Page 96 of His White Moonlight
I gave Mom’s shoulder a comforting squeeze on my way to my chair.Bennett stood and pushed it in for me as I sat again.
“My choice of school shouldn’t be the cause of an argument,” I said.
“We just feel it would be better for you to attend Hildcrask or Wellborn,” Dad said.
“I understand.They’re good schools.I’m sure I would have a bright, carefully arranged future by attending them.But that’s not what I want.And this conversation wasn’t to ask for permission.It’s to inform you of my choice so you can make peace with it and spend whatever time with me you want before I leave.”
“How are you going to pay for it?”Bennett asked.
Mom’s growl was so faint that I almost missed it.
I glanced at her, unsure if she was mad at my insistence or at Bennett for bringing up exactly what I’d known they would try to use to get me to attend the school of their choice.
“Whatever the scholarships and my wages from this summer don’t cover, I’ll earn.If I need to take out a loan, I’ll do that.”I didn’t say anything about my savings, wanting to keep it a secret just in case.
“You’ve given me enough already.I can do this on my own.And if I can’t…if I run into any trouble, I know who to call.”
The glasses on the table started to rattle.No one’s hands were on the surface, though, so I wasn’t sure who was doing it.
“We know how much you want this and understand you’re not asking for permission,” Mom said.“But please don’t shut us out.We want to be a part of your life, Wrenly.You’ve been gone for so long.We finally got you back.I thought you’d stay.”Her voice broke at the end, and she began to cry.
The table shaking stopped as Dad hugged Mom.
I fisted my hands under the table, willing myself not to feel guilt, not to react.
“We’ve heard what you’ve had to say,” Dad said.“And I guess there isn’t much we can say to change your mind.I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” I said, although I wasn’t sure what he was apologizing for.
Our food arrived.Mom barely ate any of her meal before she and Dad excused themselves.
“How is the food?”Bennett asked.
I looked down at my plate and realized I’d eaten most of it without tasting a thing.
“Fine.”
“Do you want to go somewhere else?”
“No.This was?—”
“Don’t say fine.”
I told myself his voice didn’t sound desperate and tortured.That I was projecting what I felt—desperate for understanding and tortured that no one did.
“I think I’m done.”
He stood and pulled out my chair for me, leaving his plate mostly untouched.If his fingers brushed my arm, it was just an accident.The way his hand briefly settled on my lower back was just a courtesy.Aiden and Karter would have done the same.
When we reached the hall, my stomach almost dropped to my toes at the sight of the woman from the bathroom and…
Lindi.
I fought to keep all my emotions in check as she stumbled into me.Bennett released me to catch her and prevent me from falling.
“I’m so sorry,” she said.“I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
Bennett made a noncommittal sound as he extracted himself from her tentacle hold.When he reached for me again, I sidestepped.
