Page 39 of Until the Stars Fall

He smiled silently for about a minute straight before going on. “Your last intention might be something like ‘I release all negative beliefs and thoughts I’m holding on to.’ Then if you use crushed rose petals, take three handfuls and repeat the same affirmations with each handful. She might have all kinds of other goodies, too, like bath bombs, or essential oils. You basically make a lovely soup and soak in your own good intentions.”

“It sounds relaxing, at least, and I definitely need to catch up on my relaxing.”

“It’s probably more exhilarating than relaxing, but if you’re doing that tonight, you’re gonna sleep like a baby.” He collected up the last of the spent candles. “Actually, none of the babies I know sleep all that well, so I don’t know why people say that.”

“Know a lot of babies?”

“My brother’s kids. Charlotte’s about to turn three, but I haven’t met my nephew yet. Henry Beck. He was born in Nouvelle Orleans last summer.” He placed his palm warm against my back, his eyes growing darker and more serious, though the familiar crinkling was there. “And thanks to you, he’ll get to meet his Uncle Beck.” He scratched my back once and stood up.

That simple scratch sent an avalanche of desirous shivers through my body that collected in an ache between my legs. “Maybe you can save my life once, and we can call it even.”

Still holding the crate in both hands, he pointed his finger at me as he walked backwards a few steps. “Hey, I’m there for ya babe. But you better get going. Punctuality is next to godliness for Zola.”

“Oh wow. I didn’t realize it was so late!”

His voice came over from upstairs and around the corner. “Time flies when you’re with the sexiest man alive.”

I smiled, blushing, and hurried toward the door, but his heavy footsteps jogged behind me.

“Hey Gem—” He held my rose candle between us.

I reached for it, but he pulled it back. “Hang on, one last drag.” He inhaled it deeply, then breathed out a heavy, contented sigh. “That’s some good shit.”

I snatched it from him before he could trick me again. “Good night!”

He called out after me, his words all in a rush as the door closed between us. “Tell Zola I want a rose candle and a ritual bath appointment too!”

Thanks to Zola’s text of what to bring, I showed up right on time to Suite 107 with all my bath and nighttime things. The door was already open, and I found Zola in the suite’s expansive bathroom. It was the loveliest place on the whole ship. Reclaimed wood covered the ceiling and walls, all whitewashed. A white, clawfoot tub stood against the wall, and beside it, salvaged window panes enclosed a double-wide shower. A tile floor overpainted with a soft, repeating mandala design and a few mismatched lamps completed the soft look.

“This might be the bathroom of my dreams.”

“He did a beautiful job, didn’t he? He far surpassed what I thought he could get done for me.”

“Noah?” I didn’t remember my brother being especially handy.

Zola smirked. “Oh heavens, no. Beck. I chose this bathroom to make a sacred space, not just for the journey, but also for the time we’ll be living in the ship while we all build our houses. Beck overheard me lamenting to Eyre that I didn’t know how I’d ever get it into shape, so he stepped in and offered to pretty it up for me. And you know he spent so much time fixing up everybody else’s stuff, his suite is pretty plain. Well, he had your suite at first. But when he learned you were coming, he gave it up and moved downstairs so you could be closer to Hannah.”

He’d never told me that. I ran my hand along a pipe and wood towel bar. “He thought of everything.”

“He’s a thoughtful man. And all with unclaimed property from abandoned houses in New Orleans. Beck practically lived on the road this past year, getting us all the best things he could find. Anyway, I’ve got everything all set for you.”

She opened a tall wooden cabinet against the wall. Artfully arranged inside were over a dozen different jars and small wooden boxes of salts, flower petals, essential oil bottles, mini bath bombs, bath melts, and a selection of crystals, all labeled with their names and supposed benefits. A smoke cleansing bundle sat in an abalone shell on a small wooden stand.

“First things first. The bathroom has to stay scrupulously clean. So I need you to take a shower first to get yourself clean. Wash your hair and all. When you’re done, place all of your belongings you brought with you—along with your dirty towel—on that stand outside the bathroom. Don’t worry, I’m locking the door on the way out, so it’ll only be you in here.”

Then Zola proceeded to explain the ritual much as Beck had, even showing me how to light the smoke cleansing bundle that Beck had forgotten to mention.

“Got it?”

“I think so. Thank you for setting all this up. By the way, Beck’s jealous. He wants a rose candle and a bath appointment too.”

Zola cocked her head. “Okay. I can arrange that. I think he’s about due for one. I’m gonna get going now. Eyre’s waiting on me for movie night.”

“Have fun!”

After Zola left, I showered quickly and stowed all my things on the stand outside the bathroom in the suite, including my judgment. Naked and bereft of everything I’d brought in with me, I started the bath water, lit the candles, and lit the smoke bundle, blowing on it until it was smoldering. I coated my whole body in the whirling smoke and let it drift through my wet hair, watching the patterns and focusing on cleaning and fresh starts.

As the water filled, I selected my three crystals and placed them on the bronze tray beside the bath. Grabbing my first handful of rose and herb sea salts, I spoke my first intention: “I release all negative beliefs that have been holding me back.” A second handful, a second intention: “I attract only light and love into my life.” A third handful, a third intention: “I welcome new joys into my life with open arms and an open heart.”

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