Page 14 of Serenity at Seagrove
Luna arranged teacups on a tray. She brought special herbs from her stash, planning to brew her grandmother's calming tea blend for after the morning session.
"And you know what I think?" Janine continued, sitting on her mat. "I think you understand him better than most people here. We all just see the golf guy who lost his career, but you see?—"
"I see a person underneath their pain," Luna finished quietly. "It's not that complicated, Janine. It's what I'm trained to do. It doesn't mean I'm interested in him at all beyond that."
"Are you sure that's all it is? Professional interest?"
Before Luna could respond, the front door opened, and their clients started to arrive—a mother and daughter from Atlanta who'd booked a week-long vacation to Seagrove and wanted some day sessions at Serenity. Luna straightened her shoulders and pushed thoughts of Archer aside. Time to get to work, she whispered to Janine, standing up to greet her guests.
As she led them through Serenity's morning routine of gentle stretching, meditation, and finally the special tea, Luna couldn't completely shake the memory of Archer on the beach that morning, looking up at her windows.
As Luna poured the herbal tea into delicate cups with little pink roses on them, she watched her clients' faces soften with contentment. Their morning session had gone better than she'd hoped. Even the teenage daughter who had started the class with typical adolescent skepticism gradually relaxed into the gentle movements and breathing exercises.
"Wow, this tea is amazing," her mother, Sarah, said after taking a sip. "I've never tasted anything quite like this."
"It's my grandmother's blend," Luna explained, sitting down on one of the cushions across from them. "She grew all these herbs in her garden in Puerto Rico. She always said that a good tea was medicine for the soul."
"Well, your grandmother sounds very wise," Sarah said, cradling her cup in both hands.
"She was," Luna said, remembering her abuela's small but vibrant garden. "She taught me that healing isn't about just fixing what's wrong, but about nurturing what's right."
The door opened, and Luna looked up to see Julie entering with a stack of books from Down Yonder Bookstore.
"I'm so sorry to interrupt," Julie said. "I didn't know you had clients here this morning, but I brought those wellness books we discussed for your lending library."
"Oh, perfect timing," Luna said. "We were just finishing up our morning session."
Julie set the books on the shelves, and Sarah and her daughter gathered their things. Both looked noticeably more relaxed than when they had arrived. Luna walked them to the door and scheduled their next session for the following morning.
"You're good at this," Julie said once they were alone. "Really good. They looked like the two most relaxed people on the planet."
Luna smiled. "Well, that's the goal. Small changes, one breath at a time."
Julie walked over to the window and looked out at the ocean. "I'll never get tired of this view, no matter if I see it here or at my own house. You know, I was thinking about those gentle movement classes you mentioned starting, the ones for people with injuries or chronic pain."
Luna smiled, already knowing where this was heading. "Let me guess, you think they'd be perfect for a certain former golfer?"
"Well, now that you mention it," Julie turned to face her. "He's not doing his physical therapy exercises. Dawson's very worried about him. My husband is the sweetest man. He always thinks about other people more than himself, but honestly, I'm worried about him, too."
Luna began gathering up the empty teacups. "Julie, I understand you want to help him, but Archer needs to want help first. I can't force him to come here. He needs to do it for the right reasons."
"You know, he's very different with you," Julie said. "At the opening celebration, he was actually talking to you. Apparently, he really talked, not just grunted one-word responses like he usually does."
"We just connected over something unexpected," Luna said. "That's all."
"Well, maybe that's enough. Sometimes all it takes is just that one small connection to open a door."
Luna carried the teacups to the kitchen, thinking about Archer's face when he talked about missing the golf course in the mornings. There was something there—such a longing, such grief for something lost.
"I'll tell you what," Luna said. "If he asks about the classes, and that's a big if, I'll make sure that there's space for him. But it has to be his choice, Julie. You can't heal someone who's not ready."
Julie nodded. "Fair enough. Though don't be surprised if Mama starts leaving class schedules at his table every time he comes into Hotcakes."
Luna laughed. "Is there anything SuAnn won't do to get her way?"
"Not that I've discovered yet," Julie said with a grin. "Oh, speaking of Mama, she wanted me to remind you about Sunday dinner, and no excuses this time. She said you need to experience a proper Seagrove family meal."
Luna wiped her hands on a tea towel, trying to hide her nervousness. "Sunday dinner? Listen, I don't want to impose on a family gathering."
