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Her smile softens.“It’ll be a lemonade with fruits.I always pretend it’s sangria.”
“Sure,” I respond, reaching for the wooden salad servers.
As the three of us work in the kitchen, the sense of hope rises within me.The steady beat of our movements begins to synchronize.It’s subtle, but there, I can see it.
We can do this.Nothing is going to break it as long as we work on ourselves and fall back madly in love.
“This isn’t awkward,”Aerin claims, as the gentle clink of our cutlery against the plates punctuates her words, and we begin to eat.
I look up, our gazes meeting before I speak.“Why would you say that?”
“I don’t know,” she admits, her fork nervously picking at her food.“It’s like there’s a huge elephant next to us that we’re refusing to address.”
But she’s mistaken.There’s a comforting familiarity to this meal, an effortless rhythm I haven’t experienced in what feels like a lifetime.A bite.A chew.A shared smile.At this moment, we aren’t three people with a complicated past and too many scars in their souls.We are just us, enjoying our first meal together after years of separation.
“She doesn’t like silence,” Sanford reminds me.“We always share something more than a meal.We catch up or ...”His words hang in the air, an unfinished thought that doesn’t need to be voiced.
Aerin nods a few times in agreement and then asks, “You can tell us about the conversation with your mom.How’s Thea doing these days?”
“It wasn’t just her on the call, but all three of my parents,” I explain, issuing a gentle warning.“She’s hoping to see you soon.”
“That would be nice,” she says with a nostalgic, yet hopeful tone.
Mom and Aerin got along pretty well.She always loved her like a daughter.I shouldn’t be surprised that she’s okay with seeing Mom.Which is the opposite reaction I would’ve had if San told me his mother was looking forward to seeing me.I’d likely run in the opposite direction.Don’t get me wrong, she’s a great person, but I don’t want to exchange platitudes with anyone.
Since the conversation with my family is fresh in my mind, I tell them all about it while we eat.Suddenly, the awkwardness is gone.Aerin’s smile brightens the backyard.A spark of energy that ignites the atmosphere.She teases Sanford, her dark eyes twinkling with unadulterated amusement as she steals a tomato off his plate, laughing at his feigned outrage.
She’s different, lighter.There’s a sense of peace in her.
And Sanford, he’s more relaxed than I’ve seen him in a long time.He chuckles at Aerin’s antics, the tension that usually shadows his features melting away.He’s present, at least until tomorrow, when he has to leave.All this is comforting, like slipping into an old pair of shoes that still fit perfectly.
Happily, I help them clean up the table and do the dishes since I barely helped with the meal.But I don’t care what I have to do.All that matters is that they’re here.If only we could stay like this forever.
Is that possible?
ChapterSeventeen
Sanford
A lazy smiletugs at the corner of Aerin’s mouth as she pokes at the bowl of berries with a fork.“Tell me something new,” she prompts.
The familiarity tugs at my lips.It was our thing.Whenever I would visit New York or she would come to Seattle, we would make love and then she’d ask me for one new thing I’ve done while we were apart.Each time, I wanted to share the details of my missions with her, but I always held back.I wanted to shield her from the dangers of my job, knowing it would only cause her worry.
If we find our way back to each other, perhaps I will start sharing what I can, so she’s aware of everything I do.I don’t want there to be any secrets between us.No, it shouldn’t be an if, but a when.When we find our way back to us.
“There’s so much.What do you want to hear about?”I reply, uncertain of where to begin.It has been too many years apart, and countless things have happened.
She tilts her head thoughtfully, allowing strands of hair to slip over her shoulders.Then, she reaches out, tracing her finger over the lyrics and musical notes inked on my arm.“Why did you decide to own a tattoo parlor?”
I remove my arm from her touch and playfully attempt to snatch a plump blackberry from her bowl.She swats my hand away, a bright laugh escaping her.“Keep your hands away from my bowl, mister.”
I raise an eyebrow in mock offense.“But you can eat my food, huh?”
Her answering shrug is almost smug, a smirk gracing her lips as she teases.“Tough luck, big guy.Now, tell me why you became a tattoo artist.”
“It’s because of my insomnia,” I confess, clearing my throat before diving into the story.“I needed a hobby, something to keep me occupied during the sleepless nights.A friend who owns a tattoo parlor offered me an apprenticeship.”
I go on to explain how later, Manelik’s grandfather fell ill, and we all decided to pitch in at Luna Harbor for a couple of years.They own several businesses.Among them there was a tattoo parlor.It was during that time that each of us purchased a property.“About a year ago, when his grandparents decided to retire, I offered to buy the shop.It’s next to my cottage.”
