Under a Firefly Moon

by Donna Kauffman

“You wanted another safe relationship,” Hannah said. “Even more distant than before.”

  Vivi lifted a shoulder. “Maybe. Probably,” she added with a rueful laugh. “Though I didn’t think of it like that. I didn’t think of it as a relationship in that way. It was kind, and just . . . sweet, I guess. Those memories made me happy, not sad. I would never have done anything to risk them. To take a chance on adding to our story in a way that could ruin all that had come before.”

  “So, why did you?” Avery asked. “Risk that, I mean. We could have found another developer.”

  Vivi smiled wistfully and a bit of spark was back in her eyes now. “I honestly don’t know what possessed me.” She lifted her hand, palm out, when they each gave her a dubious look. “Maybe I was looking for an excuse? I don’t know. He hadn’t been on my mind or anything. It wasn’t until Wyatt started talking about environmental developers. Then I couldn’t not think about him. I knew what he was involved in; I still kept tabs.”

  Chey wiggled her eyebrows and nudged her gently with an elbow. “See? Even after you both left the industry, you two couldn’t stay out of each other’s orbits.”

  “Maybe, subconsciously, it was seeing you and Wyatt together after such a long separation? I don’t know. That was honestly not the kind of reunion I was hoping for. I thought it would just be business, and we were old now, and we’d meet, and it would be sweet, maybe even bittersweet; we’d rehash old times. Then talk business.”

  “Really?” Chey wanted to know. “Is that what you truly hoped for? In your heart of hearts? You knew he’d come. I mean, you were certain of it. All based on that one note? You couldn’t have been that certain and not think it would be more than just two old pals catching up.”

  “Okay, fine, fine,” Vivi said. Then she relented, and let them see the hope that was really there. “Maybe I secretly wanted him to do exactly what he did. Which is utterly ridiculous.” She folded her hands on the table. “The honest truth is, the moment I did it I was terrified and so angry with myself. I’d broken the one promise I’d made myself. After all that time, too. Why on earth would I take a risk like that now?”

  “Because you’re happy now,” Hannah said simply. “You’re here. You’ve done the hard work and you’ve come to terms with your life. You’re whole.”

  “If you look at it that way, it’s the perfect time,” Avery said. “You could probably chart it.”

  “Maybe,” Vivi said, clearly touched by their assessment. “It was still a ridiculous risk to take.”

  “From great risks come great rewards,” Chey said. “Or something like that.”

  “Not in my experience,” Vivi said drolly, and they all laughed. “But I can hardly turn the clock back now and undo it, can I?”

  “Would you want to?” Chey asked, truly curious. All of this, of course, had her thinking of the course of her relationship with Wyatt, past and present.

  “What are you hoping for?” Hannah asked. “If you could have any outcome?”

  “Says here he’s largely retired from acting and does mostly philanthropic work. Not really in the limelight unless it’s to help one of his causes,” Avery said, reading from her phone. She looked up at the silent pause. “What? I’m trying to give you salient information to help with your decision making. I’m just saying that she wouldn’t be getting into some Hollywood whirl if they got together.”

  Hannah put her hand over the screen on Avery’s phone. “I’m asking about the choice her heart wants her to make.”

  “No, it’s okay,” Vivi said. “And to answer both of your questions, I don’t know what I want. That’s why I agreed to meet him in Valley View. It felt more, I don’t know . . . neutral. I didn’t want him here, in my new hometown. My life here is mine.”

  “Well, that’s kind of an answer,” Chey said, pointing upward toward the ceiling, to the obvious, given he wasn’t just in her new hometown of Blue Hollow Falls, he was inside her actual home.

  Vivi’s complexion did take on a bit of a pink hue. “I didn’t know about the New York trip until he pulled up at the hotel,” she trailed off. Then she finally relaxed, all the tension leaving her at once. When her smile came now, it was the most beautiful thing to behold. “But I’m really, really glad we went.”

  The four of them all joined hands again. “Then that’s as good a place to start as any,” Chey said.

  Vivi nodded. “That is how I’m looking at it.” She turned to Chey. “So, now that we have my future mapped out, my darling girl, let’s discuss yours.”

  There was a knock on the frame of the kitchen door. “I am sorry to intrude again, but Daff, it’s time for us to head into town.”

  Chey grinned. “Saved by Grant Harper. Again.”

  Grant smiled, clearly not knowing what he’d done exactly, but happy to be of help. “My pleasure. And I promise to have her back as soon as I’m able,” he added dryly. “No need to send the cavalry.”

  Chey had the good grace to blush at that. “Please, take your time. We’ll be right here if you need us, though,” she told Vivi on a laugh.

  Vivi winked at them as she took Grant’s arm, then turned and wiggled her eyebrows just before gliding out the kitchen door.

  Chey called after them as they walked down the hall to the front door. “I changed my mind! Have her back by ten. And not a minute after.”

  “No hot-rodding in the Chevy,” Hannah shouted, getting into the spirit. “Drink responsibly.”

  “And use protection,” Avery added, then raised her arms to protect herself when Hannah and Chey tossed scones at her.

  “What the hell, Ave?” Chey said, but they were all laughing.

  “It’s proven that STDs can happen, even at their—” Avery began, and Hannah just put a scone right into her mouth.

  They heard the front door close, then the sound of the Chevy engine being excessively revved and laughed all over again as they sank back into their seats.

  “No way he doesn’t sweep her off her feet,” Hannah said with a deep, wistful sigh.

  “Oh, I think she’s done been swept,” Chey said.

  “Can you imagine the wedding?” Hannah asked, clearly sailing off along with them. “Right here on the farm?”

  Avery picked up her pen and notebook and said, “Can you imagine the guest list?”

  “Oh my God,” Chey said. “Let them date a minute before you marry them off.” She scooted her chair back, snagged her chore chart from Avery’s stack, and beat it out the side door before they could stop her. Not that they tried. All the talk about great love affairs and fairy tale weddings would have normally had Chey making snarky comments and exiting stage left anyway.

  They didn’t need to know that when Hannah so wistfully commented on the fairy tale wedding, the visual that immediately came to Chey’s mind wasn’t of Vivi walking down the aisle toward Grant Harper. No, the one taking that long, rose-petal-strewn walk had been her, and the smiling, handsome man waiting for her at the altar was the same one crossing the yard to her right now, a wide, sexy grin on his beautiful face.

  Chey never thought she’d be the one mooning over wedding planning, much less saying “I do.” Yet, at that moment, she couldn’t figure out how she was going to make peace with a future that didn’t include those two words . . . and saying them to this amazing man.

  Compromises and choosing happiness. Maybe those choices were becoming easier to define after all.

  Chapter Twelve

  Wyatt stood backstage at the amphitheater with Dom and two other crew members who’d flown in to help with the livestream. He gave the thumbs-up to Peli, who was running the camera. She silently counted him down, then flipped her thumb from down to up.

  Wyatt went straight to the hundred-watt smile as Peli zoomed in on his face. “Hey there, Reed Planet,” he said. “As announced a few days ago on our site and social, we’re doing something a little different with the stream this time around. I know you all are dying to find out what I’m doing in the States. Thi
s project is different from what I’ve done in the past, and yes, it’s my first time streaming from the land of my birth, but this project and this place is important to someone who is very important to me. I’ve known her my whole life, and . . .” He wagged a finger in front of his face. “I know what you’re thinking now.”

  Peli pulled back out so a bit of the scene behind Wyatt now showed on screen.

  Wyatt’s grin went wider, if possible. “And you’d be right. But more on that later. Right now I’m going to take you out on stage with me at this amazing amphitheater up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, in a beautiful place filled with some beautiful souls, Blue Hollow Falls. We’re about to propose a really interesting solution to a problem they’ve been having, one we hope will start a big conversation here in the States on how to move forward with better environmental initiatives and green energy plans.”

  He started backing toward the curtain that would part to reveal the stage, the crowd seated beyond, at an angle that also caught the restored mill with the mountains, shrouded in the blue haze that gave them their name. “You’re going to meet some cool folks, including a few big surprises.” He pushed his face closer to the camera on those last two words, then shifted back. “Then we’re going on walkabout up here in the mountains. I’m going to show you this amazing century-old silk mill, which has been renovated and turned into an artisan center. Yes, they grew, harvested, spun, and milled silk up in these hills once upon a time, dating back to the time of King James of England. News to me, too!”

  He could feel his energy level revving along. He loved doing this and was excited about the work they’d be doing today. He knew the people watching him could feel that, too. “We’ll check out the Falls that give this mountain paradise its name, then go on safari back into the woods to a truly incredible, recently restored Victorian style greenhouse that I just found out about. They grow endangered exotic orchids there and are working on getting them off that list. More on how you can help with that later, too. We’ll be seeing it together for the first time and meeting the woman who runs the whole program. Honestly, this place will mesmerize you like it has me.”

  Dom started to pull the curtain slowly back.

  “So, come hang with me while I talk to the good folks in BHF and introduce them to some interesting people you’re going to want to know.” He leaned in again and lowered his voice. “There might be a little entertainment involved as well. Because we’re in the mountains, in an amphitheater with some world class musicians on hand, who celebrate the music born in these hills. So, of course we are going to let them do that.” He moved back again. “After our walkabout, we’re going off air for about an hour or so, then we’ll be streaming live this afternoon direct from the land of Firefly.” He moved closer to the camera. “More on that later, too.” He motioned over his shoulder with his thumb. “You ready? Let’s do this.”

  Peli was a little bit of a thing, slender, just flirting with the five-foot mark in height, and had the flexibility of a rubber band. She was a wonder at catching all the angles, covering the stage like a cat. Or a ninja. She backed onto the stage first, crouched low, capturing Wyatt from that angle as he walked out on the amphitheater stage, then slowly panned around to capture the full vista as he viewed it. Wyatt knew she’d continue to move around the stage, and him, as everything he did and said was beamed simultaneously to phones, tablets, laptops, computers, and television screens worldwide, while it happened. She had an amazing eye for composition, and for not making folks dizzy while keeping up with the action.

  He waved to the filled amphitheater and Peli lifted her hand in a quick wave as the murmur of surprise filtered over the crowd, before they started clapping in support of Wyatt. There were easily ten to twenty times the number that had assembled days ago on the veranda at Lavender Blue.

  Jake, who had played his fiddle many times on that stage and was familiar with the setup, handed a microphone to Wyatt. Then the teen went to sit at the edge of the stage with Bailey, who had also offered to be stage crew that morning. She turned her phone around so Wyatt could see she was watching his livestream, while watching him. She gave him a grin and a thumbs-up, which he returned.

  “Hello, Blue Hollow Falls,” Wyatt said, turning to the crowd. “I hope you don’t mind,” he said, and motioned to Peli, then waved to her camera, “I brought a few million of my closest friends with me today.”

  A delighted roar erupted from the crowd and it took a minute or two before things settled down. Wyatt laughed and said, “So, this is different for me. For one, I’m not usually on a stage, and normally, folks can see me doing what I do, but I can’t see them. I’ll admit, I think it would be pretty cool to have people cheering me on like this, in person, while I’m at work. Whaddya say? You all want to head out with me?”

  More cheering, people laughed, a few hooted and whistled.

  Wyatt turned his attention forward now, to the folks of Blue Hollow Falls, and let Peli do her thing, trusting she’d capture what was happening in a way that kept his viewers invested and intrigued.

  Wyatt gestured to Addie Pearl, who was seated with Chey, Tory, Hannah, and Will a few rows back in the center. Avery and Ben were just behind them. “Thank you to Ms. Addison Pearl Whitaker,” he said, “and all of the artists up here in the mill, and the rest of the farm and business owners up here, for helping to spread the word to your neighbors and friends about today’s meeting.” Folks cheered and hollered, and Wyatt laughed, guessing they were maybe going a little over the top, because they knew they were live on air now.

  He then motioned to Hattie Beauchamp, who owned Bo’s, the restaurant in town; Cyrus Flagler, who ran the library; Moira Brogan Walker, the new local attorney-at-law; and a few others, who all ran businesses or worked in the town proper. “I’d also like to thank everyone whose livelihood is down in town for showing up today as well. This affects everybody in Blue Hollow Falls, and it helps for everyone to be part of the proposed solution.”

  Hattie, who was a town institution—her restaurant was one of the oldest businesses in the Falls—stood and waved, then beamed at the huge round of applause she received. “Go on now,” she told Wyatt when she was seated once more, like a queen rightfully claiming her throne.

  Wyatt had stood before many a village council or remote area tribunal, and he’d seen close-knit communities before. He supposed he was surprised that one here in the States could be this tight. Which was silly and shortsighted of him. It was both heartening and heartwarming to witness it firsthand.

  “I know the rumors have been flying around about this whole resort deal. We’ve come up with a plan that is more in keeping with what Blue Hollow Falls is all about. We hope you’ll support it and let the town council know about it at the town hall meeting set for next week.”

  That remark was met with more applause and cheering, and a few folks even lifted signs that said, LET’S TURN BLUE HOLLOW GREEN! He caught Bailey giving a thumbs-up and knew where that campaign had gotten started. He loved all of it.

  “Okay, on the big screens we put up to the left and right of the stage you can see the plans up close as they’re explained to you. For this, let’s welcome Vivienne Baudin, part owner of Lavender Blue Farm and Tea Room, as well as a renowned green developer who’s done remarkable work in both Australia and the UK and is now branching into the US with our project, Mr. Bryan Westley. And the man who made it possible to bring all of this about so quickly. You maybe have seen him here or there before . . . Mr. Grant Harper.”

  To say the crowd went wild as the three introduced guests took the stage was an understatement. Wyatt moved to the side of the stage after kissing Vivi on the cheek and shaking the gentlemen’s hands. Peli brought the camera up to Wyatt. “I told you this was going to be a new adventure, and we’re just getting started.”

  Vivi waved to the crowd, completely at home on the stage, as was Grant. Bryan looked a little out of his element, but gamely smiled and waved, enjoying the vibe of ge
nuine enthusiasm and excitement. Grant turned to Peli, who had moved back on the stage, and gave a little salute to Reed Planet. Wyatt laughed as he noticed Bailey pretend to swoon. He’d been surprised to discover that Bailey was both a lover of old music and old movies. Old to her, at any rate. He’d caught her and Grant earlier as they’d been setting up the event and doing the walk-through, taking selfies together and laughing. He’d seen them both signing and exchanging notes and wouldn’t be at all surprised if, when Grant went back west, he had a few goats in tow.

  While Peli was focusing the stream on the folks on stage, Wyatt checked in with Jon, his other crewmate, who sat in front of two computer screens, overseeing the commentary flow online in response to the livestream. Jon gave him the thumbs-up, then lifted his thumb higher again, indicating that the conversation flow was up and climbing higher. All good news. Folks were staying with him.

  Wyatt scanned the crowd to wave to Chey, only to see her seat was empty. Tory waved at him instead, then made the “raise the roof ” motion with her hands, which made him laugh. He felt a tug on the back of his shirt and turned, right into a lip-smacking kiss from Chey.

  “Seriously, I hope you have some free time later, because . . .” She kissed him again, then grinned. “Let’s just say when you are on, you are so very, very on.”

  Wyatt checked on Peli, made sure she was still working the stage presentation, then tugged Chey more fully backstage and showed her his idea of being on.

  “Yeah, now you’re just showing off,” she said a little breathlessly when he let her go again.

  “Something tells me you’ll keep up just fine.”

  She laughed. “Wow, this is all really exciting.” She looked around backstage, waved to Dom and gave a thumbs-up to Jon. Then she angled herself so she could look out to the stage and waved to Peli, who gave a thumbs-up with her free hand, while keeping the camera on Grant, who was talking about their plan for Firefly and the town. “How is the stream going?”

  Chey had met the crew earlier that day during the walk-through. Wyatt had explained the whole process to her and she’d been sincerely interested in how it all worked.