Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

"Let's see if you've eaten lunch. We're heading down right now,' Ama said, poking her head into the office.

"We were just about to go too," I smiled, grateful for the interruption My brain had been swimming with logistics for hours.

"Perfect!" Ama beamed, waiting as I grabbed my phone. I set my purse aside, and we left the office together, heading toward the

kitchen.

The kitchen was packed with people, but we squeezed through the crowd to the buffet area. They had laid out the basics-pasta, salad, bread, and yarious sandwich meats. An entire section was dedicated to fruits and vegetables. I grabbed some bread, made myself a sandwich, added a little pasta, and sat down.

"So Ama, how's that pool project coming along?" I asked, eager to hear about something other than the chaos of the past few days.

"It's going well. We've finalized the expansion plans and construction starts in the fall."

"That's great. So what project are you working on now?" I took a bite of my sandwich, watching her face carefully.

a feeling it might be a new library," Ama said, popping a strawberry into

I'd been thinking about. Ama could always read my mind like this-it's what

them or if we need to start over. I'd rather use existing buildings than build something new.

arrangements. I need to finalize those and

me?" I asked, shock washing over me.

called me crying, saying she was struggling emotionally and wanted to know if I could take some of the work off her plate." Ama shrugged as if it were no big deal. "That system you organized for me really helps make

run smoother."

chart and make the calls," I sighed, feeling guilt and concern spreading through my chest. “I

or weak. She idolizes you; she didn't want to disappoint you," Ama's

thought of Penelope suffering silently just to

at all. You pulled her out of that orphanage and gave her a new life. She's grateful to you.

all those young faces. Then I remembered that Nolan still hadn't brought me

to me today?"

of all her duties to give her time to heal. She had taken over my shop, and now I needed to take it back. I just wanted her to recover and become the amazing person I knew she