Page 22 of Serenity at Seagrove
"Coquí?" Archer asked.
"Oh, they’re little tree frogs native to Puerto Rico. They’re tiny, but they have this distinct song—co-kee, co-kee—that’s how they get their name." Luna smiled, thinking about her grandmother. "My abuela said they sang to remind us that the smallest things can make the biggest impact."
"You mean like gentle movements and breathing?" he asked quietly, his eyes meeting hers.
"Something like that," she said, her cheeks warming.
"Well, it seems like your grandmother had a lot of wisdom," SuAnn said. "And I’m glad to hear her stories and get to share in this Puerto Rican-Southern fusion dinner that I think was a great success."
Everyone smiled and clapped.
"Let me help," Luna said, rising, but SuAnn waved her off.
"No, you cooked. Julie and Janine can help me clean up."
"Spoken like a true mother," Dawson said. “Do you want me to help?" he asked Julie as she stood.
She shook her head and followed her mother and sister into the kitchen. Everyone else helped to clear the table, and Luna found herself sitting with Archer. In the twilight, the strings of light SuAnn had hung around the porch created a soft glow.
"Thank you," he said suddenly.
"For what?"
"For not making a big deal about that class when Dixie brought it up."
"Listen, Archer, your healing journey is your own. It’s not for public consumption."
"Yeah, well, you’ll find that not much in this town stays private."
"Well, maybe not, but some things can still be sacred. Like healing. Like finding your way back to yourself."
The breeze stirred the Spanish moss in the trees, creating shadows on the porch. She could hear laughter from the kitchen as they cleaned up, SuAnn’s voice rising above the rest, although Dixie was a close second.
"You know what’s weird?" Archer said after a moment. "My shoulder—it actually felt better after Thursday’s class."
"Not just physically, but like something unlocked?" Luna suggested.
"Yeah, and that scares me a little bit."
"Why?"
"Well, because if this helps—if this gentle movement, breathing, and all the stuff I dismissed actually helps—then what does that say about everything I thought I knew? About how I’ve been approaching my recovery this whole time?"
"It says you’re brave enough to try something new, Archer. That’s all it has to say right now. It doesn’t have to mean anything big.”
Their eyes met in the soft porch light, and Luna felt something shift, a subtle change in the air, like that moment before it starts raining.
"More coffee out here?" Julie broke the tension as she stepped onto the porch with a fresh pot.
"Oh, no thanks," Archer said, standing carefully. "I need to head out. Early morning tomorrow."
"Another class?" Julie asked.
"Maybe," Archer said. "Thanks for dinner and for, well, everything."
After he left, Julie settled into his vacated chair.
"Well?”
