Chapter 22 #2
Stella appreciated the distraction. She, Jack, and Vicki finished off the funnel cakes and chatted about the day’s events. It was late, but she called Arnie because she’d promised to update him. His relief and pleasure traveled through the phone and filled Stella with satisfaction and gratitude.
When she finished talking with Arnie, she, Jack, and the rest of the library crew walked the grounds outside the library while
the remaining volunteers made sure the park was empty. At nearly ten thirty Stella locked the rear door to the library and
waved goodbye to everyone. She sat on the back steps and stared at the empty lawn. Jack sat down beside her.
In the soupy evening air, a sprinkle of lightning bugs flashed as they weaved above the grass. A crescent moon peaked over
the pine trees in the distance. Crickets eased out in the silence, making sure the coast was clear, and then chirped a summertime
song. Stella’s shoulders sagged forward as she propped her elbows on her knees. Jack’s warmth felt strong and solid beside
her. She leaned her head back and looked up at the stars.
Stella was proud of herself for standing up to Wade and happy for the festival’s success. She should be content with how her
life was changing, guiding her toward a better path, but all she could think about was that Jack would be gone in less than
a day.
“So . . . tomorrow,” she said, trying to pretend the conversation was easy.
Jack reached for her hand and pressed it between both of his. “It normally happens around sunset or just after. There’s no
definite time, but around then seems to be the case more often than not.”
Stella closed her eyes, the starlight imprinting on the inside of her eyelids. She had let hope loose like a wild thing with
no chance of catching it again. A quiver started in her heart and then spread out like a shock wave. She dropped his hand
and stood.
“I’m going to take a walk, get some air.
” She stepped off the back stoop and trudged across the grass with no destination in mind.
Tears stung her eyes, and she clenched her jaw to keep the threatening sob at bay.
After a long, exhausting day, plus the encounter with Wade, she was overly worn down, which meant she was also overly emotional.
“Stella,” Jack called.
His shoes slapped the soft earth as he hurried to catch up with her, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop because then she would have to face him. She would have to look in his eyes and know she’d have to say goodbye soon.
“Stella,” he said, taking hold of her arm and slowing her forward motion. “Hey, look at me.”
Stella stopped walking, but she didn’t turn her head. She didn’t trust herself to keep her composure. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I-I’m about two seconds away from making a blubbering, embarrassing mess of myself.”
Jack stepped in front of her. “Tell me why you’re upset.”
“Is that a joke?” she asked, her voice breaking with sadness. “You know why I’m upset. You’re leaving. Tomorrow. And then what? What about me? What am I supposed to do with that?”
“I can’t tell you how to feel, but I can tell you how I feel. I’m thankful.”
“That you’re leaving?” Stella glared at Jack and shoved him out of the way. But he hooked her arm and spun her around.
“No, because of the time we’ve had. This is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” Jack said. “You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I know it’s been only a few days, but these have been the most wonderful days.
Because of you. And I don’t regret a second of our time together. I don’t want to waste our last hours together feeling sad. I want to enjoy every moment with you.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I can’t pretend that you’re not leaving.”
Jack touched her face. “I’m not asking you to pretend. I’m suggesting that we both try to enjoy the time we have left. No,
I can’t stay here forever, and yes, we knew this was temporary, but I wouldn’t change anything. Look what’s happened to you
in just a few days. Your heart has opened back up. You’re happy, Stella.”
She opened her eyes and pressed her finger into his chest. Warm tears slid down her cheeks. “Because of you.”
“Don’t give me all the credit. You’re the reason your heart opened, but if I can help keep it open, then there’s hope that
someone else can too.”
Stella’s bottom lip quivered. “I don’t want someone else. I want you.”
Jack cupped her face in his hands and wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “And I want you. Tonight we still have each other.”
He pressed his mouth against hers, and she responded, melting against him. It was so easy to let go of her anxiety and sadness
when he was kissing her, when he erased everything from her mind except for the feel of him. She gripped the back of his shirt
and pressed him as close as possible.
Lightning bugs danced around their bodies, and Stella sighed against Jack’s lips. He filled her with the kind of happiness
that made her buoyant. Without his arms around her, anchoring her to the earth, she would have lifted off the ground. She
could hold herself together for one more night.
Before they disappeared into Arnie’s cottage, she noticed the lightning bugs left behind trails of flickering words.
Hang on.
Come through.
Have faith.