Page 15 of Serenity at Seagrove
"Impose?" Julie laughed. "Luna, you clearly don't understand how things work here. Family isn't just about blood in Seagrove. Besides, Mama's already planned the menu. She's determined to try her hand at more Puerto Rican dishes, so we're going to need the backup."
"Oh no," Luna said. "Please tell me she's not going to attempt mofongo."
"Actually, I think that was exactly what she was muttering about this morning. Something about plantains and garlic."
"That's it. I have to come now, if only to prevent a culinary disaster." Luna shook her head. "Your mother is a force of nature."
"Well, that she is," Julie said. "Speaking of forces of nature, Dixie's coming, too. She needs to properly educate you about Seagrove's history, she says."
Luna loved Dixie and her energy. "Well, I have a feeling I'm in for quite an education, then."
"Oh, you have no idea," Julie said. "But that's what makes it home. You know, you're going to fit in here just fine."
Home.It was starting to feel that way, wasn't it? Luna thought.
The door opened again, and both women turned to see who had arrived. Luna was shocked, and her breath caught in her throat when she saw Archer standing in the doorway, looking uncomfortable.
"Well, I'll let you get back to work," Julie said, quickly gathering her things. As she passed Archer, she gave him a surprised smile. "Well, look who finally decided to stop lurking outside."
Luna watched Julie and Janine leave and then turned to Archer, who stood just inside the doorway as if he was going to run out at any moment. He looked like he wasn't even sure how he'd gotten there.
"Good morning," she said, trying to sound casual. "Can I offer you some tea?"
He shifted his weight, his hand unconsciously moving to his shoulder. "I, um, actually came here to ask about those movement classes you're starting next week. Julie mentioned them."
Of course she did,Luna thought, making a mental note to have a word with her new friend about meddling. "Would you like to sit down? I can tell you about them."
Archer hesitated and then nodded, following her to the comfortable seating area overlooking the ocean. Luna noticed how carefully he lowered himself into the chair.
"So the classes are designed for people working through chronic pain and injuries," she explained. "It's about gentle movement, breathing techniques that help release tension and promote healing."
"So no weird music or chanting?" he asked.
She couldn't tell, but there seemed to be a hint of humor in his voice.
Luna smiled. "No chanting. That's a different class," she said, laughing. "Though I can't guarantee there won't be some calming background music, but the ocean does a lot of the work for us there."
She watched as his eyes drifted to the windows.
"I'm not good at this stuff," he finally said, looking back at her. "The slow movement, the breathing. I'm used to pushing through pain, not doing… well, whatever this is that you do.”
"And how's that working out for you?" Luna asked gently.
His eyes met hers. "Not great," he admitted.
Luna leaned forward slightly, keeping her voice gentle. "Can I ask you something, Archer?"
He nodded, but she could see wariness creep into his face.
"What do you miss most about golf? Not the competition or the rankings, but the feeling of it."
He was so quiet for so long that she thought he might not answer at all. Finally, he spoke. "The peace. Early morning on the course, when everything's quiet except for the birds and the sound of my club cutting through the air. The whoosh of that sound, the perfect connection between me and the club and the ball, when everything aligns just right. The way nothing else existed in those moments."
"And that's what these classes are about," Luna said softly. "Finding that peace again, that perfect alignment, but just in a different way."
Archer ran his hand through his hair. "I saw you working with those clients this morning," he said, "when I was walking for my second time. They looked content, peaceful."
"That's the goal. Small changes, one breath at a time."
