as he stroked a hand up and down her side. She knew he was making a point to his mother. “Yes, he’s a big help.”
“What are your plans for the rest of the time school is out, Luna?” Ian asked.
“Oh, to pack up my apartment. Davis and I thought we’d attempt subleasing it since that’s acceptable in my rental agreement.”
