Page 33 of The Art of Vanishing

Claire

The first park date had gone shockingly well. If anything, it was underwhelming. I’d arrived early, nervous about any upcoming disappointment that might be heading in Luna’s direction. I had convinced myself that there was no way he was going to show.

Jeremy arrived at the agreed-upon time, wearing a mask. He made a show of sanitizing his hands before he reached out to fist-bump with Luna.

“Hi, Luna. I’m Jeremy,” he said gently.

“I know,” she replied in her confident way.

“I brought you something,” he said.

“Okay.” Luna wasn’t used to getting gifts when it wasn’t her birthday or Christmas, as we didn’t often have anything extra to go around. Jeremy looked at me as if to check what her answer really meant. I gestured for him to continue.

He pulled a stuffed animal out from behind his back. Well, I’m not sure “stuffed animal” is the right term. It was actually a fluffy white stuffed crescent moon with a kind face and legs that dangled down. It was beautiful.

“Get it?” he asked. “It’s a moon, like your name. It’s a Jellycat, I heard they’re the special ones.” Luna took it and tucked it under her arm, heading off with determination toward the swing set. She knew I wouldn’t let her stay here long after dark and that her minutes were numbered.

“A Jellycat?” I hissed at him when he stood back up to his full height. “Aren’t those things stupid expensive? Jeez, next time just pay for our groceries or something.” He shrugged and I knew I wasn’t being entirely fair. It was a gift for Luna, not for me, and it was actually pretty thoughtful.

As if she’d remembered what the purpose of this trip was, she came wandering back over. “Would you like to swing too?” she asked in her most polite voice. He nodded and she thrust the moon up at me before she led her father off with her.

I took a seat on the bench, petting the moon in irritation. Damn, I admitted to myself, it is really soft .

We’d had a handful of additional successful outings after that one, the three of us.

We’d shared a box of pizza in the park, packing our plates and Luna’s plastic silverware from home so I could cut hers up into manageable bites.

We’d visited all the playgrounds within walking distance.

I was sure in normal circumstances I would have resented anything to do with Jeremy taking up so much of my time.

But right now, I had nothing but time. It was as fine as any way to spend these many unspoken-for hours.

The jury was still out on what Luna thought of him. She treated him with more familiarity than your average stranger, but no more affection than she had for, say, one of her teachers. She was cautious with her heart. I was nervous I had taught her that.

When she was off in her own little world, conquering yet another slide, Jeremy feigned interest in my life.

I knew it was fake because he’d never indicated a smidge of care about my life since we’d moved in together all those years ago, but today, he asked about the museum, how I liked it, what I did there.

He asked after Gracie’s health and even dared to ask if I’d heard anything from my mother.

He asked if I was seeing anyone. At that point, I told him we didn’t have to talk anymore. So, we didn’t.

Today was a big day. Last week, Luna had told me politely that I didn’t need to go along with them anymore.

I clarified with her—did that mean she didn’t want me there?

No, she’d told me, I could go if I wanted to, but it was okay for me to not go.

As always, I wanted to respect her growing independence.

It was amazing how much older she seemed to me after these few months.

I was watching her become her own little person.

I’d called Jeremy to tell him what Luna had said, and he was just as stunned as I was. I found myself assuring him it would be fine and that he could call or text if he needed anything. We’d agreed he’d pick her up at the usual time and take her to the playground near our house.

Luna had asked me to braid her hair today, and I wrestled her boisterous curls into plaits.

She had definitely inherited my hair. We sat on the porch with her stuffed moon, which had been named Moona, and we waited.

And waited. And waited. When he was twenty minutes late, I started calling him.

They all went straight to voicemail. Of course they freaking did.

The sun slipped lower in the sky. In the normal times, I would already be on my way out the door, heading off to the museum.

I was grateful I was here now to hold her hand.

I didn’t want to freak Luna out, so I sealed up my anger inside my body and suggested we go upstairs and watch Cars .

Even that classic hit did nothing to brighten her spirits as she headed sluggishly inside.

I got her snuggled under our coziest blanket and allowed Lightning McQueen’s voice to take over our living room.

I watched out of the corner of my eye as she undid her braids with her tiny fingers.

If I ever saw that man again, I was going to punch him square in the face.

Unless, of course, something was wrong. Oh my god, was I a terrible person? What if something had happened to him?

My phone rang, an unknown Philadelphia number. If this was Jeremy calling from some bar, I was going to let him have it. I got off the couch and walked into the bedroom, shutting the door behind me.

“Jeremy, I swear to god,” I answered.

“Erm, no, Claire? Sorry to interrupt. It’s Jamie, not Jeremy, from the museum?” A voice cut through my tirade from the other end of the line. It was like time stopped, my heart pausing its beating in my chest.

“Oh, hi, yes, sorry for that confusion!” I said, my tone newly polite. “How are you? How have things been?”

“You know,” she replied, and I did know. “We’ve been keeping on as best we can. But I’m calling with good news—great news, actually. We’re reopening the museum to the public next week and I was wondering if you’d be interested in taking your job back?”