Chapter 36
Luna
“Sometimes, the best way to mend a broken heart is with a needle and thread.”
—Eloisa Hobby
“Your kid is pretty amazing,” Luna said.
Luna and Paul watched their daughters adroitly glad-hand the well-wishers at the reception toasting them on their prizewinning artwork. She and Paul stood side by side at the refreshment table, munching canapes, feeling each other out, getting the lay of the land and seeing where they stood.
“So is yours.” He smiled a smile so deep it cut through Luna’s doubts.
“They’re even more amazing together.”
“We’re more amazing together.” Paul’s voice deepened, husky with meaning.
She turned to look at him and lowered her lashes. “Are you saying we need to get together so they can be sisters?”
“It’s a thought.” He grinned. “I mean, come on, they’re teenagers and already worth fifty grand apiece. We can’t wrangle them alone.”
“Good point.” She moved infinitesimally closer to him.
He laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’m staying right over here. I’m not crossing any more boundaries with you, Moonbeam. You want me, you gotta ask.”
“I’ll take that under advisement.” Her cheeks burned from the heat of his stare. The air crackled electric between them. She lowered her lashes and sent him a sultry look.
The crowd thinned, many people heading back to Crafters’ Corner after the art show. The sun was sliding toward the horizon, casting rainbow light everywhere.
“Paul?”
“Uh-huh?”
“I shouldn’t have treated you the way I did at the hospital.”
“No need to apologize. I get it. I’ve got a daughter too.”
She studied his arms. Licked her lips at how muscular they were flexed against the sleeves of his T-shirt. “This is twice I let my fear push you away.”
“I noticed.”
“But you don’t hold it against me. Why not?”
“Moonbeam, it would be like holding it against the sun for setting in the west.”
“Yikes. That sounds bad.”
“Bad is a value judgment. I try not to make those if I can help it.”
“I’ve been working really hard to be less distrustful.”
“I know. You are who you are, Luna. You’re cautious, prepared, and suspicious. Those are neither bad nor good qualities, they’re just traits. The problem is, we’ve all got a set of traits that kept us safe in our lives, but those traits, when overused, become our flaw. It happens to every single one of us. The key is recognizing those traits and taking corrective action when they get in our way.”
“My distrustful trait gets in my way all the time.”
“That’s because you’re afraid that if you put your trust in someone, they’ll let you down like Jack and Jeanie did when you were a child. Not throwing shade on your parents. This isn’t about blaming your parents for their traits. It’s about recognizing where our upbringing came up short and taking steps to plug the gaps.”
“Wow, look at you. Gardener. Cybersecurity ninja. Philosopher. Be still, my heart.”
He let his palm hover at her chest, right above her heart. “May I?”
“Touch me?”
He nodded.
She cracked a grin. “Please do.”
He settled his palm on her chest. “It’s steady. True.”
She softened her smile. “What are your traits that have a tendency to get out of balance?”
Paul moved his hand, his calloused thumb brushing her wrist and sending tingles up her arm. “Feeling compelled to always do the right thing.”
“That sounds like a lot better trait than being cautious.”
“Just like any other trait, it can go either way, depends on if you keep it in bounds or not.”
“Okay, give me an example.”
“You said you fell for me because I helped clean up the bus after our school field trip. You said I reminded you of what your dad was not, diligent, disciplined, principled. But when I depend on those traits too much, take it too far, I become rigid, rule-bound, and yes, even self-righteous.”
“Ooh, you’re right. I’ve seen that in you a time or two.”
“See? None of us are perfect.”
“But you’ve done a lot of healing. You’ve had a head start.”
He held his arms wide. “Hey, I live on Hobby Island. Healing is inevitable here. We’re a mixed bag, us humans. But I am steady. I’m loyal. I’m trustworthy and I do love you, Luna. If you give me a chance, I think we can work this thing out.”
“Take a chance on Chance?”
“You got it.”
That sounded absolutely beautiful and after all that had happened, Luna wasn’t a bit scared. This man had always had her best interests at heart. She just hadn’t been able to see it for her fear of abandonment. Paradoxically, she’d pushed him away to keep from being abandoned.
“I’m not going anywhere, Luna. Go back to Julep, sort your life out. When you’re ready, I’ll be here.”
“Waiting on me?”
“I’ve already waited twenty-two years. I’d wait twenty-two more because you’re worth it.”
“What if I’m ready now?”
“No need to rush, I want you to be certain.”
“I am.” Luna’s heart skittered as Paul’s kind eyes met hers. “You’re right. You’re steadfast and true. I’m ready to start our life together now, no more waiting.”
Paul searched her face for any wavering and his smile spread like sunshine after rain.
“Moonbeam,” he rumbled, voice gravelly with emotion. “You’ve gone and made me the happiest man alive.”
Calloused hands framing her face, he drew her close. As his lips claimed hers, warmth rushed through Luna, quick as a flash fire.
She clung to his broad shoulders, dizzy with the rightness of it, the power of a love they’d danced around for so long. Now she could fall into it wholly, without fear of landing too hard.
When their lips parted, Paul touched his forehead to hers. “Partners for life’s adventures?”
“With you? Forever, my love.”