Page 6 of A New Year Baby

CHAPTER 3

Half a second.

That’s how long it would have taken for the door to close and for Eve to be on her way. I hold my breath and watch, hoping that she didn’t hear. But she pauses. Her hand reaches out to grab the door, and stop it from closing. She turns back to look at me with startled eyes, narrowed with suspicion.

Shit.

Luna’s childish yelling has carried all the way outside.

“Honey,” I say to my daughter softly but quickly. “Why don’t you just leave the vanilla in the kitchen, and you can go upstairs and play with Grandma.”

“But did I get the right one, Mama?” Luna demands curiously. “It’s not Mad-Gassy. I could only find Bon Bon.”

“Bourbon,” Eve says as she slowly walks back over. “That used to be the name of the place where those vanilla beans are grown. Now it’s called Réunion. It’s a very small island in the Indian ocean, and it’s very close to Madagascar—do you know where that is?”

Luna shakes her head to indicateno.

Eve looks over at me as she responds. “It’s in Africa,” she says softly. “Both islands grow the same type of vanilla bean. So yes, Madagascar and Bourbon vanilla are the same thing. What’s your name, pretty girl?”

My heart sinks. Eve is being so sweet, and teaching my daughter things. Like a real aunt should. Does she know already? How does she know? Luna has inherited most of my features. My dirty-strawberry-blonde hair. My nose. My chin. The only thing that could possibly reveal her as Jack’s daughter is her bright green eyes. She didn’t inherit many of his characteristics, but those striking eyes are an unmistakable Frost family trait.

Eve is stepping closer to Luna and studying her closely. I can almost see the numbers flying across her eyes as math happens in her brain and she calculates the girl’s age.

Fudge.

Sticky hot fudge sundae with peanuts, sprinkles, whipped cream, and crushed candy bits.

It’s all over now. Fudge me. With a maraschino cherry on top.

I close my eyes briefly. I knew coming back to Snowflake Creek was a bad idea. But things were quite lovely and peaceful until now. I just wasn’t aware that Eve was coming home, or I would have asked Luna to stay upstairs. The Frosts usually don’t come into the bakery—they place large orders which we have delivered.

My daughter walks toward the counter and puts down the jar of Bourbon vanilla paste. She looks up at Eve curiously. “I’m Luna. Who are you?”

“Nice to meet you, Luna,” Eve says gently. “What a lovely name. It matches your mother and grandmother’s name. Do you know how?”

“Yes!” Luna says with excitement. She points her chubby little finger at her own chest. “I’m Luna which means the moon. Mommy is Stella which means the stars. And Granny is Skye! So, we’re all named after things that are way up there.” She gestures upward with both her hands. “What’s your name?”

A huge smile overtakes Eve’s face. She turns to look at me with sad eyes, like she’s looking directly through me. I can’t meet her gaze. “My name is Eve,” she answers.

“Like Christmas Eve?” Luna asks. “That’s today.”

“That’s right!” Eve answers. “You’re such a smart girl, Luna.”

Luna beams proudly.

I clear my throat. “Luna, I think we should let Evie go now, I am sure she is very busy. It looks like her handsome boyfriend is waiting for her impatiently. I am sure they have very important things to do.”

“Okay, bye,” Luna says obediently.

“Where is your father, Luna?” Eve asks bluntly. There it is.

I can’t believe she would ask that. I want to cry. I want to scream.

“It’s top secret,” Luna says in a whisper, leaning forward. “I’m not apposed to tell anyone.”

“Oh? Well, you can tell me. I’ll keep the secret,” Eve says. “Promise.”

“He’s coming tomorrow!” Luna says proudly.

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