Page 11 of Serenity at Seagrove
Luna stood on Serenity's front porch, looking at the transformation SuAnn and the others had created. Fairy lights twinkled overhead, casting a warm glow over the gathering crowd. The ocean breeze carried a mingling of scents—from the appetizers SuAnn had insisted on preparing to the salty air that hung there naturally. There was a mix of healthy food and irresistible comfort food that somehow managed to please everyone.
"Well, this is just gorgeous," Julie said, walking up to her with a glass of sparkling water with a strawberry floating in it. "You've created something really special here, Luna."
"Well, I had a lot of help," she said, smiling as she watched Dixie talking to a group of people near the yoga deck. It appeared to be a very animated story.
"Still, it takes a lot of vision to see what this place could be," Julie said. "I mean, look how many people came."
"I don't think I expected such a big turnout." Luna nodded, her throat tight with emotion. The turnout was even better than she had ever hoped for. She was sure some people were skeptical and just curious about this new addition to the community. It was her job to educate them and make them realize that she could be of help in their lives.
Her eyes caught movement at the edge of the crowd, and then her breath hitched slightly when she saw Archer standing off to the side with Dawson. He looked very handsome in his crisp button-down shirt and dark jeans. He looked less guarded somehow.
"He cleans up pretty nice, doesn't he?" Julie said with a knowing smile.
"I didn't expect him to come," Luna admitted.
"Well, Archer surprises people sometimes, though usually not in good ways lately."
Luna laughed, but before she could respond, she spotted her first official client arriving. She moved over to greet the woman and noticed Archer watching her from across the deck. Their eyes met briefly, and she offered a small smile before turning to her client. It was a woman in town who had signed up for some therapy sessions after a particularly devastating loss in her life.
As the evening flowed smoothly, Janine led a short sunset yoga demonstration that even seemed to intrigue some skeptics. Of course, Janine taught yoga classes at her own studio, and Luna would never want to do anything to take away from that, but Janine had pointed out that many people would probably sign up for classes here because it was overlooking the ocean, and she was happy to do it.
Luna moved through the crowd, answering questions about her programs and services and sharing her vision for what Serenity could be. Later, she found herself alone on the open deck, just taking a moment to breathe and center herself. The partygoers had moved inside, taking tours of the place and eating some of SuAnn's new lavender lemon cupcakes .
"Nice turnout," a familiar deep voice said from behind her.
She turned around to find Archer standing there, his hands in his pockets, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Thank you for coming," she said softly. "It means a lot to have the community's support. Even from the resident skeptic."
His lips moved in a way that might have been the beginning of a smile, but it quickly dropped back down. “You like having comments from skeptics?”
"Especially from the skeptics. They keep me honest."
Archer moved to stand beside her at the railing, both of them looking out at the darkening ocean.
"You know, I've been wondering about something," he said after a moment.
"Just one thing?" she asked.
He looked over at her, and in the soft glow of the fairy lights, she could see the ghost of a smile on his lips.
"One thing for now. Why Seagrove, out of all the places you could have chosen?"
Luna smiled. "Would you believe I only came here once when I was a little kid? My parents saved for years to take that vacation."
"Just once? And it made that much of an impression?"
She nodded. "Some places just speak to your soul, you know. Myabuela, my grandmother on my mother's side, used to say that about Puerto Rico. I spent summers with her there when I was young. It was the most beautiful place. The beaches, the culture, the food—everything was alive with color and music."
"So why not open Serenity there instead?" he asked.
She was quiet for a moment. “Puerto Rico was my mother's home, her history. But Seagrove—it was the first place I chose for myself. It was one childhood vacation to everybody else. And it wasn't about heritage or family obligations. It was just peace to me. Pure, simple peace. The kind that settles into your bones and never leaves."
She could feel Archer studying her. "You remembered Seagrove that clearly?”
"Oh, I remember everything. Making sandcastles that the tide would take away. Looking for shells in the morning mist. Watching the sunset paint the sky in colors I'd never seen before. The smell of the marsh, the sound of the birds. My parents couldn't afford a fancy hotel or any of the touristy stuff, but it didn't matter. Seagrove was magic all by itself."
The breeze picked up, carrying the sound of laughter from inside. Luna wrapped her arms around herself.
