The Holland Press

Moon Stone. Episode Five. Handshake.

Benjamin stood in the foyer with his backpack hanging from one shoulder. A few clicks on his cell phone got a car headed his way. Gemma helped Luna into her bedroom and afterwards he could hear her in the kitchen on a phone call.

“Kenneth, it happened again. No, I don’t really think it’s a bad one. She just went somewhere, I helped her to bed. Alright. Of course. Will do.”

Gemma hung up the wall phone and walked into the foyer with an unsealed envelope and handed it to Ben.

“What’s this?”

“I’ve been instructed to give this to you.”

Ben opened it enough to see inside. “The prize money. This isn’t right. She can’t be in a good place to make this decision.”

“She made the decision days ago with her agent. She wanted you to have it in the unlikely event this occurred, and also if she liked you, which she did.”

“How did you know?” asked Benjamin.

“When she asked me to join you at the table. That was my cue. Luna always has a plan.”

“She’s remarkable. The visit was worth it.”

“Well, double good then, and yes, she’s quite remarkable,” said Gemma.

“She trusts you. How did you become her assistant?”

“I applied for the exchange program. She isn’t my first hostess, this is my second year. A rare opportunity came and I accepted. Apparently I fit the bill and yes, she does trust me, a trust not easily earned.”

“That I gathered. You’re pretty remarkable yourself.”

Gemma blushed at the unexpected compliment.

“I can’t invite myself back here but I’d like to invite you out sometime.”

“Luna likes you. I’m still deciding.”

“Maybe you can decide Friday night. There’s an outdoor movie in the park. If you can get time off.”

“Maybe. I could ask if Kenneth can come stay a while. No promises. Luna did want me to get your number before you left.”

She stepped to the kitchen and returned with a pen and index card as a black SUV pulled up.

“Your Uber is here. Write your contact number down.”

“It’s my grandpa actually.”

“Oh? He dropped you off too?”

Ben scribed his phone number and handed it back. “Yes. He wanted to. This area was his old mail route and he was happy about me getting to meet her.”

Gemma opened the front door. Benjamin offered his hand, “Let’s make a Luna-sized plan.” He said. They shook on it, then he got into the car and it pulled away.

The next morning Gemma checked in on Luna early. “I don’t remember Benjamin leaving. Did I blank?”

“Yes Mum, I’m afraid so.”

“Well, I don’t have the energy to fret over it. Did it freak him out?”

“He handled it well, I put his contact information on your desk.”

“Oh that’s not for me dear.”

Gemma looked at Luna who gave her a wink.

“You blush so easy. I like that. You can’t hide it and it’s genuine. Ben will like it too.”

“Oh please stop it, Mum.”

“Alright, alright. I’m going to stay in bed a while. Do me a favor Gem. Bring me that knothead on the table and get me that keepsake box from my dresser.”

Gemma retrieved both items quickly.

“Coffee Mum?”

“Yes, please. Take your time. Wait for the cloves before you bring it.”

Gemma left her in bed with her things. Luna picked up Benjamin’s leather gift and opened her old wooden box, shuffling a few items aside she pulled one old keepsake out.

She lay there admiring a pair of matching knotheads, one in each hand. She ran her thumbs over the complex leather knots with the smell of cloves creeping into her room.