“I have no idea.” He was scowling at her now.
“Do you live your life grumpy?”
“Pretty much. But would you be in a good mood if you were forced into a tea shop to celebrate someone you don’t know’s birthday?”
“I really can’t see anyone being able to force you into anything,” Luna said.
His mouth rose slightly on one side. “I guess seeing as you picked Mom’s flowers, I can forgive you for falling on me.”
“Generous,” she snapped.
“Luna, come and meet the birthday girl.” Charlie’s fingers wrapped around her wrist. “Nash.” She nodded to GHG.
He didn’t nod back.
“Of course you’re her,” he said, his brows drawing together.
“Her who?” she said as Charlie dragged her away. But he didn’t answer and soon she’d lost sight of him.
“Happy birthday, Miss Marla,” Charlie said, dragging Luna forward.
“Thank you, Charlie,” the older woman said. “Oh, now look at who’s at my birthday, Sarah!”
The two older women were immaculately dressed, one in a blue floral and the other red. The dresses stopped at the calf and had floaty hems. They both wore high, strappy sandals. Elegant, Luna thought, from their carefully styled gray hair to painted toes.
“Hello.” She stepped forward and held out her hand. “I hope you don’t mind me crashing your birthday.”
“Mind? Good Lord no, dear; we’re delighted.”
“This is Miss Marla and Miss Sarah,” Charlie said. “They used to be teachers and taught most of us.”
The women smiled. “And we loved it,” they said in unison.
“Was Charlie a straight A kind of girl?” Luna teased her friend.
“Most of the time,” Miss Marla said. “But she had her moments, especially seeing as her brother was so bad.”
“Dylan was bad?”
“My brother was a rebel,” Charlie said.
“And she could be rebellious now and again,” Miss Sarah said. “But to us that showed the promise of the lovely young woman she’s become today.”
“Thanks, Miss Sarah. It took me a while, but I’m getting there,” Charlie said.
“Now you go and get your friend something to drink, Charlie,” one of the women said. “We can chat with her while you’re gone.”
“I have something for you,” Luna said, looking around her for the bag she’d carried in.
“Looking for this?” A large hand offered the small white bag with her logo in rose pink.
“Yes, thank you.” Luna didn’t snatch it, but it was a near thing. “Here you go.” She handed it to the ladies.
Miss Marla cooed as she looked into the bag. “Is this your face oil? I’ve heard so many wonderful things about it.”
“Suck up,” a deep voice drawled in her ear.
Luna ignored him.