Page 11 of Forgetting Rafe Thomas
“The guys have been hounding me about fighting harder for Luna, but the truth is, I don’t know how to do that. I’ve done all the small acts of kindness I can think of, but obviously those didn’t show her how much I care. I thought about doing some big grand gesture, but after wandering through town today, I can’t think of anything that we haven’t done.”
He nods along, sipping his coffee.
“I still want to fight for her, but Dad, I haven’t got a clue what I have to offer her if I’m honest. I can’t help thinking maybe she would be better off with a man who can give her more.”
“You have a home. A career. Deep love that can’t be broken. Faith. What else is there, Rafe?”
I shrug and blow out a deep breath. “The things she wants, I guess. A dream job as a curator, a guy who speaks in more than grunts when he’s put on the spot, someone who can articulate how he feels.”
Dad’s laughter strikes me as odd, so I narrow my eyes. He shakes his head. “I know Luna like she’s my own daughter, and that’s not what shewants.She wants you, always has, but sheneedsto feel supported too. You think after all these years that woman doesn’t know how you operate?”
“I’m pretty sure my method of operation is what drove her away, but thanks for laughing at my expense,” I say with a scowl.
“Nah, that wasn’t it. I think it was more thepaceof your operation. She wanted to be married, Rafe. To you.” Once again, he holds up a hand to quiet me before I even open my mouth. “Don’t get me wrong. Selling the app and buying her a home, those are admirable things to want to do before marrying someone. You wanted to build her a future. The problem is, you never let her in on the planning stages of that future. It takes you both working together to make the dream work.”
“Like you and Mom?” I ask.
“Exactly. Communication was never my strength either, but she knows with a few words where my intentions and heart are. So does Luna, but you have to saysomethingto keep her feeling connected to you.”
“So what do I do? How do I go up to her and say all of that?”
He chuckles again. “I have an idea. You up for it?”
Relief surges through my entire body. Dad always knows what to do. Even as a grown man, I find I’m desperate for his advice. “Yes. Anything. I’ll do anything at this point.”
“Follow me inside. This is a covert operation, after all.”
Dad grabs his laptop and heads inside. I follow, a little lighter than before I arrived. Whatever he has planned, I pray it works because I’m not sure what else to do.
My parents’ dog, Ruthie, has taken up residence on Dad’s leather sofa in his office. Rather than disturb the elderly Great Dane, I settle in the chair across from my dad at his desk. He drops his laptop on the desk and begins tapping away for a moment.
“What’s the address of the place you’re staying?” He peers over the screen while I dig for the slip of paper Joe gave me buried deep in my pocket. I hand it over, still confused about what he’s planning.
After a little more tapping, he turns his computer around for me to look at. “This is the cottage right here.” He points to a quaint little stone-front cottage complete with rose bushes and a vegetable garden. “Over here are two other rentals. My suggestion is that you fork over the cash, rent one for Luna, purchase two plane tickets, and make a phone call.”
“What? Dad, that’s insane. She won’t even take my phone calls, and you want me to book a cottage and a flight for her without knowing whether she’ll come or…oh…oh, yeah…now I see where you’re going with this.”
“You can’t play it safe, Rafe. Not this time. You do the thing, take the big leap of faith, and leave it open for her to decide where she stands in this.”
“What if it doesn’t work?”
Dad frowns and turns the computer back around. “Then at least you’ll know and you can start to sort your life out knowing you did all you could. I’m not saying that would be an easy thingto do, but son, you can’t pine over the woman your whole life. I think you know that, or else you wouldn’t have asked my advice.”
I do know that. I do, but the thought of letting Luna go kills me. And falling in love with another woman? Impossible. It’s not something I could ever do. My father waits patiently while I mull it over, considering the possibilities. He’s right about one thing: it’s definitely putting it all on the line. No one likes to be crushed beyond recognition, but this is akin to pulling off the world’s largest Band-Aid from my heart…necessary, but painful.
“Okay. Yeah, let’s do it.” I hand him my credit card and let him set everything up for me. It’s only a few clicks and taps before the deed is done, and I’ve set myself up for potential failure.
“All done. I couldn’t get you on the same flight, but that might be for the best. It’ll give you both some time to think things through on your way there. The return flight is open-ended, so you’ll have to decide after you get there.” He peers over the screen again with a questioning gaze.
“Yes,I’m coming back even if Luna doesn’t show up.”
He chuckles and closes his laptop. “Okay, I just had to be sure so I could prepare a speech if you didn’t. If your mother heard that I helped you get out of town and you decided to stay, I might have to cross the ocean to live with you.”
For the first time in a long while, I laugh. It comes deep from my chest and feels good, but it’s soon slowed when reality hits me. Luna might not show up. But…she might, and if she does, there will be so much to work through.
The doorbell rings and Dad stands. “That’s my first meeting of the day, but I can reschedule if you need more time to talk.”
I stand and stretch. “Nah, it’s fine. I need to pack anyway, right?”
