The Charm Bracelet(66)

“You are,” Jake said. “You’re such a whole person now. You need to see that.”

“Thank you for saying it to me,” Arden said. “Thank you for seeing it.”

“Sometimes people think they’re lucky in love or life when really they’ve just made themselves open and aware to the incredible possibilities and gifts that life has to offer.”

“Deepak Chopra?” Arden joked.

“No,” Jake said. “Just my little old philosophy on life and love.”

“I like this little old philosopher.”

“Old?” Jake laughed. “Little?”

Arden looked into Jake’s face. The moon and stars were illuminated in his eyes, as if he had swallowed the whole night sky so it would shine in his face for only Arden to see.

“I know we have a lot of things working against us,” Arden said. “Distance, careers, my mom’s health issues, obligations, exes, family … I mean, I don’t even know that much about your family yet … but I want to give this a chance. I really do.”

“I’m so happy to hear you say that. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life, either,” Jake said. “And on Memorial Day? We’ll have a proper date, okay? No more surprises. I’m officially asking you. What do you say?”

“Let me think about it.” Arden laughed, quickly adding, “Okay, I thought about it. Yes!”

“I think it’s only right that we come back here, to this beach, just the two of us, like your mom and dad did on one of their first dates. How’s that sound?”

“Perfect,” Arden said.

“I hope this is, too,” Jake said, leaning in and kissing Arden.

As if on cue, Arden saw a shooting star arc across the night sky. “You make me see stars,” Arden said.

Jake lifted Arden off the ground and twirled her around in the air, until they were one star in their own universe.





Thirty-seven




Lolly pulled an old thermos with a red tartan plaid design from the basket sitting on the quilt and poured some steaming liquid into the lid.

“Want a sip?” she asked Lauren.

“Oh, Grandma, this smells so good,” Lauren said, lifting the lid to her nose, steam rising. “What flavor of coffee is this?”

“Infused.” Lolly laughed. “It has a little—how shall I put this?—‘kick’ to it, if you get my drift. Don’t tell your mother. It was your grandfather’s secret recipe.”

Lauren acted as if she were locking her lips in secrecy and then took a sip. “Mmm, this is good. You think of everything, Grandma.”

As soon as the words were out, Lauren wished she could take them back.

“Not quite everything anymore,” Lolly said, trying to make a joke out of it.

Lolly patted her granddaughter’s leg and looked out onto the horizon. The wind ruffled the scarf that secured her red wig, long tendrils flipping to and fro in the breeze like streamers on a kid’s bicycle handle.

“I do remember something you told me the other night at the Rendezvous, however, when I was telling you about the loon charm and you said you’d never been in love,” Lolly started. “You said you wanted to control life a bit too much, like your mom.”

Lolly took the thermos lid from Lauren and sipped. “Are you telling me the whole truth? Is there another reason you’re not dating anyone?”

“Men are dogs, Grandma,” Lauren said without thinking.

“That’s not a good thing?” Lolly asked. “Aren’t dogs sweet?”

Lauren laughed and shook her grandmother’s leg. “You’d think so, right? But I mean dogs as in … well, you know … they tend to wander.”

“Oh!” Lolly said, finally understanding. “Dogs!”

Lauren stopped laughing and turned serious.

“If I’m being totally honest, it’s just that I’m really scared to put myself out there, Grandma,” Lauren said. “I’m a little gun shy after Mom and Dad’s divorce. I mean, they have hurt each other so much. And, Lexie’s boyfriends have all cheated on her. I want so much to find true love, but I don’t want my heart to get trampled.”

Lolly scooched over on the quilt and put her arm around her granddaughter. “Oh, my dear sweet, sensitive girl. Your heart is going to get trampled a little bit, whether you put it out there or choose to lock it away.”

Lolly ruffled Lauren’s hair and continued. “If you put yourself out there, you’re going to get hurt at some point. Yes, your boyfriend or husband could leave you. He might stray. He could die way too young like your grandfather. And, at some point, you will both probably say things to one another you immediately want to take back. But, if you remain alone, your heart will ache for all that you never experienced. Love is filled with great beauty and great pain. But there is no beauty to life if you don’t put your heart at risk. The ability to love is one of the greatest gifts we’re given. It’s the reason we’re here.”

Lolly stopped and pointed up at the sky. “Think of when you paint … say, like a scene of shooting stars in the sky. You lose yourself in that work, don’t you? You experience the sheer beauty of what you’re seeing and feeling. It’s the same way in love. You must never lose who you are, but you also must be willing to lose yourself entirely in the depth of the relationship. Does that make sense?”