Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
L una finished with her last therapy client of the day. It was only a little after two o’clock, and she was happy to have some free time. Maybe she would get some laundry done or make some phone calls. There were still some things around the house that she needed to get done, like a new front flower bed and a spot that needed to be repainted on the outside. There was always something to do, and being a single woman meant she had to do it all. And as much as she wished that she had had children, she was kind of glad in these moments that she didn’t have to care for somebody else while just trying to take care of herself.
"Have you ever been kayaking?"
She was startled to see Archer standing in the front doorway after her last client left. She had apparently left the door open.
"Archer, you scared me to death," she said, putting her hand on her chest as she walked toward the door. "And to answer your question—not since college. Why?"
"Because you’ve been in Seagrove for weeks and you haven’t even seen the marsh yet. It’s a real crime if you ask me."
"And so you came here to offer a remedy to this situation?"
"Well, you can consider it payback for all the breathing lessons," he said, laughing under his breath. "I mean, unless you’re too busy."
She looked at her schedule and then back at Archer, knowing full well there was nothing on it for the rest of the day. But did she want to go kayaking in the marsh or did she want to do laundry? That was a sad question to even ask herself.
"I’m not too busy, though I should warn you—although I went kayaking, I wasn’t exactly graceful at it."
"Well, then, it’s a good thing I’m an excellent teacher, I suppose."
His smile was genuine and caught her off guard. It didn’t have its usual edge of pain.
An hour later, they stood at the edge of the marsh. Archer showed her how to settle into the kayak, his hands steady and sure as he helped her find her balance.
"Ready?" he asked, pushing off in his kayak.
She nodded and followed his lead into the quiet waterway. The afternoon sun had painted everything in a soft gold, and birds called overhead. It was very different from the ocean’s constant motion. Here, everything moved more slowly. The water looked like glass, with only their kayaks breaking it.
"This is beautiful," she said as she watched a heron lift off from nearby reeds.
"Yeah, it’s a different kind of peace than the beach," Archer said. "I like to come out here when the ocean feels a little too much."
She understood what he meant. The ocean demanded your attention, but the marsh invited quiet reflection. They paddled in comfortable silence, following the natural curves of the marsh.
"You’re a natural at this," he said, guiding them into a quieter channel.
"My father would disagree. He tried to teach me how to canoe once. I think I was twelve years old. It didn’t end well."
"No?" Archer slowed his kayak, turning to face her.
"Yeah, we ended up in the water. I lost his favorite fishing hat." She smiled at the memory. "He wasn’t angry with me, just disappointed, and I think that was almost worse."
"Sounds familiar," Archer said. "My dad was the same way about golf. Well, at least in the beginning."
They watched a pair of egrets take flight.
"So do you think that’s why you pushed yourself so hard? To avoid disappointing him?"
He was quiet for so long that she thought maybe he wasn’t going to answer the question.
"I guess maybe I just didn’t know how to be anything else."
"I get that," Luna said. "You know, after my divorce, I had to figure out who I was without being someone’s wife, or someone’s therapist, or someone’s daughter. Just—who was Luna by herself?"
His paddle stilled. "I didn’t know you were married before."
"Yeah, it was very brief, right out of grad school. He was a surgeon, a very focused guy, super driven—just like I was back then." She guided her kayak around a bend. "And when things fell apart, I threw myself into work. I thought if I could fix enough other people’s problems, maybe I would fix my own."
"So you thought you could fix yourself by fixing other people?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"And did it? The helping others—did it fix things?"
"Not exactly." Luna watched the ripples spread across the water from her paddle. "It just kept me busy enough so I didn’t have to notice just how empty everything else felt. And then my grandmother got sick."
He guided them toward a small inlet where the water opened into a peaceful lagoon.
"Your grandmother from Puerto Rico?"
"No, my father’s mother—the one who left me the inheritance for Serenity. She used to say I was trying so hard to heal everyone else I had forgotten how to heal myself."
"Sounds like you had two really awesome grandmothers."
"I did. And when Grammy got sick, I finally slowed down enough to listen—to breathe. Kind of like what you’re doing now."
Archer’s paddle dipped into the water, creating a tiny whirlpool. "I’m not very good at it yet."
"Neither was I. I’m still not sometimes."
"So is that why you came here to Seagrove? To heal?"
"Partly, but also partly because I wanted to create something real, something that mattered. You know, in Austin, everything for me was about appearances, but here, I feel more honest—more like that version of myself I’ve been trying to find. I’ve been chasing the feeling I got in Seagrove as a little kid for my entire life."
"Well, there’s no pretending in Seagrove. Trust me, I’ve tried. Nobody around here will allow it."
The sun was starting to lower, casting long shadows across the marsh grass. They paddled back through the marsh, the setting sun painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Luna felt a sense of peace, and it was a feeling she’d been chasing for longer than she cared to admit.
"Thank you for this," she said, "for showing me another side of Seagrove I didn’t even know about."
He guided his kayak alongside hers. "Well, thank you for trusting me to show it to you."
They pulled their kayaks onto the bank and then gathered their things. Luna couldn’t help but notice just how comfortable it was to do things with Archer.
"Same time next week?" Archer asked as they walked back.
"Are you suggesting we make this a regular thing?"
"Maybe," he shrugged. "Everyone needs a break from the ocean sometimes."
"Even you?"
"Especially me. I’m learning it’s okay to need things, and maybe even to want things—other than a golf club."
"So you think you need or want to kayak with me on the marsh?"
"Maybe both." His gaze held hers for a long moment before he finally looked away. "I should get going. I’ve got a very early session with the physical therapist tomorrow."
"Of course. I’ll see you in class soon.”
"Wouldn’t miss it."
As she walked back to Serenity, Luna couldn’t shake the feeling that something had fundamentally changed between them. She had shared pieces of her past and seen glimpses of his, and they had crossed some invisible line. She wasn’t sure what waited on the other side.
* * *
L una stood on the porch and watched storm clouds gather over the ocean. The air had a heaviness about it, and it definitely signaled some rain coming. In the distance, she watched the seagulls zip around in the sky, but their usual lazy circles were replaced by urgent flight.
"Storm's coming," Dixie said when she appeared beside her with a stack of books. "Weather report says it's going to be a big one."
Luna nodded. "Yeah, I've never felt wind like this before, and I've never been on the coast when a storm happened. Any advice?"
"Well, you just want to batten down the hatches, as they say." Dixie gestured toward the beach. "Secure anything that could blow away, stock up on supplies, and hunker down until it passes."
Luna thought of the large windows and the delicate wind chimes on the yoga deck. "Well, I’d better get started then."
"Want some help?" Dixie asked. "Many hands make light work."
"I'd love some," Luna said, grateful for the offer. "I was planning on asking SuAnn and Julie to come over and help me, too."
"Oh, they'll be here. You know, SuAnn's probably already baking up a storm, getting ready to feed everybody in town," Dixie chuckled. "That woman has never met a crisis that she didn't think a casserole could fix."
Luna laughed. She loved having Dixie around. She knew that Dixie had Parkinson's, as did her husband, but you would never know it. She acted like nothing was wrong and played tennis several times a week.
As if on cue, SuAnn's car pulled up, followed closely by Julie's. They both jumped out, their arms laden with bags.
"We come bearing supplies," Julie announced. "I've got you some flashlights, batteries, and enough of Mama's comfort food to last a good week."
"Y'all are lifesavers,” Luna said.
They set to work securing the outdoor furniture, checking the flashlights, and filling water jugs. As they worked, the wind continued to rise, the first drops of rain coming with it. By late afternoon, Serenity was as ready as it was going to be. The large windows were shuttered, the yoga deck was cleared of anything that could take flight, candles stood at the ready, and SuAnn's food filled the refrigerator.
"Well, I think that's everything," Julie said, wiping her hands on the front of her jeans. "We should be all set to ride it out. It's not going to be as big as some of the ones we've had before, but you're a newbie here, so we wanted you to feel comfortable. And if you don't want to stay here, you can definitely come to my house or stay at my mom's."
"Oh no, I don't need to do that. I appreciate it, though."
"That's what community is for," SuAnn said, pulling her into a hug. "We take care of each other around here."
A loud crack of thunder made them all jump, and rain started lashing against the shutters, the wind howling around the eaves.
"Well, looks like it's here," Dixie said, peering out a crack in the shutters. "Gonna be a wild night."
"And you're sure you don't want to come stay with one of us?" Julie asked. "Might be safer than staying out here alone, although the inn is right on the beach as well. We're just a little bit further back than you are."
Luna hesitated. Part of her did want to accept the offer, to surround herself with the comfort of company, but she had grown used to being alone in all kinds of situations, and this was no different.
"I appreciate it," she said, "but I think I need to be here, prove to myself that I can weather the storm, so to speak."
"I get it. But you call us if you need anything, okay? Anything at all," Julie said.
They all hugged each other and promised to check in when the storm was over, and Luna found herself alone, listening to the storm rage outside. She lit a few candles, made herself a cup of her grandmother's tea, and settled in to wait it out.
* * *
L una sat by the window with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and watched as the wind whirled past her. The wind was so strong that it seemed like it was going to blow her away right along with the house.
The power had gone out over an hour ago, which left Serenity lit by only candlelight and the occasional flash of lightning. Luna was so happy that she had bought some of those candles that are battery-powered, and she had plenty of them in her drawer. In the flickering shadows, she found herself thinking about her own life. How many storms had she weathered over her years? The tempest of her parents' divorce, the whirlwind of her own short-lived failed marriage, and then the long years that she'd spent longing to make a family with someone and just not finding the right person.
Each time, she’d thought she’d found shelter in someone, but ended up being disappointed. So, she’d kept busy helping others, trying to desperately outrun her own pain.
She never dealt with it until recently. Just like the makeshift shutters that were rattling against the windows during the storm, all of those moments had been only temporary. And that is why she had come to Seagrove—not just to start something new, but to learn how to withstand the storm and find her own solid ground.
She thought about Archer and how he had shared pieces of his own struggle when they were kayaking. He seemed to be tentatively, slowly learning to breathe through the pain instead of pushing and fighting against it. And wasn’t that what she was doing now in her own way? Learning to be present in the discomfort of not getting the very things she had wanted her whole life. Learning how to find peace in the midst of this tempest.
A particularly loud crack of thunder made her jump. She laughed softly at herself and shook her head. "Yeah, some meditation teacher I am. I can't believe I just got startled by a little thunder."
She thought about how she wanted someone to share Serenity with her. Maybe she would get a little dog since she was allergic to cats. She'd seen the animal shelter driving into town and made a mental note to visit there soon.
As she settled back against the cushions, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. There was a storm raging outside, no doubt about it. Yes, she was sitting alone in the dark, but she was here in Seagrove. She was breathing, and somehow, right now, that was enough.
* * *
A rcher paced back and forth over the length of his room at Dawson’s house. The power outage was making the space feel even smaller, more confining. The storm was raging outside, the wind howling and the rain lashing against the windows. It had been many years since he’d seen a storm like this. He’d never minded them growing up. He found a strange comfort in the chaos and enjoyed the wild, untamed energy of the South Carolina Lowcountry during a storm.
But tonight, he felt restless. He was almost at the edge of worry. He couldn’t help himself—his thoughts kept circling back to Luna. The way he’d seen Serenity’s shuttered windows when he walked back down the beach, evidence of her preparations. The image of her there alone in the sprawling house nagged at him. He knew she was more than capable. She had a quiet strength that most people only dreamed of having.
But he wasn’t sure what to call this thing developing between them. Maybe he was imagining it. Maybe he was leaning on her a little too much. But it didn’t stop the concern gnawing at his gut. Before he could even second-guess himself, he grabbed his rain jacket and headed for the door. But when he opened it, the wind nearly knocked him off his feet as he stepped outside. Rain pelted him in the face like tiny daggers, cold and sharp. He squinted into the darkness, trying to orient himself toward Serenity.
What was he doing? Only an idiot would walk on the beach in the middle of this kind of storm. He was one of those people who would be on the news for dying in a silly way, like being impaled by a palm tree or knocked to the ground by a flying dolphin.
Luna was fine. She had to be. And even if she wasn’t, what could he possibly offer her? A guy with a bum shoulder was going to save her? He was still trying to figure out how to navigate his own storms. But for some reason, his feet just kept moving, propelling him down the beach.
Underneath the worry and the uncertainty was the truth he was beginning to acknowledge. He wanted to be there with Luna—not just for her, but for himself.
When he reached Serenity’s porch, rain streaming down his face, he raised his hand to knock and hesitated. What if she didn’t want him there? What if she didn’t want to be stuck inside with one of her clients during a storm? What if he was overstepping?
But then, faintly over the howl of the wind, he heard something—the soft strains of music, the gentle chords of a guitar. And then, he realized he was exactly where he was meant to be.
He knocked, the sound almost lost to the roar of the storm. For a long moment, there was no response, and then the door cracked open. All he could see was Luna’s surprised face in the candlelight. Man, she was even more beautiful in candlelight.
"Archer? What are you doing here?" Her eyes were wide as she took in his drenched appearance. "Is everything okay? Are Julie and Dawson?—"
"Yeah, I just—" He ran his hand through his wet hair, suddenly feeling like a fool. "I wanted to make sure you were all right with the storms and all."
In that moment, he realized he could have just called her and asked if that’s all he wanted. It would have been easy to send her a text and ask if she was okay. He knew that, and she knew that, and now he was exposed. Now she knew he just wanted to be there with her, and he didn’t even know exactly why.
Something softened in her expression. "That’s really sweet of you. Come in, you must be freezing to death."
She stepped aside and ushered him into the warmth of Serenity. His face was transformed by candlelight, with shadows dancing on the walls. The soft music he’d heard from the porch wrapped around them. He stripped off his raincoat and hung it on the coat rack by the door.
"I didn’t know you played," he said, pointing toward a guitar leaning against the couch.
She smiled just a little. "It helps me feel grounded, especially in moments like this."
She motioned for him to sit and handed him a towel. "I was about to make some tea. Would you like some?"
"Oh, tea sounds perfect." His adrenaline was starting to settle down.
Luna busied herself in the kitchen, and Archer looked around the room. Despite the storm raging outside, the place was peaceful. There was a steadiness that seemed to always emanate from Luna herself.
She returned with two steaming mugs, handing him one before sitting on the couch.
"So, you braved a hurricane to check on me?"
"Uh, it wasn’t quite a hurricane, just a bad storm, and it seemed like the right thing to do. I mean, you’re new here."
"Well, I appreciate it more than you know." Her eyes met his, candlelight flickering in their depths. "You know, it’s been a long time since somebody’s done something like that for me. I can’t remember the last time someone cared where I was.”
The unspoken weight of her words hung in the air, and Archer found himself wanting to know more, wanting to know all of her stories.
He cradled his mug, letting the warmth seep into his hands. "You know, I’m not great at this," he admitted, his voice low. "The whole being there for someone thing. I’ve been pretty self-centered for a long time."
"I think we’ve all been there. It’s easy to get lost in our own storms."
"How do you do it?" he asked, genuinely curious. "Stay so steady, even in the midst of all this chaos?"
She traced the rim of the mug with her fingers, considering his question. "You know, I guess I’ve learned that the only way out of chaos is by going through it. That sometimes the only thing we can do is just breathe and be present—not run away, even when everything around us is falling apart."
He’d been learning that in her classes—that strength wasn’t about pushing harder, but about yielding to what was and getting through it.
"I’m starting to see that," he said softly, "though I’m not always good at it, as you can tell."
"We’re all just practicing every single day. Life is one long practice. None of us ever master it.” She set her mug down and picked up the guitar. "When I’m struggling, music helps. It gives me something to focus on, something I can channel all of that restless energy into."
She began to play a soft, haunting melody that seemed to weave itself into the rain. He watched her, mesmerized. There was just something so intimate about seeing her like this, lost in the music and unguarded. She closed her eyes and swayed like he wasn’t there, and it was one of the most vulnerable and strong things he’d ever seen.
The last notes faded away, and she looked up, meeting his gaze.
"Luna—" he trailed off, unsure of how to put whatever he was feeling into words.
She seemed to understand and set the guitar aside as she reached for his hand. It felt like an anchor in the storm. It felt like a lifeline, a tether to something real. Archer found himself tracing small circles on her palm with his thumb, marveling at the softness of her skin.
"I'm glad you're here," Luna whispered. "I didn't realize how much I needed this until now."
"Me too," Archer admitted. "I've been so used to weathering storms alone all these years that I forgot how good it can feel to have someone beside me.”
Luna's eyes met his. "We all need reminders sometimes that we're not alone, even when it feels like we are."
Suddenly, she leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder. Archer's breath caught at the way her body seemed to fit so naturally against his. He let his cheek rest against her hair, breathing in the smell of strawberries and something that was just uniquely Luna. Suddenly, he felt like he had just come home.
They sat like that for a long time, just listening to the rain and the wind, drawing comfort from each other, and Archer felt his muscles loosening, the knot of tension he'd been carrying for years falling away.
When Luna finally sat up, she had a softness in her eyes. "Thank you," she said, "for being here. For caring."
He reached up and brushed a strand of hair from her face, and his fingers lingered on her cheek.
"Anytime."
Outside, the storm continued to rage, but inside, in the cocoon of candlelight and shared understanding, they had found a different kind of peace.