Read Online Rising Moon (The Rune Stone Trilogy) by Anne Haley - Free Book Online Page B

" I would have never heard the end of it if I had the room with the largest closet. Her amount of clothing is quite remarkable. " Aylin said with a hushed tone.
                  " I heard that! " El called from the kitchen, her voice rising up the stairs.
                 
                  " Where did you grow up? " Aylin asked once they sat down to eat at the large dining room table. They were only using up half the table, and Terra wondered if they did a lot of entertaining.
                  " I’ve lived in a town called Lancaster Bay in Minnesota my whole life. It’s on Lake Superior. " She didn’t notice the look that passed between Aylin and El. " My mother owns the only bookstore in town, and it’s one of the few stores that stays open year round. It’s a tourist town in the summer because there are so many places to go hiking and camping around town. So many people don’t realize that there is a large community of artists there. It’s a beautiful town. " She speared a chunk of tomato. " Eliana, this is wonderful. "
                  " El, please. Eliana is so formal. " El smiled. " Thank you. "
                  " Where did you learn to cook? "
                  " Culinary school, " El shrugged. " My parents are very, very wealthy, but they don’t want me to rely on my inheritance. I suppose its smart thinking. My grandfather started out with barely anything to his name, and at the end of his life he had more money than he ever dreamed possible. My father is carrying on the legacy. Thank God I have a brother to learn the business because I am no paper pusher. " She poured herself a second glass of wine. " Save room for dessert, I made a strawberry custard tart. "
                  " What about you, Aylin? " Terra asked.
                  Aylin shrugged and leaned back. " I was born and raised here. My father died when I was ten, so I helped my mother in the floral shop. I took over the store four years ago when she was diagnosed with cancer. She passed six months later, leaving me this house and her store. " She waved her wineglass around, gesturing to the walls around them.
                  " I’m so sorry, " Terra said softly.
                  " It’s alright, but thank you. " Aylin smiled. Terra could tell there was more to her and El’s stories, but she didn’t feel like she was comfortable enough to ask. She had been having a hard enough time trying to ignore the glimmering light that danced on the walls from the candlelight and the two women. " So, tell me, Terra, what brings you to Willoughby Island? So far from your home? "
                  " I just needed to get away for awhile. Change of scenery, " Terra said automatically, and shrugged her shoulders.
                  " I know that feeling, " Eliana said smiling . " What kind of work did you do there? "
                  " I help my mom run a bookstore in town. I also repair old book spines. "
                  " Oh, how interesting. " Aylin leaned forward. " I bet you saw some pretty interesting books. "
                  " Yeah, I only repair spines right now. I hope to develop it into a full restoration of old books, you know, restoring the leather, the pages, everything about it. I’ve heard there are families looking to get their ancient family bibles restored. It’s really impressive what can be restored. " She shrugged, " But I have a lot to learn before I get to that level. "
                  " But you’re on your way. " Aylin tipped her wine glass to her.
                  " Yes. " Terra nodded.
                  " Dessert? " El held out a plate that had what looked like a slice of creamy heaven on it. But Terra was distracted by El’s wrist. She held the plate so the inside of her wrist was facing up. On it was a Celtic tattoo. Three