I would see him again in the morning. It had been a month since the last time, and now I was seeing him two days in a row.
Seeing Ash daily would be an easy habit to form.
He had said he loved me, and I had said it back. Both of us were unflinching.
I texted him when I got inside.
We ended up talking on the phone until 2am.
Chapter 20
Ash
Three weeks later
~
Luna's birthday
Luna's birthday fell on a Friday, and there was a party that evening at Audrey's house. She served finger foods and pastry items that she had made herself, and it was perfect.
Audrey had been worried about this day, but she had a revelation in the days leading up to it.
"Joseph," she had said to Ash one evening. "His family royally betrayed him. They left him in a pit to die and then decided to sell him as a slave. He was in prison and falsely accused. His life was actually in danger because of their evil. He went through a ton. And yet when he saw them, he forgave them and treated them with kindness. He didn't say that he had trauma. He didn't say he needed to heal from all that time in the pit, slavery, or prison. He just forgave and was kind. Can you believe that's the Christian model? It just throws modern psychology out the window. We're not the victim of our past. We're not the victim of our circumstances. We are instructed to get beyond it. We're told to forgive, be kind, and move on. It's sofreeing. I'm going to choose to forgive Kai, forgive myself, and not live in bondage to the memory of that day or the guilt of my actions afterward. I can just forgive and build something better."
Ash had just stared at her when she said it. He had smiled and encouraged her that she was thinking correctly, but inside, he marveled at her strength and wisdom. He looked up to her for being brave enough to change her trajectory in life.
That Joseph story revelation had given Audrey peace, but Ash could still sense that she was bracing herself as the day approached. Maybe she was worried about how it would affect Luna, but either way, he knew she was fighting an inward battle—especially on the day of the party.
Everything went off without a hitch, though.
Ash's mom and sister came to the party, and so did Kai's parents. Everyone got along and had a great time. Luna was her own birthday entertainment. She did some gymnastics and eight magic tricks, including a grand finale where she seemed to have read Val's mind. Everybody, including Val herself, was amazed at that. Luna had jumped up and down with excitement when that one worked out.
Ash smiled absentmindedly at the memory of it as he approached the door to her room that evening. He gave it two light knocks with his knuckles.
"Come in!" Lu said, smiling at him when he opened the door. She was already tucked into her bed with the covers up to her nose. Ash could see she was smiling only by her squinting eyes.
"You look snug as a bug," he said, heading her way with a smirk and making her giggle and squirm. "Your mom said we don't have time for a book since it's late."
"I know, but she said we can talk for a minute before we pray," Lu said, sitting up and taking her pajama-covered arms out of the covers.
"Yeah, that's what she told me, too," Ash said. He came to sit next to her on the bed, and she scooted over, making room for him. She reached out and touched his arm when he sat. Her little hand just rested there on his forearm, and his chest felt tight. He was so happy and relieved that she had made it through today and didn't seem to be affected much, if at all.
"It's Saturday tomorrow, so no school," Ash said.
"I know. I'm going to work with my mom."
"So, you still have to wake up early?" he asked.
She nodded.
"I might come by to grab some breakfast," he said. "You could come hang out with me for a little while if you want. I don't know what your mom has planned. She might need you to work with her, but if not, you could hang out with me, if you want."
"I will," she said. She sat there with her precious hand resting on his arm.
Ash started to ask about her birthday. He hated to mention it, but he also didn't want to walk on eggshells, so he just said what was on his mind. "Did you have a good day today? Did you like your party?"
"I loved it!" she said, seemingly unaffected. "Did you see when I did that card trick to your mom, and then your sister didn't know how I knew about that thing in her purse?"
