Runaway Luna

CHAPTER ONE

Seven Years Later

In my quaint little apartment, somewhere in the heart of the city, I woke up at exactly 5:00 am to get dressed for work and also get Adriana ready for school. Once her lunch bag was packed, I went to wake up my sleeping baby.

“Mummy, have you seen my blue sweater?” I watched as she scurried around the apartment looking for her favorite sweater.

“Did you check the laundry basket?”

She made an ‘O’ shape with her mouth and hurried to the laundry room. I leaned against the counter briefly.

Adriana just turned seven not too long ago. Since then we’ve built a life here, one where no one knew who I was- what I was, where no one could take my daughter away from me.

I’ve even had to hide my fiery hair under a wig for the past seven years, too scared to cut it off and not willing to dye it to another color. I didn’t have the heart to do that to my daughter though, the reddish color fits her so well and plus Dorian hasn’t seen her and doesn’t know what she looks like.

“Found it!” she came back triumphantly and snapping me out of my thoughts.

I put a plate of scrambled eggs and fries on the table. “Eat first and then we can go,” she sat down quietly and dug into the food. I glanced at the clock, I had thirty minutes to drop her off at school and get to the cafe before the morning rush. This has been the routine for years, I work 8 to 3 at the cafe, then 7 to 11 at a restaurant. I need to do at least that much if I wan to take care of Adriana.

For now that is all that matters.

__________

At exactly 2pm the school bell rang, indicating the end of the day for Adriana. She said goodbye to her friends and made her way to her mom’s workplace. On the way there she sighted a handsome man in his early thirties, dressed in business casual attire. He stood in front of a pedestrian crossing, waiting for the lights to turn green. A mischievous grin flashed across her face as she approached him.

“Excuse me, sir,” she said with wide, innocent eyes and a wobbly voice. “I’m lost, I can’t find my way home.”

The man instantly tucked away his phone and crouched down to her level, concern flashing across his face. “Hey, it’s okay, where do you live? Do you need me to call someone?”

She shook her head. “No, my mommy works in a cafe nearby but I’m scared to go alone.” she sniffled for full effect and the man fell for all of it.

“Of course I’ll walk you there,” he smiled reassuringly as he took her hand and helped her to the cafe.

The walk was short and the conversation was light. He introduced himself as Joshua, an architect who just moved into town.

When they arrived at the cafe, Ilana was wiping down the counter. At the sight of Adriana walking in with a stranger, her stomach dropped. She locked eyes with her daughter, instantly recognizing the guilty smile.

“Mommy! This nice man helped me find my way here.” she beamed.

My fists tightened on the rag and I tried to put on my best smile.

“Thank you for bringing her here although she was not lost,” I said with my eyes flicking between his and Adriana’s.

Joshua frowned. “Oh, but I thought-” he turned to my daughter, realization dawning on him. “You tricked me?”

She grinned sheepishly. “Maybe?”

I let out a slow breath, offering Joshua an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry. She has a habit of doing this.”

Joshua chuckled while rubbing the back of his neck. “Well I guess I fell for it. No harm done.” he glanced at me curiously. “Since I’m here, how about you make up for it by letting me take you to dinner later?”

I hesitated, behind him, Adriana kept mouthing on ‘yes’

“That’s kind of you, but I can’t leave my daughter with a sitter. I prefer to take care of her myself.”

He nodded with understanding. “I respect that. It was nice meeting you both.” he ruffled Adriana’s hair on his way out.

Slowly I turned to my daughter with a hand on my hip.

“Adriana.”

She shrank back a little, knowing she was in big trouble.

“Do you realize how dangerous that was? What have I told you about stranger danger.”

“I was just trying to help,” she muttered. “You never go on dates.”

I sighed and knelt down so that we were at eye level. “I know you mean well, baby, but you cannot do that again. It’s not safe.”

She pouted and I pressed. “Promise?”

After a beat she huffed. “Fine. I promise.”

Even as I held my daughter close I couldn’t shake the uneasiness in my gut. This time, it was a kind stranger. Next time, we might not be so lucky.