As Bright as the Stars

by Cindy Caldwell

  “You sure you don’t want some help?” James had asked as Kyle shrugged and reached for his fishing pole.

  “Nope. We can do it,” Megan had said, and James kissed her on the cheek before he set out behind Kyle, his own fishing pole over his shoulder.

  Felicia and Megan had gone on long walks every day, talking about what Megan might do now that she wouldn’t be tied to the girls’ home. She still didn’t know, and was sure that she would know when the time was right. They’d just been excited about the wedding, and sinking into relaxing and the rhythm of the waves, both of which were foreign to her. But she was getting the hang of it.

  Megan and Felicia laughed as James held up a big fish he’d just hauled out of the surf. He looked like a kid at a candy store, and Megan loved that he was so happy. And that she was, too.

  “He sure loves to fish,” Felicia said. “So does Kyle, so it’s been nice they can go entertain themselves.”

  They looked north as a Jeep pulled up, stopping right at their umbrella. Taylor and Cassie jumped out, their beach bags on their arms.

  Megan hugged them both as did Felicia. The girls’ tittered with excitement, and Megan was glad to see Cassie was finally getting into the spirit. Getting married was a very special occasion and she’d worried Cassie had treated it like a business event, but now she could tell that her daughter was as excited as she’d been on her own wedding day. And that made her heart sing.

  “We’ll see you at five,” she hollered to James. He was going to pick them up later and drive them up to Cassie’s house, the Baja version of a beach carriage. The four ladies had planned to get ready at Megan’s house—Cassie hadn’t wanted to see Alex on the day of the wedding—and all the dresses were already there. They’d gone to town one day and scoured the shops, ending up with very colorful, Mexican style skirts for all of them but Cassie. They’d actually found a beautiful white dress that fit her perfectly and Megan had even teared up when she tried it on.

  They drank a little champagne after they’d showered, and Taylor did her thing with hair and a very little bit of makeup. By the time five o’clock rolled around, they were more than ready to go.

  Cassie twisted a blonde curl with her finger as she looked in the mirror, and Megan stood behind her, her hands on Cassie’s shoulders. She looked around the beautiful brick bedroom, and into the mirror framed in seashells she and Cassie had found over the years.

  “Did you ever think, for one second, we’d be here in Baja getting ready for your wedding to a billionaire?” Megan tried her best not to laugh, but Cassie was having the same problem.

  “No, never. Or that the sanctuary would be a reality, and we’d be building a resort?”

  Megan shook her head. “No, never.”

  Cassie stood and turned around, wrapping her arms around her mother. “Mom, I’m so happy I could just pop.”

  “I’m just as happy for you, Cassie. Every mother’s dream, to see her daughter so happy.”

  Cassie stepped back, her hands on her mother’s shoulders and looked intently into her eyes. “And I want the same for you. I want you to be this happy.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart,” Megan said as she kissed her daughter on the cheek.

  “‘Ello, ladies. We ready to go?” James said from the screen door. He stepped inside and stopped in his tracks. “Well, I don’t believe I’ve seen four lovelier creatures in one place ever in my lifetime.”

  They all laughed and gathered their things to head to the wedding. Megan had a hard time drawing her eyes away from James, as she could say the same about him. She didn’t think she’d ever met someone so kind, interesting, encouraging—and handsome. His sky blue linen shirt with white embroidery down the front was very Mexican in style, but it highlighted his blue eyes and they seemed to sparkle more than usual.

  He escorted them all to the Range Rover, helping each one in and making sure that no skirts got caught in car doors, and they all seemed to be overtaken by a case of nerves as they rode up the beach in silence.

  They walked into the foyer and got in line, Felicia first and Taylor as the maid of honor second.

  Cassie turned to Megan and said, “I am so grateful you’re hear to walk me down the aisle, Mom. I wouldn’t want it any other way. We’ve made it this far on our own, and I’m honored to be walking with you now.”

  “Oh, don’t start. I can’t start crying now,” Megan said as she hugged Cassie. “I’ll never stop.”

  The music started, and as Megan walked her daughter up the aisle for what should be the happiest day of Cassie’s life so far, her eyes met James’s. And she realized that it was her own happiest day, too, for more reasons than one.

  25

  James and Megan sat quietly next to each other on the cliff as the sunrise over the mountains turned the clouds orange and the water turned purple. They’d danced into the wee hours the night before at the wedding, and she wasn’t sure James would be up for tea, but as it was her last day in Baja and she, Felicie and Kyle would be leaving soon, she certainly hoped he would be.

  Megan laid her head gently on his shoulder as the events of the past few weeks danced slowly in her mind. So much had changed. She had changed.

  “The sky is almost the colors of your scary outfit.” He squeezed her hand and put his arm around her, pulling her closer.

  She laughed and punched him lightly on the shoulder. “Oh, you’re funny.”

  “Hey, I like a girl who can take risks, even if they are fashion risks.”

  “Not long ago, that was about the only risk I would take,” she said softly. “Maybe you’ve convinced me that taking risks doesn’t need to be scary. It can lead to even bigger rewards.”

  “Do you really think you can take that chance? Make the decision to close the business and be down here? With me?”

  With all of the commotion, she had forgotten to let James know about the final offer on the company, the money that would bring and the opportunity to release her from her business, to let someone else care for the girls at the ranch.

  “When I got here, that wouldn’t have been an option. I was tied to the group home. But now that we’ve gotten an offer to buy it, and I actually could come down here, figure out what to do.” Her eyes misted at the thought. “I never would have thought that I could be this lucky. To meet you, and have an opportunity like this.” She brushed away a tear that had trickled down her cheek.

  He turned to her slowly and looked deeply into her eyes.

  As he did, she felt she had shown him parts of herself that she hadn’t known existed. Had opened a new world to her, both inside and out.

  “Would you stay here? Be with me? Travel? Be an adventurer?” he teased. “It would be a great opportunity for you to find out who you really are.”

  The squeaks of the baby osprey interrupted her thoughts, and they smiled, watching in silence as it followed its mother for its daily flight lesson. As she watched the birds disappear down the coast, she realized that the old, familiar knot of anxiety was gone. She felt peaceful. Content. Happy. She realized that life was still an adventure, with much more she needed to explore. And she couldn’t think of anywhere she’d rather do it—or anyone she’d rather do it with.

  She smiled and reached up, her lips meeting his. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her toward him. She pulled away and let her head fall on his shoulder as she gazed out at the waves.

  “Yes. I would like that. Very much.”

  Epilogue

  Megan packed the last of her things, and did her best not to cry as she said goodbye to Annie and Daniel. She’d lived on the same property with her sister and brother-in-law for so long that their absence would leave a big hole in her heart. They’d all become incredibly close as they’d given their all for the girl’s home, and she knew it was going to be difficult to leave after all their time together.

  She and James had driven up to finalize the sale of the business, and had spent over a week packing up all of her things to take back
down to the brick house in Baja. Megan carefully avoided meeting her sister’s eyes, as the pained look her sister wore matched how she felt as well. She knew she’d cry when they finally had to part.

  Daniel slapped James on the back as they tied the last rope onto the truck that now held all of her belongings. The trip to Arizona had been a bittersweet one, and she took a last look at the ranch as they got ready to head back to Baja.

  “Who knew you’d fall in love, we’d sell the ranch and you’d get to live full time on the beach? Lucky you,” Annie said, hugging Megan tightly.

  “I never thought I’d fall in love, either, but this is really the end of an era. I’m having a hard time leaving you guys.”

  Tears pricked her eyes as Megan hugged her sister back, not wanting to let go.

  “Hey, you two. We’ve got to get going,” James said gently. “It’s been wonderful to stay with you. I can see why Megan loves you so much.”

  “Hey, it’s my turn for a hug.” Daniel wrapped Megan in a bear hug.

  “We couldn’t have packed all of this up without you.” James took one last trip around the truck, making sure everything was secured down for the long trip ahead.

  As he rounded the last corner, Annie walked over to James. “I wanted to thank you, James.”

  “For what?” He stopped in front of her, watching her face intently as a tear left her eye and rolled down her cheek.

  “The three of us have been through a lot together with the ranch. We weren’t sure how it would turn out, and I’ve been worried about Megan. Now, with all the girls safe and sound and the business sold, I just wanted to thank you for helping her. I’ve never seen her this happy.”

  “It’s been my honor,” James replied with a slight bow toward Annie. “I never thought I’d fall in love either. Your sister is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  Annie turned to look at Megan as she got in the truck. “I’m going to miss you.”

  Megan’s eyes misted as she thought of the time they’d spent together, the girls they’d helped, and all the good they’d done.

  “We did what we set out to do, sister. We helped a lot of kids, and that’s something we can be proud of.”

  Annie grabbed her for one last hug. “Yes, we did do a good job, and it’s all ended up for the best. It’s wonderful to know you’ll be happy.”

  Megan smiled, giving her sister a last squeeze and waving at Daniel. “We’re expecting you to visit, you know. The beach is waiting for you.”

  As they drove down the road toward Mexico, Megan looked at James.

  He looked in her direction. “What?”

  “I heard you tell Annie that you love me,” she said quietly.

  He nodded. “And I heard you say the same. Funny we’ve never said it to each other. Isn’t it about time?”

  “I think we just did,” Megan said with a laugh. “But for the record, I love you, James. And I’ve never been happier.”

  “Neither have I, Megan. And I love you, too.”

  Her small twinge of apprehension quickly subsided, and she sank into the seat, eager to get home.

  Yes, happy. Finally, she thought, her eyes turning toward the road ahead.

  I hope you enjoyed As Bright As The Stars!

  Series:

  As Deep As The Ocean — June 2019

  As Bright As The Stars -- July 2019

  By The Light Of The Moon -- August 2019

  As Blue As The Sky -- September 2019

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