Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
L una stood in the middle of Down Yonder Bookstore, breathing in the comforting scent of books and the fresh coffee from the small café in the corner. She'd come in looking for some new meditation books to put on the coffee table at Serenity, but found herself lingering. She was always drawn into the cozy atmospheres of bookstores.
"Well, darling, you look like you could use a cup of coffee," came a voice from behind her.
Luna turned to find an older woman with the most perfectly coiffed platinum blonde hair and bright red lipstick, watching her with knowing eyes. She was wearing a flowing pink caftan and multiple silver bangles that jingled when she moved. Her nails were painted in a matching hot pink.
"I'm Dixie," the woman said, extending her manicured hand. "You must be Luna. Julie's been telling me all about you and your new center."
Luna shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you. Julie mentioned you were her partner here at the bookstore."
"Her partner, her best friend, her resident wise old woman. I wear many hats," Dixie said with a wink. "Come on in. Have a seat over here in the café. I've got a fresh pot of coffee and some books I think might interest you. I figured you might come in at some point so I put a few aside."
Luna walked over to the café and sat down. Potted plants filled every available surface in the corners, and a large macramé piece hung on one wall.
"Have a seat, honey," Dixie said, gesturing to one of the chairs. She walked behind the counter and poured two cups of coffee. "Now tell me how you're settling into Seagrove, and don't give me that 'everything's fine' nonsense. I've been around this earth long enough to know when somebody's got some weight on their shoulders."
Luna accepted the coffee gratefully, wrapping her hands around the warm mug. "Is it that obvious?"
"Well, only to those who know what to look for," Dixie said, sitting in the chair across from her. "Opening a new business is never easy, especially one in a small town where you're the newcomer. But I have a feeling there's more to it than that."
Luna took a sip of her coffee. "I guess I'm just questioning a lot of things. Did I make the right choice coming here? Will people actually want what I'm offering? I met somebody yesterday who basically dismissed everything I do as, and I quote, 'woo-woo' stuff." She did air quotes for dramatic effect.
Dixie's eyes opened wide. "Would that someone happen to be a tall, brooding former golfer with a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas?"
Luna's eyes widened. "So you know Archer."
"Oh, honey, in Seagrove, everybody knows everybody, and I've known that boy his whole life." She shook her head. "He's carrying around more pain than he knows what to do with, and he's never been very good at his emotions. Don't take his words personally. He's just lashing out because he's hurting."
Luna shifted in her chair. "I get that he's hurting. As a therapist, I can see the pain written all over him, but I also can't help people who don't want to be helped."
"Well, now that's where you're wrong, sugar," Dixie said, leaning forward in her chair, her bangles clinking against the metal bistro table. “Often the ones who fight the hardest against getting help are the ones who need it most, and sometimes help will come in the most unexpected ways."
Luna raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Well, take this bookstore, for example. People come in here thinking they're just buying books, but they end up finding a lot more. Community, friendship, sometimes a listening ear. I imagine it's what bartenders and hairdressers feel like," she laughed. "Julie and I have seen more healing happen between these shelves than most people would believe."
"That's very beautiful," Luna said softly.
"And your place, Serenity, well, it's going to do the same thing. You're not just offering yoga classes and therapy sessions. You're creating a safe harbor for people who need one." She reached over and patted Luna's hand. "Even stubborn ex-golfers who think they're too tough for woo-woo stuff."
Luna couldn't help but laugh. "You seem awfully sure about that."
"Oh, I've been in this town long enough to know how things work. People like Archer, well, they just need to come to things in their own time. But you mark my words, that man's going to find his way to your door eventually."
"Maybe," Luna said, though she still wasn't convinced. "But right now, I just have to focus on getting Serenity up and running so I can help the people who do want help. And speaking of which, I should probably look at those books you mentioned."
"Oh, of course, honey," Dixie stood and moved to a shelf behind the counter. "I pulled these aside when Julie told me about your center. I knew exactly who you were when you walked in the door."
"How did you know that?" Luna asked.
"Well, she told me you were a beautiful woman with very long black hair, and that's what stood out as soon as you walked in. I sure wish my hair would grow that long, although I'd look pretty silly at my age."
Luna chuckled. "I think anybody can be anything at any age."
Dixie nodded. "You're right. Well, anyway, there's some wonderful stuff about meditation and mindfulness, and I also pulled a couple of local books—I thought some of our history might interest you."
As Dixie showed her the books, Luna felt some of her earlier tension melt away. There was just something about Dixie's presence that made her feel like this might be manageable, like all of the pieces would eventually fall into place if she just gave them time.
"Thank you so much, Dixie," Luna said as she gathered the stack of books. "Not just for these, but for the talk. I needed it more than I realized."
"Well, that's what we do here in Seagrove," Dixie said, smiling. "We look after one another, and honey, you're one of us now, whether you realize it or not. We aren't going to leave you alone."
Luna wondered if maybe this was what it felt like to really come home—to find a community that welcomed you with open arms, even when you weren't sure you belonged. As she left the bookstore, her arms full of books, she felt a little lighter. She couldn't help but think about what Dixie had said about Archer. Maybe he would find his way to Serenity eventually, and maybe she'd be ready when he did.
* * *
A rcher walked along the beach, his feet sinking into the cool sand with each step. The early morning air was thick with salt and humidity, as it often was in the South Carolina Lowcountry. He'd grown up with it, so he barely noticed it anymore. These dawn walks had become his morning routine since arriving in Seagrove a few days ago. They were a poor substitute for the hours he spent on the golf course before his injury, but he needed something to fill the endless stretch of empty days.
His shoulder always ached, a constant reminder of everything he'd lost. The doctors had told him the injury wasn't career-ending, that maybe with a long rehabilitation process, he could return to golf, but probably never at the level he was. But he knew better. He felt as if his entire being had fundamentally broken that day. His spirit was gone.
He knew there were lots of people who had it way worse than he did. People with no homes, people with no jobs, people with no food. But in those moments where you feel in despair, it's hard to compare your situation to anyone else's. He tried to be grateful for what he did have—a place to rest his head, good friends, and reasonably decent health if you took the shoulder out of the equation. But he felt blocked. He didn't have empathy for other people like he knew he should. He could only think of himself, and that fact alone made him angry.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he almost missed seeing her. Luna was sitting on a yoga mat near the water’s edge. She was obviously meditating because her eyes were closed. It was something he never understood himself, but she had the most peaceful look on her face. There had never been a time in his life when his mind felt that quiet.
The rising sun caught the loose strands of her long black hair, and despite himself, he found his steps toward her slowing. She was a beautiful woman—petite, with bronzed skin and that beautiful head of hair. He couldn't remember seeing a more beautiful head of hair in his life, to be honest. He thought about their brief encounter at the café and winced. He'd been unnecessarily harsh about her work, letting his own bitterness spill out onto somebody who was just trying to help people, including him. He knew how it felt to have people criticize what you did for a living, but even worse was when it was your passion. Dawson's words from the front porch the other night echoed in his mind.
Luna's eyes suddenly opened, and she caught him staring at her. For a moment, they just looked at each other across the sand with the sound of the waves crashing, filling the silence between them.
"Well, good morning," she called out.
Archer pretended he hadn't heard her and continued his walk. It would be easier than facing the awkwardness he had created in their last interaction.
Something, maybe Dawson's voice rolling around in his head, or maybe just plain guilt, made him stop in his tracks.
"Morning," he replied, taking a few steps closer. "You're up bright and early."
"Well, I like to start my day early here," she said, uncrossing her legs and stretching them in front of her. "I find that the ocean has a way of clearing your mind."
His hands shifted uncomfortably, finding their way into his back pockets. "Yeah, I suppose that's why I'm out here, too."
She studied him for a moment, and he fought the urge to look away from her gaze.
"How's your shoulder?" she asked.
The question caught him off guard. Most people in town tiptoed around the subject of his injury, acting like it was some kind of taboo topic no one was supposed to bring up.
"It's fine," he said automatically. "Well, I guess as fine as it can be."
"You favor it when you walk," she observed. "Have you tried any gentle stretching or movement therapy?"
He felt his defenses rising up like a wall around a castle. "Look, I've got physical therapists for that. I don't need?—"
"I'm not trying to fix you, Archer," Luna interrupted, holding up her hand. "I was just making an observation."
The wind picked up, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed. Archer watched as Luna gathered her long hair and put it in a knot at the nape of her neck. The simple gesture seemed to diffuse some of the tension hanging in the air.
"I'm sorry," he said finally. "I mean about what I said at the café. Your work being, you know...”
“Oh, you mean about my life’s work being ‘woo-woo stuff’?” Luna's lips curved into a small smile, and he hated to admit that it gave him some butterflies in his stomach. It wasn't really a very manly thing to say out loud.
"Yeah, that. I was having a bad day."
"Seems like you have a lot of those lately," she said. There was no judgment in her tone.
He let out a humorless laugh. "I guess you could say that."
She stood up and brushed the sand from her yoga pants. "You know, sometimes the hardest part isn't the physical pain. Often it's the stories we tell ourselves about who we are without that thing we lost. I've dealt with that with a lot of clients."
"You sound like a therapist."
"Hmm, funny how that works," she said with a hint of amusement. "Well, I should get going. Janine's coming by to plan out our first yoga sessions."
She rolled up her mat and tucked it under her arm. "You're welcome to join us anytime, you know. No pressure or expectations. Just breathing and moving at your own pace."
"I'll think about it," he said, although he knew they probably both realized he wouldn't.
She nodded and started walking back toward Serenity. She paused after a few steps and turned back. "You know, Archer, sometimes the bravest thing we can do is admit that we need help, even if it's just learning how to breathe again."
He watched her walk away, her words settling into the spaces between his thoughts. The sun had fully risen, painting the beach in shades of gold. Archer stood there for a long time, just listening to the waves and wondering when breathing had become so complicated.
* * *
L una's hands trembled slightly as she unlocked her front door. Her encounter with Archer on the beach had left her feeling a bit unsettled, although not necessarily in a bad way. There had been something in his eyes when she talked about breathing, a flash of vulnerability that he had quickly attempted to hide. Or maybe she was just having low blood sugar and needed to eat an orange.
"Well, you're back early," Janine's cheerful voice broke through her thoughts. She was already on the yoga deck, setting up for their morning session together. They had decided to do a couple of sessions just to make sure that it was everything Luna wanted for her clients.
"Oh, you know, I was doing my morning meditation on the beach," Luna said, dropping her mat by the door, "and then I ran into Archer Hawk."
Janine's eyebrows shot up. "Really? And how did that go?"
"Well, I guess better than our first meeting," Luna said as she started arranging some meditation cushions. "He actually did apologize for being rude at the café."
"Archer Hawk apologized?" Janine let out a low whistle. "That's unexpected. I've heard he's not exactly known for admitting when he's wrong."
Luna thought about his stiff posture and the way he'd struggled to meet her eyes. "He's hurting, and not just physically."
"Well, I guess you'd be hurting if you'd lost everything you'd worked for," SuAnn's voice boomed from the doorway. She stood there holding a box from Hotcakes. "Lord knows that boy never has seemed to handle his feelings properly, from what I've heard."
"Mama!” Janine said with a hint of warning in her voice. "What brings you by?"
"Well, can't a mother bring breakfast to her daughter?" SuAnn set the box down nearby. "Besides, I wanted to see how things were coming along here. You know, the whole town's talking about your opening next week, Luna."
"Good things, I hope," Luna said, her stomach fluttering with nerves.
"I think it's mostly curiosity," SuAnn said, opening the box and revealing an assortment of muffins. It looked like everything from chocolate to blueberry. "Though some folks wonder if Seagrove needs all this alternative healing business."
"Mama!” Janine said again, more firmly this time.
Luna just smiled. "It's okay. It's not really alternative healing because I am a therapist, and these are proven modalities, but I know what I'm offering isn't for everybody. For the people who need it, I hope Serenity can be a safe place to heal."
SuAnn's expression softened. "Well, when you put it that way..." She pulled out a muffin and handed it to Luna. "Here, try this. This is a new recipe, lavender lemon. I thought it might fit with your whole wellness theme."
Luna took a bite. "This is amazing!”
"Of course it is," SuAnn said with a satisfied smile. "Now, about that opening celebration."
"Opening celebration?" Luna asked, taking another bite.
"Well, you can't just open your doors quietly and expect people to wander in." SuAnn settled into one of the deck chairs. "This is Seagrove. We celebrate everything, and a new business, especially one like this, well, it deserves a proper welcome."
Janine rolled her eyes affectionately. "Here we go. Mama's in party-planning mode."
"I was just thinking something simple," Luna began, but SuAnn waved her hand dismissively.
"Simple doesn't get people talking, honey. Now, I've already spoken to Julie about setting up a book display from Down Yonder—you know, wellness books, meditation guides, that sort of thing. I think Dixie's on board, too. Naturally, I'll handle the refreshments."
Luna glanced at Janine, who shrugged with a smile that seemed to say, just go with it.
"I appreciate the thought, SuAnn, but I don't want anything too elaborate. The whole point of Serenity is peace and calm. It's not really a party atmosphere."
"Oh, we can do peaceful," SuAnn assured her, "but peaceful doesn't have to mean boring. I mean, what if we did like a sunset gathering? String up more of those little lights over on the pergola, serve some healthy appetizers. I've been experimenting with some gluten-free recipes that would be perfect. Janine could lead a yoga demonstration."
Despite her initial resistance, Luna found herself warming up to the idea. "You know, that actually sounds kind of nice."
"Of course it does," SuAnn said, looking pleased. "It'll give people the chance to see what you're about. Some people just need to experience things for themselves before they can understand it."
Luna thought about Archer on the beach and how he seemed almost interested despite himself. "That is true."
"Speaking of which," SuAnn continued, "I heard you had a run-in with our resident grumpy golf pro this morning."
Luna looked over at Janine, who held up her hands. "Don't look at me, I just found out. News travels fast around here."
"It wasn't a run-in," Luna said. "We just happened to be on the beach at the same time."
SuAnn hummed, clearly not buying the casual dismissal. "Well, make sure you send him an invitation to the opening, because that boy needs what you're offering here, whether he knows that or not."
"Mama…” Janine warned again.
"What? I'm just saying what everyone's thinking." SuAnn stood and smoothed out her skirt. "Now I need to get back to the bakery. I'll start working on the menu for the opening. But Luna, honey, don't you worry about a thing. We'll make sure Serenity gets the proper welcome it deserves."
After SuAnn left, Janine turned to her with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. Once my mama gets an idea in her head?—"
"It's okay," Luna said. "Actually, it's kind of nice. Back in Austin, I just felt so alone. Here, it's like I suddenly have this whole new family full of people supporting me."
"Well, that's Seagrove for you," Janine said, rolling out her yoga mat. "We might be in each other's business just a little too much sometimes, but when it counts, we're there for each other."
Luna looked out over the ocean, thinking about the upcoming opening, about SuAnn's determination to make everything special, and about Archer's guarded vulnerability. Maybe this was what she needed—not just for Serenity, but for herself too.
"Now," Janine said, "let's plan this yoga demonstration, because if I know my mama, half the town's going to be here. We want to show them just how magical this place can be."
Luna nodded, reaching for her own mat. They started working through the poses, the ocean breeze carrying the scent of salt and possibility.