My Starry Valentine

Chapter 13

LUNA

SEVEN MONTHS LATER

“ W hat are you doing up here?” the inquisitive, blond boy asks me, carefully picking his way toward me across the boulder field at the base of Wheeler Peak. His mother stands a little ways away on the trail, carrying her backpack and watching our conversation intently.

“I’m an artist-in-residence at Great Basin, working on a watercolor right now.”

The dark blonde mother shades her eyes with her hand, watching and listening. She calls to me, “I thought that was a palette and paints you were carrying in the metal case. What’s your name? So that I can say I know somebody famous.”

I chuckle. “I’m not going for fame or anything, but I have a website and an Instagram account. Luna Solace on both.”

“That’s a very unique name,” she replies with a smile. “I should know because my name’s Portia. And this is my son, Gregory. Are you enjoying your artist-in-residency here?”

“Yes, very much. This is hands-down my favorite national park.”

“Ours, too,” the little boy pipes up, his hazel eyes snapping toward my easel and half-finished painting.

“Did you enjoy the Bristlecone pine grove?” I ask, nodding towards the gnarled collection of wood and green below us. “Some specimens are many thousands of years old.”

The boy nods enthusiastically.

“It’s always amazing,” the woman adds.

Gregory looks over his shoulder at his mother before bragging, “I’m getting my Junior Ranger badge today, and it’s my birthday, September 22nd.”

“Very nice!” I glance at my half-finished watercolor, frowning. “The autumn equinox. That’s a cool birthday to have. How old are you, Gregory?”

“Ten.”

“Double digits. That’s pretty grown-up. How exciting!”

He puffs his chest with pride, making me laugh.

Portia laughs, too. “Are you going to the stargazing event tonight?”

“Yes, I am. Are you?”

“Yes, Gregory’s obsessed with the stars.”

I stare at the curious kid, a sudden sadness gripping me. Is this what Ledger was like as a boy? “That’s so cool. A future astronomer! Well, maybe I’ll see you two tonight.”

“Yes, we’ll look for you.” The woman waves for her son to get back on the trail, and he scrambles like a mountain goat over the boulders as I hold my breath. Despite his agility, painful memories of my last cross-country skiing trip with Naomi wash over me.

“It’s the first day of fall, Ledger, and you never showed up,” I whisper to myself. It’s not like he said he would. But it didn’t stop me from waiting breathlessly every summer night of the dark sky programs, scrutinizing tall, dark male forms, listening for familiar deep voices, and reliving painful disappointment again and again.

By early afternoon, the wind picks up, ice-chilled as it glides off the glacier, and I pack up. I have a lot to do before the program tonight, including a hot shower, a quick nap, and a call to my grandparents. I make my way down carefully. The five-mile hike covers an elevation change of more than one thousand feet, which means some fairly steep patches. I navigate the most challenging spots slowly and deliberately.

Since Naomi, I no longer take ankles for granted. Fortunately, she’s healed up and back to normal life, with only a scar to show for her ordeal. She spent the summer volunteering at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, using a knee scooter until physical therapy helped her walk again. I make a mental note to text her later for details about her latest man crush, the hunky physical therapist she sees twice a week. I live vicariously through her in the romance department these days.

As the sun sets, I drive towards the Lehman Caves Visitor Center, with its single-story brown facade and wraparound porch on a prominence overlooking the parking lot. The Rhodes Cabin and Great Basin Astronomy Amphitheater sit on the right-hand side facing it. Rugged stone staircases lead to the center, and vast views of the park provide a stunning backdrop.

I savor the breathtaking swatches of vibrant color that declare nightfall. Extravagant shades of hot pink and lavender, splashy layers of periwinkle and gold, juxtaposed against the magnificence is Wheeler Peak, still lightly snow-capped despite the lateness of the season. I have to stop for photos, though I already have hundreds of this mountain.

Twilight settles, and red lights illuminate the parking lot, stairs, and the long walkway to the amphitheater, guiding tourists toward the upcoming event. I high-five some of the younger rangers who I’ve gotten to know before reporting for duty to my supervisor, Jessica.

“Luna, you’re covering the parking lot again tonight. Sound good?”

“Sure thing, boss. Can I assume that means I won’t be saying any opening words about the artist-in-residence program, then?” I ask as I don the reflective vest she hands me.

“Nope,” she says cheerily. “It’s all astronomy tonight.”

“Sounds good.” After she leaves, I approach cars that roll up the long roadway to the visitors center, leaving behind oceans of sage for the evergreens and scrub brush of the foothills. Directing them where to park, I explain the reason for the red lights, caution them against using their cell phone flashlights that impair night vision, and mention tripping hazards as they head to the amphitheater.

Thirty minutes in, a brown Jeep rolls up, and my mind flashes to Ledger for the briefest of moments. But it’s not his vehicle, and it’s autumn. I need to move on. The windows roll down, revealing Portia and Gregory.

“Hey, you two!” I greet. “Well, did you do it, birthday boy? Did you get your Junior Ranger’s badge?”

The adorable kid puffs out his chest, proudly displaying the wooden badge emblazoned with the park’s logo.

“Congratulations! Wear it with pride,” I say.

I dive into the speech I give to each party, and the ash blonde nods, staring ahead towards the area where I direct her to park before saying, “We’ll sit up front and save you a seat.”

“Thank you!” They drive away with Gregory leaning out of the window, looking over his shoulder, and waving at me.

After thirty more minutes of directing traffic, I walk down to the amphitheater, following the red lights lining the walkway. In the gloaming, I make out the dark forms of a packed crowd and four presenters on stage next to a bright, movie-theater-sized screen where PowerPoint slides provide a variable glow. Their dark profiles denote two tall, clean-cut men and two women. One woman wears her hair in a ponytail, and the other has a beautiful halo of mid-length curls. It’s too dark to make out their faces.

The slide says they’re here on behalf of the International Astronomical Union, discussing how stars, comets, and other celestial bodies get their names. It’s a special presentation we don’t normally offer. So, I haven’t watched it before. The woman with the curls holds the mic, speaking as she points toward slides projected onto a large screen.

My eyes scan the front row until Gregory runs towards me, grabbing my hand. “We saved a spot for you,” he whispers.

All I can say is the kid has incredible night vision because I can’t see much of anything apart from the outlines of bodies. “Thank you, buddy.”

I sandwich myself between Portia and the little boy, who starts chatting animatedly about his Pokemon card collection. His mom leans closer, whispering, “You can seriously tell him to quiet down whenever you like. He’ll talk your ear off, just like his dad used to.”

“Oh, are you all staying here together?”

“My husband was killed in action in Afghanistan.”

My breath catches in my throat as her words hit me. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“It’s been tough,” she says quietly. “Gregory was young when it happened. He doesn’t have any memories of his father.”

“Luna…” the little boy says, tugging on my sleeve.

“One moment,” I whisper, lamenting the timing of his interruption.

“Gregory’s father, Daniel, and I used to love this place. We came here every summer, so I try to keep up the tradition. It makes me feel closer to him.”

I nod sadly, uncertain of how to respond.

“All I can say is never take for granted what you have. You never know when it will be gone. And always, always tell people how much you love them. The petty fights and disagreements mean nothing when they’re gone. Fortunately, Daniel and I had an excellent last call, one I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”

“That’s so beau?—”

“Luna!” Gregory practically yells, making his mother and I stop and stare at him. With a sickening feeling, I realize the entire audience is looking at us, including the four presenters on stage.

The boy hisses, “They’re talking about you, Luna! That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

Didn’t Jessica say I wasn’t presenting tonight? I look up at the stage, and the four figures look at me. I may not see their faces, but I feel their unmistakable gazes. This isn’t the right place in the program to give my little artist-in-residence spiel. But whatever. I’ve done it so many times I could do it in my sleep. I probably have.

I stand up, but before I can stride to the stage, the crowd breaks into applause. One of the tall, clean-cut guys has the mic now, and he says, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce you to the woman who inspired the name for my most recent stellar discovery, Luna Solace.”

I would recognize the deep, rich baritone anywhere. The crowd applauds, and my mind swirls. The three presenters who aren’t speaking motion for me to come forward.

Am I dreaming or something? If so, I don’t want to wake up until I hear that wonderful, familiar voice one more time…

Striding to the front, I stand before the guy with the microphone, staring incredulously at his face in the minimal glow of the projector. He’s got short, neatly trimmed hair and a full beard. But my heart clamors at the familiar smell of the forest and those sky-blue eyes I’d know anywhere.

“Ledger?” My voice trembles as I lean in, scrutinizing his face in the dark. My hand comes up to his scarred side, feeling the familiar smooth skin but marveling at the ear, which my fingertips glide over, revealing a prosthetic, and the eyebrow and full beard. My fingertips stroke gently over his cheek, and my heart pounds, absorbing this new version of the man who’s been on my mind unceasingly for seven months.

He leans down until his forehead rests on mine, whispering, “Hi, Snoop. I hope you’ll forgive me for being a day late?”

A part of me wants to pull back and ask about the seven months I’ve waited. But Portia’s warning runs through my head. Instead, I answer without hesitation, “Yes.” Wrapping my arms tightly around his muscular frame, I hold him like I’m afraid he’ll vanish into thin air. His warm, strong arms encircle me as I snuggle into his button-down cowboy shirt. Looking down, I make out the square toes of a pair of his tooled cowboy boots.

“I’ve dreamed about this moment for so long now. Please tell me it’s real.” My voice cracks at the end.

“It’s real,” he says breathlessly, stooping to kiss me as more cheers break out.

“And you named a star for me?”

“Yes, and I’ve never stopped thinking about you…or what I would do to find you again.”

Letting go of his waist, I step back slightly, absorbing his face as my hands come up to his hair. “But who are you? I barely recognize you.”

He stares deeply into my eyes, his filling with tears as he says, “I’m working on being the man you deserve, and I swear I’ll keep working on it for the rest of our lives.”

He pulls me tightly into his arms, and I stand on my tiptoes, whispering in his right ear, “Starboy, I wanted you before you did any of this. Even when you were a grumpy, reclusive, overgrown cowboy-mountain-man.”

“And that gave me the strength and resolve to try to become what you need…forever. If you’ll have me?”

“Of course I will,” I whisper, pressing into him as his warm, soft lips and velvety tongue claim me passionately. The other presenters take over, stepping in front of us to continue their talk, and Ledger pulls me behind the screen where we’re shielded from the eyes of the national park visitors.

“I came here to tell you how much I love you, Angel, and that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You don’t have to decide anything tonight, and I don’t want to put you on the spot. I mean, we should probably start with a date or two. But I do want you to think about me…about us for a lot longer than a blizzard or a dark sky program.”

“You’re all I want,” I answer, tears flooding my cheeks.

“Are you sure?” he asks breathlessly.

“More than sure.” I pull him towards me for another kiss, starved for his smell, taste, voice, feel, and warmth…everything about him. He chuckles, his voice raw, clutching me with the same desperation. “Not only am I sure, cowboy, it’s written in the stars, thanks to you.”

“Thanks to God,” he corrects quietly. “I was so furious with Him after my injuries that I couldn’t see any of His gifts or blessings in my life. Because of my stubbornness and stupidity, I almost missed out on His most precious gift of all—you. Only after you left did I have time to reflect and realize finding you in the road in the blizzard was an inexplicable miracle. You really are my angel.”

“And you’re my miracle,” I reply, smiling warmly as I palm his cheeks. “You saved me from the blizzard, and you’ve filled my heart with more love than I ever thought possible.” Ledger closes the distance between us, tenderly kissing me as the starry night envelopes us in eternity.