Page 26 of A Wedding in the Bay

“And it’s fun to share this hobby with you,” she told him warmly. “Thank you for inviting me to look through your telescope with you.”

“You’re very welcome.” His eyes gleamed like stars themselves in the dim light. “I’ve got it lined up to those new stars. Do you want to see?”

“Yes!” She eagerly stepped over and peered through the telescope. “Hmm, I don’t see them. Am I doing something wrong?”

“No, sorry, I must have bumped it. Here, let me move it while you keep looking through it. You can let me know when it’s centered on the stars.”

“All right.” She kept her eye on the lens, and she felt him move the telescope slightly.

“It’s hard to maneuver it from the side,” he said. “Do you mind if I put my arms on either side of you?”

“Oh no, that’s fine,” she said, a little breathlessly.

She felt his arms reach around her, and his big hands gently moved the telescope. Her heart began to race a little as the side of his hand brushed hers for a moment.

“Tell me when it’s centered,” he said, his voice right in her ear.

“I will—ah! There it is. Perfect.” She turned to smile at him as he stepped back, and he smiled back. She looked through the telescope again and sighed in satisfaction as she saw the breathtaking view of the stars.

She found herself wondering if Everett had ever been married. She wasn’t sure how to bring it up to him without the question coming too much out of the blue, but she pondered it as they continued to take turns gazing through the telescope.

“I’ve never had a stargazing buddy before,” she told him shyly. “I like it very much.”

“Neither have I,” he told her. He grinned. “I also like it very much.” He paused, and then asked, “Didn’t your husband ever stargaze with you?”

She shook her head. “No. We met in New York. He listened to me talk about it sometimes, but it was never something that we did together.” She hesitated, and then asked, “Have you ever been married?”

He was quiet for a moment, and she bit her lip, worried she’d asked too personal of a question.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I know that’s a little personal, but—”

He shook his head. “No, it’s quite all right. I’ve never been married. Never even came close—the last time I was really in a relationship was right out of high school. I’ve always been a bit of a loner. I have to admit, there are times when I’ve regretted letting myself sink a little too deep into solitude, but I’ve been happy for the most part. Besides, I’ve got Oliver.” He grinned, and she laughed.

“I know what you mean,” she told him. “So many people told me that I should get remarried after my husband died, but I’ve also always been a bit of a loner.” She paused, realizing that she felt very comfortable opening up to him. “I regret becoming too closed off from people though. It’s one thing to enjoy spending time by yourself, and another thing to stop letting people into your life. I became much too independent in a somewhat unhealthy way.”

He nodded. “We need people in our lives to support us. Keep us from feeling alone.”

“Yes.” She smiled at him. “That is very true.”

They continued to talk for a while, their stargazing temporarily forgotten. They talked about what they liked about being alone, and what they regretted about how much time they had spent by themselves. As their conversation wore on, she found herself surprised by how deep her connection with Everett was.

I like him a lot, she thought, smiling at him as he talked excitedly about a time his boat had broken down off the coast of a little town where a group of kind people helped him out. He’s kind, and clever, and—well, I don’t know. There’s just something about him. Something wonderful.

Finally, the grandfather clock in the upstairs hallway chimed the hour, and she sighed when she realized how late it was.

“I should really get going,” she said regretfully. “Thank you for inviting me. I very much enjoyed stargazing with you. And talking with you.” She smiled at him, and he grinned back.

“Thank you for coming over. Like I said, it’s nice to have a stargazing buddy.”

They began to descend the stairs together, and she felt a kind of tingling feeling in her stomach. She wondered if he wanted to spend time together again as much as she did.

She put on her coat and hat again by the front door, and Oliver stood nearby, wagging his tail enthusiastically as if he was saying goodbye. For a moment, neither Johanna nor Everett spoke, as if they didn’t know what to say.

“Well, thank you again,” she said, smiling at him and stepping toward the door.

“I’d like to see you again,” he blurted. “Would—would you want to?”

Her heart fluttered, and she turned to him, smiling. “Yes, I would. I would like that very much.”

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