Page 6 of Serenity at Seagrove
“That kid is always at one-hundred or sound asleep. I wish I had his energy,” Dawson said, watching as he disappeared down the beach.
“See? You have it all, man. I have no career, no wife, no kids. How did I end up here?”
“There’s a plan, Archer. You have to believe that. We can’t always choose our path, but we have to trust that we’ll get to the right destination in the end.”
Archer huffed out a breath and set his glass on the small table between them. "You sound like one of those self-help books that Julie probably has in the bookstore."
Dawson chuckled. "Maybe I've been married to her a little too long. But she's not wrong about those books. And she's not wrong about something else either."
"Oh yeah? What's that?"
"There's that new wellness center here in town, Serenity at Seagrove. Julie's been raving about it since she met the owner, Luna. It's not just about meditation and yoga, though those probably would do you some good." Dawson raised an eyebrow, daring Archer to argue with him. "She's a therapist. The real deal. It might be worth your time to check it out."
Archer scoffed immediately. "Therapy? Yoga? Meditation? Come on, man, you gotta be kidding me."
"I'm not," Dawson said. "I've known you a long time, and I know you're not the kind of guy who likes sitting still, but maybe that's what you need right now. A chance to clear your head and figure out what comes next. Finally deal with those emotions and the thoughts driving you crazy. They need to get out of that hard coconut of yours." He reached over and knocked his knuckles against Archer's head.
Archer stood abruptly, pacing the edge of the porch. He looked out at the darkening sky, his hands on his hips. "I don't need somebody to hold my hand and tell me it's all gonna be okay."
"No one's saying that," Dawson replied, "but you're carrying a lot right now. Maybe it's time to let some of it go."
Archer didn't respond. All he could hear was the gentle rustling of trees and waves breaking against the shore.
Dawson stood and joined him at the porch rail. "Look, I'm not trying to push you into anything you don't want to do, but you came back to Seagrove for a reason. Maybe this is part of it. Just give it some thought."
Archer glanced at him, his jaw tight. "I'll think about it."
"That's all I'm asking," Dawson said, holding up his hands. He gently clapped Archer on the back. "Now come on, let's grab another glass of tea and talk about something other than golf for a while."
The tension in Archer's shoulders eased just slightly. "Yeah, I think I could use the distraction."
CHAPTER3
Luna stood in the middle of Down Yonder Bookstore, breathing in the comforting scent of books and the fresh coffee from the small café in the corner. She'd come in looking for some new meditation books to put on the coffee table at Serenity, but found herself lingering. She was always drawn into the cozy atmospheres of bookstores.
"Well, darling, you look like you could use a cup of coffee," came a voice from behind her.
Luna turned to find an older woman with the most perfectly coiffed platinum blonde hair and bright red lipstick, watching her with knowing eyes. She was wearing a flowing pink caftan and multiple silver bangles that jingled when she moved. Her nails were painted in a matching hot pink.
"I'm Dixie," the woman said, extending her manicured hand. "You must be Luna. Julie's been telling me all about you and your new center."
Luna shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you. Julie mentioned you were her partner here at the bookstore."
"Her partner, her best friend, her resident wise old woman. I wear many hats," Dixie said with a wink. "Come on in. Have a seat over here in the café. I've got a fresh pot of coffee and some books I think might interest you. I figured you might come in at some point so I put a few aside."
Luna walked over to the café and sat down. Potted plants filled every available surface in the corners, and a large macramé piece hung on one wall.
"Have a seat, honey," Dixie said, gesturing to one of the chairs. She walked behind the counter and poured two cups of coffee. "Now tell me how you're settling into Seagrove, and don't give me that 'everything's fine' nonsense. I've been around this earth long enough to know when somebody's got some weight on their shoulders."
Luna accepted the coffee gratefully, wrapping her hands around the warm mug. "Is it that obvious?"
"Well, only to those who know what to look for," Dixie said, sitting in the chair across from her. "Opening a new business is never easy, especially one in a small town where you're the newcomer. But I have a feeling there's more to it than that."
Luna took a sip of her coffee. "I guess I'm just questioning a lot of things. Did I make the right choice coming here? Will people actually want what I'm offering? I met somebody yesterday who basically dismissed everything I do as, and I quote, 'woo-woo' stuff." She did air quotes for dramatic effect.
Dixie's eyes opened wide. "Would that someone happen to be a tall, brooding former golfer with a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas?"
Luna's eyes widened. "So you know Archer."
