Page 88 of Can't Fight the Moonlight

"She had some ideas. She said she was going to talk to you about them tonight."

"Well, I'm happy to hear her thoughts. Whatever she wants."

"The ceremony, having her family there, it means a lot to her," Ben said.

"I know. That's why I came."

"And we appreciate that so much."

"You were there for me after Sean died. If it hadn't been for you and Grandma, I would have lost it. But you kept me grounded. I'll never forget that."

His grandfather gave him a tense smile. "It sometimes felt like too little too late, but we can't change that."

"No, we can't."

"I think Sean would have liked this place," his grandfather said, then quickly added, "Sorry, I know you don't like to talk about him."

"Actually, he's been on my mind a lot this week. And you're right. He would have liked this town. He would have been the center of the action, the life of the party. Right about now, we'd be hearing his big, booming laugh."

His grandfather gave him a sad look. "Wish I'd known that laugh covered up so much pain and emotional problems. I didn't realize until it was too late."

"I was the one who should have rung the alarm louder and longer."

"You can't keep blaming yourself, Justin. Sean's choices were his own."

"I don’t just blame myself," he said.

"I know," his grandfather said heavily. "We need to find Marie and talk."

Justin gave him a vague nod, distracted by Lizzie's arrival. Her arms were full with grocery bags, and Noah and Alice were also carrying in more goodies. "Later," he told his grandfather. "I'm going to help Lizzie."

"Of course you are," his grandfather said with a knowing smile.

He shrugged. "You don't know everything."

"I know enough."

He let his grandfather have the last word, because he needed to get to Lizzie, and that need was a little shocking, but he wasn't going to waste time analyzing it. Not when her smiling gaze met his, and his heart flipped over in his chest.

"Let me help you," he said, taking a bag out of her arms. "What is all this?"

"Dessert and some goodie bags for the eclipse."

"Really? What's in the bag?"

"Some fun facts about lunar eclipses, glasses with the date etched in glitter, that kind of thing."

He shook his head.

"I know. I know," she said. "It's an expense I probably couldn't afford, but here we are."

He grinned. "I'm sure they're great. I was wondering where you were," he added, as he set the bag down on the end of the picnic table.

"I had to wait for Noah and Alice, and we got to talking."

"So, are they together now?" he asked, his gaze moving to the couple, who had settled in at the table. Noah had his arm around Alice's shoulders, as Victor poured them each a glass of wine.

"Now and forever, according to them. It's a miracle."

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