The Last Luna : Chapter 2

Part 2

I woke up. The sky has turned from sky blue to rich blue-violet. And oh, there’s my star! I did stretching, and then hunger stroked me again. God only knows how ravenous I am. I reached for my black slippers, flattened my light-yellow dress, fixed my wavy, dark-brown hair and walked to the main door. Amelia was waiting for me. Unfortunately, she was not alone. Nathaniel Ashford was also standing, waiting for me, I guess.

“Good eve.”, I greeted.

“Same to you.”, Amelia greeted back. Nathaniel gave me a nice nod and a little smirk.

“Hungry?”, he suddenly asked over.

I blushed. And then I nodded. We all headed to the dining area. I can smell all the reeks of the foods Amelia and the company prepared.

Nathalie was the first to approach me. She hugged me before I sat down. And then Grandpa squeezed my hand. I replied him by giving a smile. Grandpa led the prayer. Unluckily, the prayer was quite long. Afterwards, Amelia entered with a half-dozen of maids on her back, carrying such delicious foods and again, Amelia, the head chef introduced the foods.

“This is Fresh Gardenia Salad. Made of fresh lettuce, red cabbage, fresh basil…..”

Everything is fresh. That’s it. Move to next!

“And this is the Family’s Roasted Chicken seasoned with salt and pepper, both fresh and dried parsley . . .”, she said while one of the maids served a nose-smiling Roasted Chicken on the center of the table.

“We also have our Fish Sauce Sautee Beans, Chicken Curry, Grilled Lamb chops..”, she added.

“What’s for desert?”, I impatiently asked.

“Sweet-toothed brat.” I heard Nathaniel whispered to himself. I stared at him for a few seconds. He looked back and raised his eyebrows. I snob at him, and then I looked back to the mouth-watering deserts.

“Cheesecake, Berry Craze, and of course, Gelato.”, she finished her discussion with opening the wine.

“I’ll pass, I am still underage.”, I said.

Amelia already knew it. So he offered Nathaniel instead.

“I’ll pass with the alcohol. I’ll go for the water.”, he said.

“Oh my! I thought men are men when they are good drinkers.”, I teased.

Nathaniel looked at me with surprised look. “I knew that. I wanted to, but I can’t. I am still underage. I’m just 17.”

“What? Of course you’re not.”, I said. Both Nathaniel and Grandpa looked at me startlingly.

“Are you kidding? Of course I am.”

I can’t answer him. Oh my dog, does he mean that he’s 17? Oh dear.

“Hey, don’t tell me you’re baffled?”, he suddenly questioned.

“Baffled? Of what?”, I asked back.

“Because you, you like me and you are now with your second thought, ‘cause I’m a lot older than you. I never thought that you’ll think that I am just on your age!”, he answered, acting like he was the most lovable person in the whole world.

I let my jaw dropped. Thick-faced gaudy! Me? Like him? No way and definitely no thank you! I need to think of something to stop it.

“Mr. Ashford, I think you got me wrong. I am already 15 for your information. And actually, I thought you are Aunt Nathalie’s husband!”

Blood rushed out of his admirable face. “Excuse me?”, he asked. That’s the only word that came out of his mouth.

Nathalie chuckled before she commented, “He’s my son.”

“See mother? This hairstyle of Papa sucks.”, Nathaniel said as he muddled his right-sided hair.

He looked like a god. Let me describe him. He has a dark-bronze hair, darker than Nathalie’s chestnut, a sapphire pair of expressionless eyes, very seductive (oooopss!) lips, perfect nose, and he stood 5’11. And I am just 5’3? How unfair!!

Nathalie and I were busy giggling while Nathaniel continued on fixing or messing his hair, when Grandpa rang his antique bell.

“To my dear niece, Nathalie Ashford, to my ever reliable grandson, Nathaniel Ashford, and of course, to my only light, and the best granddaughter ever, Lynette Marie van Dross. Toss and cheers!”

“Cheers!”, we agreed. Grandpa’s words touched my heart, and a pain of guilt clouted me. I did not trust him. I don’t deserve him.

The whole night ended with so many tears from laughter and knowledge from stories of each. So, this is how a dinner of family works. I hope tomorrow would be a good day, since Nathalie told me that she already enrolled me, and the opening of the school year would be on Monday.

It was Saturday, how I hoped my last day here in Oxford would be memorable and fun.