Luna
FORTY-FIVE
“Everyone gather round in our fairy circle before we leave,” I say, picking up a bakery bag and sitting cross-legged in the middle of the wooden dance floor.
Scarlett is practically vibrating beside me as she takes a seat and scoots closer, her big blue eyes brimming with excitement.
“Can we do it now?” She whispers for at least the tenth time this evening.
“As soon as everyone gets in the fairy circle,” I laugh.
Pink tutus bounce across the wood floor in a flurry of giggles and tiny ballet slippers.
“We have a special birthday coming up this weekend,” I say, getting their attention as they form a circle. “Scarlett brought you all a treat today to take home.”
Scarlett beams proudly and excitedly starts talking.
“I got to pick’em out! They’re pink and sparkle!”
The girls’ eyes light up as a rush of joy sweeps through the dance studio.
“First, let’s sing Happy Birthday,” I laugh, catching Mae’s eyes as she watches from her usual spot along the wall. She smiles at me as her warm hazel eyes silently praise me before pulling out her phone to capture the moment.
Leading them in the song, Scarlett leans further into me, and I put my arm around her to ease her sudden shyness at being the center of attention. When the song finally ends, I pull out the individual pink boxes, letting Scarlett hand them to her dance friends.
Six cupcakes with iridescent sprinkles are passed around, and the girls excitedly peer through the clear top before thanking Scarlett and wishing her a Happy Birthday one more time as they scurry up to show their parents waiting in the other room.
“I think your cupcake idea was a hit,” Mae chuckles, as I walk over to her.
“I thought Scarlett might have fun handing out cupcakes. A lot of the girls bring treats for their birthday, and I always like to celebrate each milestone I have with them while they are in my class,” I smile, watching Scarlett get a hug from one of her little classmates before they wave goodbye.
“She needs this,” Mae says quietly, her eyes focused on Scarlett as she twirls in the mirror. “They both do.”
I turn to Mae, and she covers my hand in hers. Her eyes mist over as she smiles, quickly blinking away the tears.
“I want you to know that I’m really happy you walked into their lives.
I was so worried after my granddaughter died that Cayden would never let anyone in again.
” Her eyes drift to Scar, and I see the love pouring off of her.
“I loved my Jules with every fiber of my being and knew her heart better than anyone.”
She turns back to me and smiles softly. “She would want Cayden to find love again…to have a family again. I have no doubt in my heart that she’s smiling down on us now.”
Patting my hand, she lets go, and I immediately pull her into my arms in a hug. She smells like cinnamon and cookies and reminds me so much of my Mimi. It’s the kind of comfort only grandmothers seem to know how to give. She runs her hand down my back as I hold her tightly.
“You have no idea what that means to me,” I whisper. Knowing I have her blessing makes everything feel less heavy.
“I’m just speaking from the heart, dear.”
Letting her go, I wipe my eyes. “God, I’m a mess,” I sniff, chuckling softly.
“Still as beautiful as can be,” she smiles before giving me a knowing look. “Being in love looks good on you.”
I blink at her bold statement before turning my attention to Scarlett. She’s opened her cupcake box, and I watch her little finger take a swipe of the pink frosting before putting it in her mouth.
“Is it that obvious?” I ask, quietly, knowing if she can see it, I’m sure Cayden can as well. I’ve never been good at hiding my feelings, especially when the love is this strong.
“Almost as obvious as Cayden every time he looks at you or mentions your name.”
I whip my head in her direction, and she chuckles softly.
“I…I mean, we haven’t said it yet or anything,” I stumble with my words. “I wanted to believe he felt the same way.”
Every time he’s looked at me lately, I’ve let myself believe for a second. Then, I reminded myself that hope can be a dangerous thing.
“I’ve seen Cayden in love before, and that boy is smitten. Give him time, and he’ll be ready to voice what his heart is already telling him.”
My heart is sent reeling in my chest, but I don’t have time to process what she just told me because her phone rings in her hand.
“Speak of the devil,” she grins, looking at her screen and tapping her phone. “Hi, Cayden. Let me get Scarlett.”
“Thanks, Mae.”
I hear his voice through the phone and immediately get butterflies.
“Scarlett, it’s Daddy. He wants to talk to you before his game.” Mae sits on the floor with her and holds the phone.
“Hi, baby girl. What’s all over your face?” He laughs.
“Cupcake,” she grins. “I did Happy Birthday at dance.”
Not wanting to intrude on his daughter's time, I busy myself with picking up the dance ribbons and other accessories I let the girls have fun with today, but it’s hard not to want to see him.
“Birthday at dance? Are you still there?” He asks.
“We are. Luna and I were just talking. She surprised Scar with cupcakes tonight. You should have seen the smile on her face when they all sang Happy Birthday,” Mae explains with a grin.
“Luna did that?” His voice is a mixture of surprise and something else that has my stomach fluttering.
“She did.” Mae catches my eye, and a mischievous look flashes across her face. “Very sweet of her, wouldn’t you say?”
“Very,” he murmurs. “Make sure to tell Luna thank you, Scar.”
“Tank you, Luna!” She yells out, causing me to giggle.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
“Is Luna standing there?” I hear Cayden ask.
“She is. Do you want to talk to her?” Mae asks innocently, but we both know she’s anything but.
“Yeah, I do.” His smile is obvious even through the phone. “Daddy will call you tomorrow, Scar. Be a good girl for Nana Mae, okay?”
She nods her head as she licks more icing off her finger.
“I love you, baby girl. All the way to the moon and stars,” he adds softly as my heart expands in my chest.
“To the moon and stars,” she repeats with a toothy grin.
“Come on, love,” Mae says, standing up. “Let’s get you cleaned up in the bathroom. Daddy wants to thank Miss Luna, too.”
She hands me the phone and gives me a wink before disappearing toward the bathroom.
I glance at the screen, and Cayden’s right there to catch me as I put my back against the wall and slide to the floor.
He’s wearing a black long-sleeve compression top that stretches across his chest, and his hair is tousled like he just ran his hand through it. I take in every detail about him as his green eyes roam over me.
“Hi,” I smile.
“Hi,” he says, his lip curling at the corner.
“Ready for your game?” I breathe, his eyes pulling me in.
“I’ll be ready. Are you going to watch?”
I nod my head. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Wish you were sitting behind my net instead.”
“Me too,” I say softly.
“So cupcakes, huh?” He smiles, and it’s so different now than when we first met. It reaches his eyes now, and I get to see the real Cayden that very few ever get to see.
“Not just cupcakes. Pink cupcakes with sparkles on top,” I grin.
“Sounds exactly like what Scar would pick out,” he chuckles before his eyes turn serious.
“Thank you,” he says quietly. “I know I have Mae, but it’s…”
He shakes his head softly before rubbing his hand on the backside of his neck.
“It’s nice not feeling like I’m doing this all on my own.”
My breath catches in my throat as my chest tightens.
“You don’t have to do this alone anymore,” I whisper. “Not if you don’t want to.”
“I’m beginning to realize that.”
He stares at me like he’s still unsure I’m real before finally running a hand through his hair and pulling his gaze away. “I should let you go, I need to get ready for warmups.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll call you when I get back to my hotel room.”
“I’ll answer,” I smile.
“I don’t think my heart would take it if you didn’t,” he says so quietly that I almost don’t hear it. “Bye, little moon.”
“Bye,” I breathe, watching his face disappear as the call ends.
Letting my hand fall to my lap, I pray that Mae is right.
Because somewhere along the way, they had stopped feeling like someone else’s family.
They had become mine.
And the thought of losing either of them hurts more than I ever want to admit.