Page 126 of Lumi

CHAPTER 24

Apart

Damian

“I’m so lucky to have you in my life,” Lumi said when she hugged Liv and Charles goodbye. “I feel bad that you always do all the work. Next year, I’ll host my birthday celebration at my house, and all you’ll have to do is sit and chat.”

“But we love spoiling all you kids,” Liv insisted.

“I know, but we aren’t kids anymore.” Lumi kissed Liv’s cheek. “And we’ve had plenty of years to see how it’s done. It’s time we spoiled you back.”

Lumi drove my car when we left since I’d had too much to drink. Halfway to my place, she changed the music from my usual rock to a different station, and Enya’s soothing music filled the car.

“That thing Kit said about Owen made me think.”

“What thing?” I asked.

“He’s helped her remember things from her past that she’d forgotten. People and events. It made me think of my mum. She was my treasure chest of memories. Sometimes I would ask her things, and she would confirm it or tell me I remembered wrong. She was part of more or less everything I experienced until she died. I never put it into words before, but now I’m stuck with this realization that I haven’t just lost all the future memories we would have made together. I also lost a large part of my past. She’ll never be there to tell me what I was like at three years old, or five. No one remembers when I had my first tooth. Or if I was an easy child. Maybe I had all my vaccines, and maybe I didn’t. Maybe I have a favorite toy that I forgot about and maybe I was early at speaking or walking, but I don’t remember any of that and I can never again turn to my mum and ask her.” Lumi kept her eyes on the road but from the side, I could tell they were moist.

“I lost my treasure chamber of precious memories, Damian.”

“I’m sorry, lass. I wish there were something I could do.” I thought about my parents and how they loved bringing up memories from my childhood, some embarrassing, but others lovely. “Did ye ever think about seeking out ye da? Or yer mum’s side of the family?”

Her face hardened. “It would feel like a betrayal to my mother. Don’t forget that they all knew of my existence, and they all knew of her death. Not one stepped forward to claim me or offer their condolences.”

“Are ye sure they knew about yer mum’s death?”

Lumi glanced over. “Damian, the whole world heard of the massacre. Names and faces of the cult members who died were plastered all over the news. They knew!”

“Aye.” I nodded. “They would have heard. I agree.”

“There’s no point in seeking out any of my biological family members, only to spend years trying to overcome the resentment I feel for them. I’d rather focus on the people who care about me. I can never thank Liv and Charles enough for adopting River, Maximum, Atlas, Nathan, and me. They created a family for us, bonded by our time at the manor and our shared memories. We’re all in the same boat, and they get me.”

“Is that why ye were so quick to go for the revenge plot tonight?”

Lumi nodded. “The five of us made a pact years ago always to have each other’s back. I wouldn’t break the law or do bodily harm to anyone, but if Nathan can steal that kiss and cause trouble between Storm and Serena, then I’m all for it.”

“I feel bad for Nathan,” I said and looked over at Lumi.

“Because he has to kiss Serena?”

“Naw, not that. But tonight when we were all cheerin’, and he said that he hoped one day to have somethin’ good to share with us. He’s had it rough.”

Lumi kept her eyes on the road. “He’s still finding himself. It’ll take time.”

“I know, but how come we can’t talk about what happened? The way everyone tiptoes around his time in the military is weird to me. He was a fockin’ star in there, settin’ all those records.”

“Until his anger got him dismissed.” Lumi shot me a sideways glance. “I’ll bet if he could go back and undo it, he would. It was always his dream to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the military. Remember how proud he was the first time we saw him in his uniform?”

“I remember.” My eyes followed the cars next to us. “I know being kicked out of anything is painful, but it’s been more than two years since it happened. Are we goin’ to treat it as a secret taboo for the rest of our lives? Can’t we focus on the good years he had in the military? Nathan excelled in everythin’. He was a born soldier.”

“Maybe, but from what I understand, he was lucky he didn’t end up in a trial.”

I groaned. “But don’t ye hate how Nathan is always changin’ the subject if you ask him about his sports store? There’s no passion in his eyes when he talks about it.”

“Maybe, but we all need to make a living. He’s passionate about his travels and all the sports he does.”

“I guess. Still, it feels like he’s tryin’ to prove them wrong.”