Lunar Love (87)

Bennett laughs. “Right! So, if I recall correctly, your evaluation of me being a Rat is that I’m a freeloader, afraid of rejection, dishonest, and misleading?” he says, throwing the words I directed at him at the Halloween party back at me.

I cringe hearing those words again. “No. Because you’re resourceful, ambitious, easy to get along with, and caring. You’re a good listener, have a great sense of humor, and have a kind heart. And I…I’m sorry,” I say, stretching out the words.

“We may have different approaches to life, but I think that can be a good thing,” Bennett says.

I reach out to grab Bennett’s hand. “Even though we’re incompatible according to the Chinese zodiac, I’ve never felt more myself than when I’m with you. And life’s too short not to be with someone you feel most yourself with.”

Bennett clasps my hand in return and scoots closer to me on the blanket. “You’re not the only one who feels that way. You’ve made me a better version of myself.”

“It’s safe to say that you’ve been slightly influential on me, too,” I admit.

Bennett pulls me closer. “I hope you believe that I never tried to put Lunar Love out of business. I may not completely change your mind about compatibility, but I hope I can at the very least change your mind about me.”

I take a deep breath. “I can see it now. My need for adventure will balance nicely with your intellectual pursuits. Your flexibility and forthrightness will help counteract my stubbornness, which, let’s be honest, I need. You’ll respect that I crave my independence while I’ll appreciate, after learning over time, that being together can be just as fulfilling.”

“I’ll do my best, but I like how independent you are,” Bennett whispers, leaning his forehead against mine.

The nearness of his face to mine almost derails my train of thought, but I push on, considering the other ways Bennett might help balance me. “Sometimes I’ll want control, sometimes you will, but the natural leaders in us will value that we’re in an equal partnership where one of us isn’t just following the other. And since we both, for the most part, know each other’s traits, we can work on compromise and come together from a place of understanding.”

Bennett looks impressed. “You forgot one thing.”

I look at him with skeptical eyes. “What?”

He holds my hand against his chest. “My data-driven mindset will always be balanced by your heart.”

I shake my head. “You have more heart than you think. There’s no doubt we both need control. For me, it’s who gets to be matched together. For you, it was in your approach to how those matches happened. I so closely follow predetermined rules for myself and others.”

“Maybe love isn’t something that can be controlled to the level we were trying to manage it,” Bennett says. “It’s not something where either of us can guarantee an outcome. For most of my life, I needed to be able to take charge. But, Olivia, you make me want to lose control, go with my gut, delete the spreadsheet, and take the risk.”

I smile, my heart overflowing with emotion. “I have something for you,” I say, reaching for a metal bucket I covered in a towel earlier today.

Bennett peeks over my legs. “What is it?”

“I thought it could be nice to do our own joss paper burning,” I say, bringing out an envelope from under my side of the blanket.

His eyebrows knit together in confusion. “Do you have more items to send to your Pó Po?” he asks.

“For your mom,” I say, handing Bennett the envelope.

He delicately holds the envelope between his hands and pulls out a stack of papers.

“What are these?” he says, reading the writing on the paper. After a few seconds, understanding settles on his face.

“They’re your parents’ Lunar Love files,” I explain. “They include the notes Pó Po took when she matched your mom and dad.”

Bennett’s eyes glisten. “I don’t know what to say,” he says, falling quiet. “I thought about my mom a lot today. In my mind, she’s forever this brilliant person who never missed a bedtime reading, always ate the frosting first, and taught me how to dance. These details make her feel real again.”

“It’s the best match Lunar Love ever made,” I admit.

Bennett flips through the pages, absorbing every last detail.

I lift the towel from the bucket and reveal an assortment of small paper goods. “I was able to track down a paper shop today. I found a guy who makes the most beautiful paper items I’ve ever seen. I took the liberty of picking up some necessities for your mom.”

Bennett gently lifts out a paper house, clothing, money, shoes, and food. “You even included little paper journals and pens,” he says, surprised.

“For her to write about her experiences,” I say. “I’m sure she has more great stories to tell.” I hand him a folded piece of paper. “I’d also like to add this, if that’s okay with you.”

He takes the paper from me cautiously. “What’s this?”

“It’s a letter to her, from me. I’d love for her to know how incredible her son is, and how proud she’d be of who you are.”

A tear trails down Bennett’s cheek. “This is…thank you,” he says, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me closer.