Page 107 of Lost in the Moonlight

She hesitated and then handed the first envelope to Lincoln rather than me. My eyes widened, watching the envelope with longing as Lincoln took it solemnly. Then, she turned and handed me one as well. “Don’t read yours until after Lincoln reads his.” She kissed my temple. “I’ll leave the two of you to show each other some of that goodness I was talking about while I go get some of my own.”

“Mom!”

She chuckled again. “I love that blush, kiddo. Love it and love Lincoln simply because he gave it to you.” She winked at him and then walked over to the door to grab her keys and purse. “I’m sure one of the Marshals will be following me, but the private security should stay here.”

“There’s more than enough to go around,” Lincoln insisted.

“Thank you for protecting my girl.”

“It’s an honor to do so.”

“Yes it is, but I’m glad you agree.” Mom’s reply was quick, her face happy. “You might just do after all. Regardless of your big life and your big family. You might just do.”

She didn’t give him a chance to respond. She went out into the night, and silence fell behind her. Lincoln stroked my heated cheeks with gentle fingers, sending delicious waves of desire swirling through me.

But not even the unrelenting need for him could distract me from the letter sitting in my hands from my dad. All I wanted to do was tear it open and read it. To get a piece of my father back, but Mom had said to let Lincoln read his first, so I waited. Anxious. Giddy. Desperate.

As if understanding my feelings without us saying a word, Lincoln tore his open and read. His face was serious, thoughtful but not upset. When he was done, he folded it up and put it away.

I gasped. “You’re not going to let me see it?” Disappointment leached into every syllable.

He met my shocked eyes with tender ones. “I’d give you just about anything you asked for Willow but not that. He asked me not to. He asked me to keep it between us, and I think you’d rather I keep that promise to him than give it to you.”

I wasn’t sure if it was true. I was greedy for more words from my dad. I hadn’t heard anything from him in six years. Longer, if I considered how little he’d said to me that last year. And when he had spoken, the words had often been twisted by the FFI into things he never would have said.

Lincoln leaned in, wrapped an arm around me, and nudged my shoulder with his chin. “Open yours.”

So I did with hands that shook.

My darling Wendy,

I’m hoping you’ll have read a few of my notes by now. Your college acceptance, graduations, your first real job, and many more. But I want you to know these two letters, the one for you and the one for the person you chose to give your heart to, were the first ones I wrote. Because finding and keeping love is the most important thing about living. Out of all the wishes I’ve had for you, this was the most important one—that you love and be loved in return.

Don’t ask your guy to disclose what I wrote to him. Allow me to have this private conversation with him just as I would have if I’d been there in person. A father has things he wants to tell his daughter’s partner, so please trust that I gave him words of wisdom as well as gratitude for accepting your love and giving you his.

Now, let me give you some of the same.

Your mother and I may have named you Wendy because of our shared love of Peter Pan, but I want you to know, as your father, I don’t want to see you with a Peter or a Hook. None of the men in that story are good enough for you. What I hope for you is that you’ll find a Robin Hood. Someone who is willing to sacrifice everything for his Maid Marion. Who puts life and soul on the line to claim his place at your side.A man who thinks of others more than he thinks of himself.

If that isn’t who’s with you right now, drop him like a hot potato, kiddo, and go find someone who is all of those things. Because that’s what you deserve. Nothing less.

But if I know you at all, you’ll have found your Robin Hood because your light and your joy, along with your compassion and kindness, will have drawn him to you.

I don’t doubt that darkness will do what it always does and try to cast shadows on you from time to time. In life, you will always find Prince Johns and Sheriff of Nottinghams and just damn fate trying to take greedily what isn’t theirs, trying to break you and your spirit. But you have the strength in you to best those assholes, kiddo. You are courageous and brave, and while I don’t want you to have to face any of them on your own, you can and you will.

And if, by chance, you get stuck in the dark of night for a few moments, remember that being lost in the moonlight isn’t so bad. It’s never pitch black. The moon and the stars both give off a bit of light. And if you’re lucky to have someone solid and good at your side, it’ll be easier to find those bright spots together. I hope the person you’ve given your heart to is that person for you. The one you can count on like I’ve always counted on your mom.

From the day you were born, you’ve always made me proud. But from here, when I can’t be at your side, I want you to know that the best gift you could ever give me, the best way to continue to make me proud, is by enjoying your life to its fullest. Chase every dream, appreciate every smile, hold tight to every delightful moment, and love with every piece of your soul. If you do that, you’ll have made me the happiest parent in this world and beyond.

Remember I am with you always,

Dad

I couldn’t stop the mix of sad and happy tears that escaped. I missed him so much I thought it might drown me, but I was also thrilled I’d received these few extra words from him. I wanted to make him proud by doing just what he asked. Living. Loving. How did I do that when the shadows were so close these days? So much evil and darkness around every corner. The stars were hard to see, weren’t they? The moonlight was hidden beyond a thick fog layer as well as the normal black of night.

Then, I looked at Lincoln, shining in his own way after his repeated traumas, willing to extend a hand and help those he loved and cared about, and I knew Dad was right. If you had someone at your side, you could find those little sparks of light together. I’d found my Robin Hood even if Lincoln only saw himself as a vampire sucking me into his dark vortex.

Before I even had a chance to say a word, Lincoln pulled me from my chair onto his lap, placed his mouth on mine, and offered me his soul. Solace bled from his touch but also hope. The sweet comfort only lasted a few seconds before the hunger, the soul-deep craving erupted over us once more.

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