Chapter 46: Hidden in plain sight.
Charis
When I came out of the bathroom, I found Marcus waiting just outside the door.
As soon as he saw me, his face lit up with a warm, genuine smile that made my stomach twist with fright.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly, tilting his head.
I nodded wordlessly. With Darian failing to recognise me, I had no excuse now not to return to the family celebration. Since my greatest fear hadn’t materialised, I supposed I could manage to sit through a meal.
I followed Marcus back to the canopy, surprised to discover that no one at the large table had begun eating yet. All the adults and children were sitting patiently. They’d been waiting for me.
As I took my seat next to Marcus, I felt heat rise in my cheeks. "I’m so sorry for keeping everyone waiting," I apologised quietly.
The woman from earlier looked up at me with kind eyes and smiled warmly. "I’m Marcus’s mom, you can call me Luna Alice. Marcus nearly threw a tantrum when we said we’d start without you."
Marcus cleared his throat, obviously embarrassed. "Mom..."
"Alright, alright," she waved her hand. "Everyone, let’s eat!"
Plates were passed around as conversations flowed around the table. I ate quietly, overwhelmed, but gave occasional nods to stray questions or joined in the laughter when something funny was said.
Marcus, on the other hand, was attentive. Occasionally, he would lean down to ask me if I was alright and encourage me to eat more when he noticed I was only picking at my food.