“Sorry about that. Running from my maniacal sister.” I laugh nervously, though I don’t know why I’m nervous. When I look at Gabriel now, and though he’s objectively handsome with his chocolate curls, vanilla skin, and brown eyes, I feel nothing like I once did.
Because Stone still resides in my heart for better or for worse…
“It’s all good,” he says in a heavy French accent. “How have you been?”
“Uhh…” I’m frozen in place because my tendency is to overshare and answer honestly, but he is not the person I need to unload on. “I’ve been fine.”
He looks me over with a skeptical gaze before shrugging it off. “You will be at the wedding and coronation, yes?”
I nod, and he grins.
“Good. Save me a dance.”
“Ditto,” I say, happy to know I will at least get to experience one dance where I’m twirled around a ballroom in a gown. I had small worries that I’d go and no one would dance with me.
Because Stone rejected me, everyone else must do so, too…
“Lucy girl!” Grandma Netty calls from elsewhere in the house. “Hold up before you leave. I have something for you.”
I excuse myself from Gabriel and follow her voice until I reach her bedroom. “What is it?”
She stands up from bending over her dresser. “Here.” She holds out a journal, and I gently grab the old, weathered leather book. “What is it?” I ask again.
“It’s my personal journal from right before I married your grandfather. I would like for you to read it.”
I tilt my head and scrunch my nose. “Why?” I don’t question it offensively—I’m excited to read it—but I do wonder why.
She laughs. “You know my creative knack was painting, so please don’t expect writing up to your caliber, but I feel like it could help you in what you’re walking through right now. You told me everything regarding Stone.” She pauses. “Right?”
My face reddens in embarrassment. I did tell her everything. When I left his house on Halloween night, I drove straight here and broke down in her arms. “Yes.”
“Then please read this. I believe the Lord allowed me to find it buried at the bottom of a box I once thought I’d lost. As I read the words I’d written so long ago, I thought of you. Just return it to me when you finish,dear.”
I hug her. “Of course. Thank you. I’ll cherish every word.”
We all chat together a little longer while finishing the last remnants of cleaning before heading our different directions. As Lorelei and I drive home, I reflect on the night, an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the perfect timing of it all. From sitting alone in my apartment, crying and bleeding onto the page, to having my soul filled with laughter and smiles and the people I love.
While her arms are still around me, a simple thank you rises in my heart. Not to Grandma Netty and not to Stone. Not to anyone but God. And even though I've done nothing but yell and scream at Him recently, I can't help but hope He hears my humble offering of thanks.
Chapter 21
Lucy
“Ineed more coffee,” I complain as we finally reach the small Mississippi beach town of Willow Bay. Eleven hours in the car after leaving at three in the morning takes a toll on a girl.
“You’ve had like five cups,” Hadley remarks, getting out of the passenger seat and stretching. Lorelei drove because she gets car sick easily while me and Hadley rode with her. Finley, Braxton, Gabriel and Anders followed behind us.
“Yep. Sure did. Got one every time you decided you had to pee.”
Lorelei laughs. “Girls, girls. Behave yourselves. I know road trips make people hangry, so let’s go eat some real food instead of the snacks we’ve consumed.” She points to a colorful restaurant a little ways down the boardwalk.
The sun is shining hot and bright for a late November day, and the salty, gentle breeze rolling in from the brown coastal waters up ahead brings the temperature down to the perfect metaphorical “sunny and seventy-five.”
We eat at a seafood restaurant that is raised on piles, painted in vibrant colors of blues and yellows, and overlooks the beach. Afterwards, we checked into a lovely beach house with an open screen porch, a beautiful view of the water, and enough rooms to where we can all sleep comfortably. The guys head off to do some fishing off the nearby pier while Lorelei, Hadley, and I hang behind to have some girl-time on the breezy, plant-filled porch.
“I might move down here,” Hadley sighs with her head laid back on the cushioned rocking chair. I side-eye her, but she doesn’t pay attention.
Lorelei is touching every plant on the porch, mentioning how she wished we would have brought Frannie with us instead of leaving her at Grandma Netty’s place. At this point, I may let her take Frannie back to Korsa with her. Not only have I been an atrocious cat mom, but I know Frannie misses her twin, Frizzle, just as much as I have missed mine.
