Under A Harvest Moon Read Free

I'll leave you to your unpacking. Night, honey."
    Danielle embraced Lola. "Good night. Thanks for everything."
    Lola gave her a nod and a smile then left.
    Danielle glanced around her childhood bedroom. The old maple furniture looked exactly the same. Her twin bed, complete with a princess canopy, was placed between the windows. Two dressers, one with a mirror, stood against the far wall. Next to the bed was her nightstand. A white bedspread with pink hearts covered the bed. A poster of a teenaged Kirk Cameron hung on the wall near the window. On the opposite side of the room John Stamos smiled at her, both posters reminders of her teen years. The walls were painted Pepto-Bismol pink, a color she wasn't too fond of now, but what was the point of repainting? She wouldn't be here long enough for the color to matter.
    Kaiden had taken up residence in the guest room. She'd let him have the room, even though it had a queen bed. Putting Kaiden in the pink girly room of her childhood wasn't an option. She'd thought the big bed would make him happy, but he'd still been sullen when he'd gone to bed around ten. Even the ever-cheerful Lola hadn't coaxed a smile from her son. If she did nothing else this summer, she was going to put the smile back on Kaiden's face.
    Danielle glanced at her watch. It was after eleven now and she hadn't found the time to speak with Nico today. Well, it was too late now. According to Lola, Nico got up early. He'd probably gone to bed hours ago.
    Her body ached. Her heart ached. She hadn't counted on having such an emotional reaction to the house, to her father being gone. Everything in the house reminded her of her parents. This afternoon she'd sat in her father's office. She'd opened his humidor and breathed in the lingering scent of the Montecristo Cuban cigars he loved so much. The aroma overpowered her, brought tears to her eyes, the first she'd shed for him since his death. She'd cried for her father, for the relationship they'd never have. Had her father been happy with the choices he'd made? He'd been a stranger to her, the vineyard always coming first. She'd given up trying to please him years ago. Why hadn't he tried harder to include her? Why hadn't she tried harder to forgive him? Now, it was too late.
    She'd spent the day battling her sorrow and anger, finding no answers to her questions. Her nerves were shot. A bath sounded good. Danielle went to the window to close the curtains before undressing, but stopped when she noticed the light on at Nico's place. She hadn't been surprised to learn that Nico lived in the gardener's cottage.
    Why wouldn't he? Nico was the son Phillip never had. Jealousy ate at her insides. Did Nico know the truth about the last summer they were all together? Did he know about the secret affair that took his parents from him and caused her parents to divorce? If not, did she want to tell him, or was it best to let the past stay in the past?
    How would Nico react to her news that she intended to sell the vineyard? Would he be happy, wanting to buy the vineyard himself? Or would he be angry? She didn't know him well enough to gauge his possible reaction.
    She was about to turn away from the window when Nico stepped outside. Darkness and distance kept her from seeing his features. For a minute she watched his silhouette as he moved around his porch. Was he worried about the meeting tomorrow? Is that why he wasn't asleep? Wanting to end the worry for both of them, Danielle left her room. She tiptoed down the hall, careful not to wake Kaiden or Lola, and let herself out the back door.
    ***
    Nico lowered himself into the porch rocker. Man, what a day. He released his breath slowly, his eyes on Whitney House, on the illuminated window of Danielle's childhood bedroom. Was she in the room? Or had she moved into the guest room or taken Phillip's room? After all, she was the lady of the house now.
    The thought landed like a stone in his gut.
    Slowly, he rocked back and forth. A light