The Nameless Luna novel · Chapter 6 of 32

Chapter 6: North

She still wasn't looking at me.

She was looking at the brass number on my door.

"Don't," I said.

"You haven't heard it."

"I don't want to hear it. I don't want one from you."

"It's a good name. I sat up with it all afternoon."

"You couldn't remember the one you gave me."

Her mouth went thin.

"It isn't that simple. You know what she's like when she hears it. She can't breathe."

"I know. I'm the one who held the paper bag."

That landed. I watched it land.

"Your father needs you," she said. "The new man can't dock the Beaver. He put a float into the fuel pier yesterday."

"Then you should have bought me a ticket."

She finally looked up.

Her eyes went to my face for less than a second.

Then they slid off it, to the wall.

"Goodnight, Mom," I said, and shut the door.

I stood with my hand flat on it until her footsteps went away.

I packed my flight bag. It took four minutes.

At five-thirty I went down to the lobby.

My father was sitting in a wingback chair by the dark fireplace.

He was still in his suit from the hall. His tie was in his pocket.

He'd been waiting there all night. I could tell by the coffee cups.

"Tennant Air will go under," Dad said. "By spring. Without you."

"I know."

"You know?"

"I ran it. I know which contracts only renew because I answer the phone at four in the morning."

He stood up.

He opened his mouth, and I saw him reach for the voice.

Then I saw him remember.

He closed his mouth again.

"You'll have to ask," I said. "That's all that's left. You'll have to ask me."

He looked at me for a long moment.

He didn't ask.

The elevator dinged behind me.

Warrick came out of it, gray in the face, holding his duffel.

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