Page 37 of Rhett & Moses
“Everything okay?” I asked, voice still rough with sleep.
He turned, a small smile gracing his features. “Yeah. Just checking in with Bronwyn about setup for today. She’s already at the square, directing the caterers like a five-star general.”
I chuckled, sitting up to press a kiss to his shoulder. “Sounds about right. What time do we need to be there?”
“Ten,” he replied, setting his phone aside. “Which gives us approximately an hour and a half to shower, eat, and get ourselves presentable.”
I pulled him back down beside me, nuzzling into his neck. “Or we could skip breakfast and be a little less presentable...”
Moses laughed, the sound vibrating against my lips. “Tempting, but no. I need to be fully functional and coherent for this. Rain check?”
“I suppose,” I sighed dramatically, releasing him. “But I’m holding you to that rain check.”
“I would expect nothing less,” he replied, dropping a quick kiss on my lips before heading to the shower.
We arrived at the town square precisely at ten, finding it transformed from its usual quiet charm into a bustling hub of activity. Tables had been set up in a semicircle around the restored Paul Bunyan statue, a bold choice that didn’t escape my notice. Bronwyn had positioned Moses’s gin tasting station directly opposite the statue, ensuring he would face the symbol of his past as he embraced his future.
“Symbolic,” I murmured to Moses as we approached.
“Bronwyn’s idea of subtle psychological therapy,” he replied, but there was no bitterness in his tone. “Facing your demons and all that.”
“Is it working?” I asked.
He considered the statue thoughtfully. “You know, I think it is. It’s just a hunk of wood and metal now. Not the monster I built it up to be in my mind.”
Throughout the morning, people trickled into the square, some clearly there for the free food and drinks, others making a point to stop by Moses’s station to sample his gin selections and, more importantly, to talk. I helped where needed, pouringsamples and explaining the different botanicals, but mostly I watched Moses, the way he engaged with each person, his genuine smile, his animated expressions when discussing his passion for distillation.
“He’s good with people,” a voice observed beside me. I turned to find Vanessa, stunning in a summery dress, watching the scene with the same appreciation I felt.
“When he lets himself be,” I agreed. “He’s kept people at a distance for so long, it’s remarkable how naturally he connects when he drops his guard.”
“Trauma does that,” she said thoughtfully. “Makes us build walls, keep secrets, hold parts of ourselves back. It takes courage to be open again, to risk being seen.”
I nodded, understanding the wisdom in her words. “He’s the bravest person I know,” I said simply.
“You’re good for him,” Vanessa replied, bumping my shoulder with hers. “You always were, even back in high school. The way you looked at him then, like he hung the moon and stars, it gave him something to believe in when not much else did.”
“I didn’t fight for him then,” I said, the old regret surfacing despite everything. “When he took the blame for the statue, when he pulled away, I let him go.”
“You were young,” she reminded me gently. “Both of you were. But you’re here now, when it counts.”
Before I could respond, a commotion near the entrance to the square caught our attention. Mayor Hayes had arrived, alone and looking distinctly uncomfortable. The crowd parted slightly, conversations quieting as people noticed his presence.
“This should be interesting,” Vanessa muttered, straightening as if preparing for confrontation. “Mayor Hayes hasn’t shown his face publicly since Soren admitted all and he tried to cover it up. It’s hard to retract someone's omission.”
I watched as the mayor made his way slowly through the gathering, nodding stiffly to those who acknowledged him. He was heading directly for Moses, his expression unreadable but his purpose clear.
“Should we intervene?” I asked Vanessa, tensing slightly.
She considered for a moment, then shook her head. “Let’s see what he wants first. Mayor Hayes may be many things, but he’s not stupid enough to cause a scene at a public event.”
Moses turned just as Mayor Hayes approached, his expression shifting from surprise to wariness as his son appeared after being absent from the town since his admission. Soren ignored his dad and moved closer to us all, a gesture I’m sure that didn’t go unnoticed by the mayor.
I couldn’t hear the initial exchange, but I saw Moses’s posture shift from defensive to attentive. The mayor was speaking quietly, earnestly, his usual political bluster notably absent. After a moment, Moses nodded, gesturing toward a quieter corner of the square.
“I’m going to eavesdrop,” Vanessa decided, already moving in their direction.
“Vanessa,” I began, but she waved off my protest. “My dad’s over there too.” She winked.
