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As he stood in his mother’s kitchen, instead of being overwhelmed by the overcrowded countertops and kitchen table, he tried to see it in a different light. “What if—what if after we clear the area in here we could maybe paint the cabinets, put up a backsplash, paint that wall blue over there,” he suggested, pointing to a dining room wall that was barely visible due to an oversized china cabinet.
“Blue?” his mom said, appearing skeptical.
“You don’t like blue?”
“It’s a little garish, don’t you think. Who’s painting walls blue?”
He laughed because perhaps Luna was a wizard. She’d had him convinced blue walls were not only possible but superior. “Okay. What color would you like that wall to be?”
Her skepticism slipped away as she studied the area before asking. “What do you think about lavender?”
“What is that? Like purple?” He was unsure about purple. He wished he had Luna’s expertise, but they did not have the type of relationship where he was comfortable bringing her into all this. At this point, he was lucky to be on speaking terms with her.
“Maybe a light purplish gray,” his mother responded.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Okay. You help me get this kitchen cleaned up and we’ll paint it lavender.”
Sam returned to Schnell Ridge later that afternoon feeling more hopeful than he had in a while.
It was the weekend and there was more activity around the apartment building as people were coming and going. Nicholas sat in a patio chair with his dog sniffing nearby.
“Go potty, Luna,” the old man said while his body hacked its way through a cough.
Sam took one of the other chairs. “How are you today?”
“Doing as well as can be. You?”
“Fine. Just got back from helping my mom.”
Zabe bounded from her apartment with her dad, Jason, following behind.
“Oh, Luna! Hi, puppy.” Zabe kneeled to the Chihuahua who nervously wagged her tail, unsure about Zabe’s exuberance but dealing with it nonetheless. “See, Dad. If we get a dog, Luna will have someone to play with. Please, Dad. Pleeeeease.”
Jason glanced at the two men at the patio table before shaking his head and sighing. “We can talk about it later. We don’t want to be late for the rides at the fair.”
“Oh, yeah! We’re going to the fair. Are you going, Sam?”
Was it that time of year already? Sam had almost forgotten Placerville had a summer fair. When he and Nate were kids, going to the fair wastheevent during summer vacation. His parents would hand them a limited number of ride tickets, his mom slipping him an extra twenty dollars for snacks, and the boys would wander off to get into small-time trouble, usually hiding inside one area of the fun house to scare younger kids. At least until the person working the place rooted them out.
That could have been a century ago. Going to the fairgrounds was out of character for present-day Sam. He wasn’t even sure what he’d do there. These days, he’d probably be more at home socializing with the old man working the fun house and booting troublemaker kids.
“No, not today,” he replied to Zabe.
The door shutting on the second level drew all their attention. It was Luna departing in a flowy, red summer dress, her brunette locks falling in soft waves, looking like a dream. Zabe ran to the stairs. “Luna! Hi! Did you know the fair opened today? Are you going?”
“I am.”
The girl gasped. “Really?”
Sam had the exact same internal reaction. She always held herself so elegantly, even when walking down the stairs of Schnell Ridge Apartments. It was surprising to imagine she’d go to a dusty county fair with things like petting zoos and funnel cakes, and mingling with the commoners.
“Yup,” Luna said. “My cousins are going and invited me along.”
“My dad said I can play some games. Maybe I’ll win one of those giant bears. They’re so big they’ll take up my whole bed. Have you ever won one before? Maybe we can hang out at the fair. Can I sit between you and Luna on the rides, Dad? Please. She’s so fun to hang out with and doesn’t have a boyfriend.”
Jason, a giant, burly man, actually blushed, pulling his daughter into his grasp. “Some of us are a little overly excited today.” He wrapped his big arms around his daughter. “Luna is going to hang out with other people, honey. I’m afraid you’re stuck with your old dad.”
“You never know. Maybe I’ll see you there.” Luna gave Zabe a wink before switching her focus to Sam and sliding on a pair of sunglasses. He may have forgotten how to breathe. If she had said anything else following this, he didn’t hear. Before he realized it, she was strolling to her car, completely oblivious to the gazes following her.
