“Now?”
“I don’t want to waste any time with you, Elowyn.” He glanced around at the sky darkening. “Besides, where I’m taking you only happens once a year.”
“All right.”
There were hundreds of people gathered at the lakeside. Philip and I stood off in the dark of the trees, away from the largecrowd. But I didn’t know what was going on. Everyone seemed to be watching the lake, and I could feel myself getting excited.
Philip smiled at me.
“You look excited, Elowyn.”
“I am.” I glanced around before looking at him. “What are we waiting for?”
He looked at the sky before looking at me.
“You’ll see in just a minute.”
He stepped closer to me, but my gaze was flickering all around us as others started talking, their voices getting excited. I stood up taller, hoping to see what they were. Then I saw the first one. A lantern floating out over the lake. Then a dozen more. My mouth fell open as the lanterns filled the dark sky, illuminating it like the heavens themselves were shining on us.
Each lantern reflected in the calm surface of the lake, making it look surreal. I stepped closer. Philip followed, but he was staring at me and not watching the lanterns.
“What do you think?” he whispered.
“It’s beautiful.” I looked at him. “What is it for?”
He glanced at the lanterns before looking at me with a softness in his gaze.
“Falgon does it once a year. I’m not sure where the tradition started but rumor has it that you can make a wish as you light a lantern and release it for the heavens and the gods. The heavens will hear each of our prayers, but it will grant only three of us our wishes. So everyone comes out every year hoping they are one of the three that the heavens will listen to.”
Gods, that sounded beautiful.
“I got each of us a lantern. Would you like to try?”
I nodded and he set down two lanterns before handing us each a stick, which we lit with the torch he held. We knelt down, but Philip watched me with a frown.
“What?” I asked.
“I just hope you aren’t using your wish for your ex-husband.”
I didn’t say anything because that was exactly what I wanted. Even now as I was on this wonderful date, I wondered if I could get the heavens to hear me. I stared at the symbol on the lantern, a small moon and stars. Philips had something similar, but with mountains under the stars.
I wish Abram a life of happiness, and if there is enough happiness to go around, I hope it finds me too.
The words tasted like surrender.
I lit the lantern and released it. Philip closed his eyes as if he were wishing then lit his lantern too. His pretty blue eyes met mine as he let go of it, and we watched them begin to rise.
“What did you wish for?” I asked.
“Love.” He didn’t hesitate. “What did you wish for?”
“Happiness.”
He grinned and looked up at our lanterns. They began to float over the lake, but all of a sudden, mine began drifting in the opposite direction. I watched it float back over us and start moving toward the city.
“That’s odd.” Philip watched the lantern. “I’ve never seen that happen before.”
“Maybe that is a good sign.”
