Page 36 of Rhett & Moses
As the crowd thinned later in the night, Moses made his way to my table, sliding into the chair Vanessa had vacated earlier.
“Successful night?” I asked, reaching across to take his hand.
“Better than I expected,” he admitted. “No angry confrontations, no awkward questions about the Hayes situation. Just people enjoying themselves.”
“Turns out most folks are more interested in good drinks and good company than town scandals,” I observed. “Who knew?”
Moses chuckled, the sound warming something inside me. “There were a few cold shoulders, but not as many as I anticipated. And several people actually apologized for believing the worst of me all those years ago.”
“Good,” I said, squeezing his hand. “They should.”
He shrugged, the gesture so quintessentially Moses, deflecting praise or vindication with the same casual dismissal he’d once used for criticism. “It’s a small town. People believe what’s convenient, what fits their worldview.”
“That doesn’t make it right,” I insisted.
“No,” he agreed, “but it makes it understandable. And forgivable, at least for most.”
His capacity for grace, even after everything he’d endured, never ceased to amaze me. “You’re a better person than I am,” I told him. “I’d be holding grudges until the end of time.”
Moses laughed outright at that. “No, you wouldn’t. You’re too practical for extended grudges. They’re exhausting to maintain.”
I couldn’t argue with that assessment. Despite initial anger at those who’d wronged Moses, I found myself focused more on our future than on settling old scores. “Fair point. Speaking of practical matters, are we still on for staying an extra day after tomorrow’s event? I’d like to show you something before we head back.”
Curiosity flickered in his eyes. “Mysterious. But yes, I’ve got Bronwyn covering the bar. What are you planning?”
“You’ll see,” I replied enigmatically. “Just trust me.”
His expression softened. “I do. Implicitly.”
Those three simple words carried the weight of our shared history, of twenty years of separation, of the trust rebuilt in a matter of days. I leaned across the table, pressing a brief kiss to his lips, no longer concerned about who might see or what they might think.
“Get a room,” Bronwyn called good-naturedly as she passed, carrying a tray of empty glasses.
“Already have one,” I called back without missing a beat. “The Presidential Suite at Mill Creek Inn. It’s quite impressive.”
Moses shook his head, a flush creeping up his neck that I found endlessly endearing. “She’s going to be insufferable now,” he muttered, but the smile playing at his lips belied any real annoyance.
“Worth it,” I decided, rising from my seat. “Need help closing up?”
We fell into an easy rhythm, Moses behind the bar handling inventory while I helped Bronwyn and the staff clear tables and stack chairs. By the time we finished, it was well past midnight,the streets of Gomillion quiet and empty as we walked back to my hotel.
“Nervous about tomorrow?” I asked as we strolled hand in hand, enjoying the warm night air.
Moses considered the question. “Not nervous, exactly. More... apprehensive. It’s one thing to face down the Hayes family and tell my truth. It’s another to voluntarily put myself in the spotlight, hosting a public event right after all that drama.”
“We are all right here with you,” I reminded him.
He nodded his head firmly. “This is important. Not just for me, but for the town. A chance to move forward, to show that Gomillion is more than its scandals and secrets.”
I squeezed his hand, overwhelming affection welling up inside me. “When did you get so wise?”
“Somewhere between mixing my thousandth Old Fashioned and having my life implode spectacularly,” he replied dryly. “Turns out, perspective comes free with public humiliation.”
I laughed, delighted as always by his sharp wit. “Well, I for one am grateful for your wisdom, however you acquired it.”
At the hotel, we fell into bed with the easy familiarity of longtime lovers, despite our relationship being just days old in its current form. Physical intimacy had never been our challenge, it was the emotional openness, the vulnerability that we were still learning to navigate. But we were learning, growing closer with each conversation, each shared experience.
Morning came too quickly, sunlight streaming through the curtains we’d forgotten to close fully. Moses was already awake, sitting on the edge of the bed, phone in hand.
