“No.” Luna shook her head after whirling around to give him a piece of her mind. “Clearly there isn’t anything else that we need to say. We are done here. I came to let you know that I’m leaving town. I’ll cut you a check for the business and send it to you as soon as everything clears.”
“Where are you going?” Finn asked, heart racing at the thought of not seeing her.
“Anywhere but here at this point,” she muttered. “Have a nice life, Finn.” Her footsteps grew further away, and he wanted to call out, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to.
He had to let her go. It was best for both of them. At first, he was pissed at how she perceived him, but after some thought, he knew that she was right. Luna deserved better than Finn. He was going to make something of himself though, and he wouldcarry her with him in whatever he did and wish nothing but the best for her, even after everything they’d been through. He was taking a page from the “if you love something, let it go” tutorial. Luna was sure to be better off without him.
Still in the doorway with a smug Rye at his side. She cuddled up to him from behind, but Finn was numb to her touch. He guzzled more alcohol and watched Luna get into her car. She didn’t drive off right away, and he found himself curious. Finn remained in the doorway as Rye pulled away from him.
“I’m going inside to get dinner together.” She sweetly pecked his neck one last time.
For her, Finn was the epitome of everything that she wanted in a man. She thought that they were great together. Finn was rugged, and Rye wasn’t trying to change him. She was more than happy being the good little wifey, birthing his babies, and making sure that he had everything that he needed and wanted when he came home. She was a natural nurturer. Her only goal in life had been to snag a man that was loyal and worked hard and marry and get pregnant by him. Finn had the potential for all that. Rye knew that he was smart, and together, they could elevate.
It might take him some time to get past Luna and the little time that they shared together, but eventually he would come around. With her gone, it was one less distraction. Rye had no clue the power that Luna had over Finn. She might be out of sight, but she was never far from his mind or heart. That was what she was competing with. He might give her pieces of himself, and they might even be happy together, but Finn knew right then and there that he would never love a woman that he did the one that just left the doorstep.
Luna checked herself in the rearview mirror. She snatched her clutch from the seat and dug around inside it. Eyes misting, she sniffled to avoid more tears, her trembling hand gripping apositive pregnancy test. She tucked the test back into her purse and briefly closed her eyes. With one last glance at Finn’s door, she was surprised to find him still standing there looking at her car like he could see her through the tint. Luna couldn’t stay here any longer. She had to go. Everything in her life was changing, beyond her control.
It was a different time, yet not much had passed. Everyone was still recovering from Max’s resurrection. Nobody more ecstatic than his own family. He’d been spending all of his time with them. Mila was still in recovery and physical therapy, on the phone every other day speaking to different plastic surgeons to repair the scarring to her face. A very vain woman, these days she rarely left the house. Minx and Max tried assuring her that she was still envied by every woman in town. Until she believed it herself, their words were falling on mute ears.
It was a chill Saturday evening. Seated on the sofa with a beer in his hand, Rose could hear Mila and Minx talking while descending the steps. He could hear the excitement in their tones when they reached the landing. He turned in his seat, and Minx gave him her full smile. Someone rang the doorbell, so Mila rushed off to get it.
“Perez,” she greeted the detective after slinging the door open.
“I heard some kids might need an escort.” Perez opened his arms, and a grin took up most of his face.
When he stepped aside, everyone was able to view Enika’s makeover. Her glasses were gone, replaced by contacts. Her hair was braided up top into a high ponytail that swung behind her, long and full with bounce. The dress she wore was lavender colored, and her shoes had a platform in front, but they were silver with rhinestone details. There was a simple pearl bracelet on her wrist, and with matching gold detailed necklace with a little charm hanging over her chest.
“Enika,” Mila breathed, mesmerized by the young girl with the rich, melanin skin. “You look gorgeous.” Her hand fell on her chest, and her eyes misted.
Enika blushed, and her eyes fell on the ground subconsciously. She loved Mille’s parents. It was nice of her father to even allow her to have a relationship with Mille. At first, he was very leery about it. The thought of her dating at all left him uneasy, but Perez actually liked Mille and the young man he was being raised to be. He was a straight-A student, he was good at sports, and he cared about his daughter. He couldn’t really ask for anything more than that. Minx sauntered into the hallway, and gushed the minute she laid eyes on the young girl.
“Oh my—” Minx’s eyes watered. “Enika, you look like a little princess.”
“Thank you.” Enika smiled modestly.
“Let me go check on your date. He was just about ready. Ma, get the camera ready,” Minx said over her shoulder, starting up the steps to Mille’s room.
She tapped on the door before poking her head inside. Max stood with Mille, facing him and adjusting his lavender bow tie that he rocked with his black suit. It was like Mille was standing in a mirror seeing himself as a man. He and Max weren’t at all the same shade, but the resemblance was strong. Minx’s heartswelled as she watched them together. Lion and cub. She didn’t think that she would ever see her father in a moment like this. She went into her back pocket for her phone and brought it out so that she could capture it in real time. The flash caught their attention, and both her father and brother turned to face her.
“Come on, Minx—” Mille groaned, annoyed.
“Don’t ‘come on’ me. This is your first dance.” She snapped a few more, especially when irritation flashed across his handsome face. “Enika is here. And she looks good! I can’t wait to take a picture of you two.”
“You really need to chill. This is my first dance. Don’t embarrass me,” Mille warned.
“Boy, I changed your diapers and applied ointment to your little penis when you got circumcised?—”
“Minx—” Mille rolled his eyes and his father laughed. “Pops, make her stop.”
“She’s your sister, son. It’s only right.” Max kidded, swiping his hand down the front of his jacket to rid it of any lint. “You’re looking pretty sharp. Just… take a breath and let your mama and sister do their thing. It will be over before you know it.” Max rested a hand on Mille’s shoulder.
“Okay, I have to get this shot too.” Minx snapped the picture and then lowered her phone and soaked in her little brother.
He’d grown so much, and not as much as he had when he thought he was without a father. Losing Max forced Mille to grow up in a way that he wasn’t prepared for. Having him back was like his prayers had been answered. He smiled more, and life seemed to be a whole lot better and easier to navigate through. Max was his family’s safety net.
Without him, they could survive, but none of them would call it living. Minx rushed ahead of them downstairs so that she could get a video of Mille coming down and seeing Enika. It was like he was stuck when his eyes landed on her, and vice versa.Mila and Minx went crazy with the snapshots. Minx snapped a few of them with Perez, her parents, and then one of her and Rose with them. Her camera was full of images in her phone, and finally Mille looked like he was tired of the flash in his eyes.
“OK, can we actually get to the dance now before y’all blind us?” he complained, making everyone laugh, even Enika.
