Page 15

W hen the cab finally stopped in front of the cemetery, Hunter slowly got out of the car. He leaned into the driver’s window and handed the driver a one-hundred-dollar bill.

“Will you stay here until I am finished, please? He asked the driver of the cab. I won’t be too long.”

The driver of the cab agreed and happily took the money from Hunter. Hunter turned away and slowly walked to where his wife was buried. He had not visited her gravesite in quite a while. It was hard for him to remember her in that way. He wanted his memories of her to be about a life filled with happiness, not death and mourning. When he found his wife’s grave, he stood in silence. He could feel himself getting emotional, and he tried desperately to push those emotions to the side. After spending a few minutes standing there quietly, he decided to say a few words. He had no idea if his former wife could hear him, but the thought of talking to her seemed cathartic.

“It's me,” he said softly. “I know I haven’t been here in a while. I want you to know that Adam is good. He has had some difficulties, but overall, he is a happy kid, and that is all that matters.”

Hunter looked down at the ground. What he really came there to say was difficult for him to articulate, and somehow, saying it at the graveyard made it all feel so final. His eyes dodged back to his wife’s grave.

“I met someone,” he said to his former wife. “I met someone really special, and I actually think that you would like her if you were still here. I want you to know that I loved you so much.”

Tears swelled in Hunter’s eyes. He felt his legs get heavier. Hunter brought himself to the ground, at eye-level with his wife’s grave.

“I loved you so much, my darling,” he said to the gravestone. “I want you to know that no one can replace you, but I am going to move on. I want to find love and happiness again, and I hope that you don’t resent me for that. I am so thankful for the time we had together, but I have to leave you in the past.”

Hunter paused, thinking about what he wanted to say. He wanted his late wife to know that Luna was good to him and Adam. When he thought about it, he felt certain she would have loved Luna. In another world, they might have even been friends. Life just had different plans for all of them.“I put off coming here,” he admitted. “I did because I met someone — someone I think I’m falling in love with. Her name is Luna, and I believe she loves me too. She not only loves me, but she also loves Adam. I just want you to know there’s no need to worry about us. She’ll take care of us. Maybe someday, I can bring her here with Adam, and you’ll see how happy we are together.”

Hunter got up from the ground and wiped the tears away from his face. He slowly made his way back to the cab. The driver had been waiting for him and was standing outside the cab, leaning against the vehicle. The driver was smoking a cigarette. He watched as Hunter walked towards him, and he could see that he was upset. He did not say a word to him. He simply offered Hunter a cigarette. Hunter happily accepted the offer. He figured that a nicotine high would help ease and level off his emotions. The cab driver gave Hunter his lighter. The two men stood outside and smoked a cigarette as they gazed off onto the graveyard.

“Got a loved one up there?” the driver asked Hunter, nodding toward the graveyard on the hill.

“My wife,” Hunter replied solemnly. “She’s buried up there.”

“Oh,” the driver said softly. “I’m sorry, man. It’s really rough. Moving on from a love like that is hard. But if you ever get a second chance, you don’t want to miss it.”

Hunter glanced over, curious. It wasn’t often he met other widowers close to his age. He wondered if the driver had been through something similar.

“Did you lose your wife too?” Hunter asked.

“No,” the driver said bluntly. “No, not my wife.”

Hunter looked down, disappointment washing over him. He’d hoped for some advice from someone who’d shared his experience. But then, after a pause, the driver continued.

“I lost my fiancée,” he said, meeting Hunter’s eyes with a hint of vulnerability. “A week before our wedding. She never got to be my wife, but I loved her like one. That’s for sure.”

Hunter’s heart sank. At least he’d had time with his wife—they’d married, had a child, and shared memories. “That must have been tough,” he said softly. “I can’t imagine how hard that was for you.”

The driver nodded, his expression shifting to one of reflection. “Yeah, it was. I thought I had forever, you know? We had our whole lives planned out. And then, just like that…” He trailed off, his voice heavy with the weight of loss.

Hunter could relate. “It’s like you feel this emptiness, right? Like a part of you is missing.”

“Exactly,” the driver replied, his eyes focused on the road ahead. “But here’s the thing: at least we found love, even if it was for a short time. Some people never get that chance.”

Hunter considered this. “That’s true. Love is a privilege, isn’t it? Not everyone gets to experience it.”

The driver took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling slowly. “If you find it again, man, hold onto it. Don’t let fear stop you. Life’s too short for that. You never know what could happen.”

Hunter took a deep breath, nodding in agreement. “You’re right. There are no guarantees that love will stay, but to let it slip away—that feels like the real loss.”

The driver glanced at him, a small smile forming. “Exactly. You gotta be brave, my friend. It’s what your wife would want for you, too.”

“Yeah,” Hunter replied, feeling a sense of hope he hadn’t anticipated. “She always wanted me to be happy.”

“Then go after that happiness,” the driver said, turning his gaze back to the road. “Life’s too precious to waste.”

After each of them had finished their cigarette, both men got back into the vehicle. As soon as the driver pulled away, Hunter looked back at the entrance to the cemetery one more time. He silently said goodbye to his former wife. Then, he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed Frank’s number, and he felt relief when Frank answered his call.

“Hey, Frank,” Hunter started to say over the phone. “Hey Frank, I am sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you had some time to meet up.”

Frank agreed to make some time to see Hunter. They were close friends, after all, and it was not often that Hunter flat-out asked Frank to see him. Something was up.

“Yeah,” Frank replied to Hunter. “Yeah, I can make some time to meet up early next week. Everything okay? Adam isn’t sick again, is he?”

“No, no,” Hunter reassured Frank. “No, Adam is fine. He has been doing much better actually the last couple of months. I was actually asking to meet up with you to talk about Luna.”

Frank grew concerned, and his concern turned to silence. Hunter picked up on this and eased Frank’s mind. There was no cause for concern or worry.

“I am thinking of proposing to her,” Hunter finally told Frank. “I am going to propose to Luna, and I would like your help planning it if you have the time. It would mean a lot to me.”

Frank sighed in relief. He was happy to hear that this meeting was about something positive. I felt that Hunter needed something positive in his life after all that he had been through.

“Thank goodness,” Frank sighed. “You had me worried that something was wrong between the two of you. That would be a shame because you two really are great together. I have not seen you this happy in a long time, Hunter. I would be happy to help you out.”

Hunter thanked Frank. When the two of them got off the phone, he saw that he had two missed text messages from Luna. She had been wondering where he was. It was true that she thought he was at the ice rink. He felt bad for lying to her, but he needed to keep this to himself. The closure he had found by closing the past chapters of his life allowed him to look forward to the future. It allowed him to look into a future with Luna. If push came to shove, surely, she would be able to understand that, but for now, he needed to keep his visit to the cemetery to himself. It somehow felt more genuine that way.

When Hunter arrived back at his apartment, he handed the driver another one-hundred-dollar bill.

“For your discretion,” Hunter said to the cab driver.

The cab driver nodded in agreement and happily took the money from Hunter. The last thing that Hunter needed was a story in the newspaper about him visiting his dead wife’s grave. That would cause chaos in his relationship, which would not be good for either him or Luna. Hunter closed the cab door behind him and walked back up to his apartment. He was happy to see Luna.

She had not left the couch. She was still reading her book when she noticed Hunter walk into the living room. He sat down beside her on the couch.

“Did you enjoy your visit?” she asked him.

Been nodded and then gently took the book from her hands. He placed the book on the floor and leaned over top of her on the couch.

“I did,” Hunter said. “I did, but I am glad to be back. Adam and Ella shouldn’t be back for another hour. We still have some time together.”

“What did you have in mind?” she asked him seductively. “Whatever did you want to do with our spare time together?”

Hunter started to take Luna’s pants off her. He threw her jeans and underwear off to the side. His head moved downward. Luna began moaning before his mouth even touched her. She loved how he made her feel, and the previous memories of his mouth all over her vagina made her moan. Hunter used the magic of his tongue to please her. When he began to use his fingers in conjunction with his mouth, Luna began moaning his name.

“Hunter,” she moaned to him. “Hunter, yes, just like that.”

She ran her fingers through his hair as his head remained near her lady parts. Nothing had ever felt as good as when they were sexually intimate with one another. She pulled his head away from her pussy and to her lips.

“Here,” she said to him softly. “Come here and let me taste myself off of you.”

Hunter smiled sultrily. He loved it when she talked dirty to him. He loved it when she allowed herself to be sexually free with only him. Her hands reached down to his penis. He was hard and ready for the taking. She guided him into her warm, waiting body, watching as his mouth parted in a gasp as she enveloped him completely. Their bodies moved together in perfect rhythm, back and forth, as if they were made for each other.

“Faster,” Luna whispered in Hunter’s ear. “Faster, Hunter. Harder, Hunter.”

Hunter did as she said. His only goal was to please her. Pleasing her made him feel as if he was on top of the world. Seeing the look of ecstasy on her face is what got him off. Luna’s face turned to pure pleasure. Her mouth opened, and her eyes rolled back. Hunter could tell she was getting close to climaxing. He continued to move inside her, faster and harder, just as she had told him to. Her moans became louder. Hunter, who could no longer hold back, lost control. He pounded himself inside of her, pleasing both her and him at the same time. His mouth let out a moan. He closed his eyes. They were both reaching their orgasm at the same time.

When they were both finished climaxing, they both lay on the couch. Luna looked at the watch on her wrist.

“Ella will be here with Adam any minute,” she said to him. “I promised to take her out to dinner as a thank you for all her help here with Adam. We better clean up, baby.”

They both got up and walked to the bedroom. Hunter walked into their private bathroom and wet a washcloth. He walked back over to Luna, who was lying down on the bed.

“Let me wash you off,” he said to her.

Luna spread her legs on the bed while Hunter cleaned her up. There was something about this action that was more intimate than the sex they had just had together. Hunter wanted to take care of Luna in whatever way was necessary or otherwise. Luna watched as he went back into the bathroom and washed himself off. He looked so good, and she wondered how she could have gotten so lucky by being with him. She hoped that she would be with him forever.

Luna got up off the bed and dressed for Ella and Adam’s arrival. She was wearing a cute black skirt with a pink top. She decided to wear flats instead of heels. Her outfit was simple but cute, and when Hunter saw her, he was turned on all over again.

“We may have to go for round two, darling,” he said to her seductively.

Just then, they both heard the front door open. Ella had returned with Adam. Hunter quickly put on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Luna started to walk out of the bedroom when she turned back to him.

“Don’t lose that thought,” she said coyly to him. “I will be back before you know it. Will you be okay with Adam while I am gone?”

Hunter shook his head yes.

“Yes, darling,” he said happily to her. “We will be fine. Don’t worry about us. We will be fine. I want you two to have fun tonight. Enjoy your dinner with Ella. I love you.”

Luna walked over to Hunter and gently kissed him on the lips. How did she get so lucky? She smiled at him as she walked into the kitchen to greet Ella and Adam. Ella explained that Adam had a great day playing at the park. He was in good spirits. Luna was happy to see him healthy and happy. He had been through so much as a small child.

“You are going to hang out with Daddy while I take Ella out to dinner,” Luna said softly to Adam.

“Okay,” Adam said cheerfully. “Okay, Mommy. I love you.”

Luna smiled genuinely at Adam and leaned down to his height. She was still adjusting to him calling her “Mom,” and this was the first time he had told her that he loved her. Luna's heart swelled with joy, almost bringing her to tears. Meanwhile, Hunter stood in the hallway, overhearing their conversation. Hearing Adam express his love for Luna filled him with happiness, affirming that he was on the right path. Hunter felt certain he was meant to marry Luna, and Adam's affection for her only reinforced that belief.

“I love you too, Adam,” Luna said to Adam.

She kissed him on the forehead and grabbed her purse off the counter. She walked out of the front door with Ella. They both took the elevator downstairs. Ella hailed a cab. When they both got into the vehicle, Ella began to talk.

“How did that feel?” Ella asked Luna. “How did that feel to have Adam tell you he loved you as his mom? That was a pretty big deal, I think.”

Luna shook her head yes. She explained that she felt so connected to the family unit she was creating and being accepted into by being with Hunter.

“Do you think he would ever marry again?” Ella questioned Luna. “I know you want to be married. Do you think he would ever pop the question again after losing his wife so suddenly?”

Luna shrugged her shoulders. She felt slightly embarrassed, and she did not understand why. Ella was her best friend. She should be able to tell her anything. Maybe she felt embarrassed because there was a part of her that believed Hunter would never ask her to marry him. She had accepted that possibility, but that didn’t mean that she wasn’t hoping for a proposal from him.

“I really don’t know,” she said honestly to Ella. “I love him with all my heart. All I know is that I want to be with only him, whether we are married or not.”

While Luna and Ella were in a cab, traversing the city, Hunter was in his office looking at engagement rings. He scrolled multiple websites, looking for the perfect ring for Luna. He wanted her to feel like a princess when he proposed to her. He knew that Frank would have some incredible ideas for proposing to her, but he also wanted to ensure that the ring he used to propose to her was fit for a princess. Luna deserved that. She had put up with so much in such a short amount of time. Hunter believed that any other woman would have run away, not her, not Luna. She stayed. She stayed because she genuinely loved him. She did not care about the fame or the money. She wanted Hunter, and she wanted Adam. She wanted a family. All of that made Hunter love her even more.

He continued scrolling through various engagement rings, excitement bubbling up inside him. He was going to propose to Luna, and she had no idea that her life was about to change forever. She had no inkling that she was soon to become the wife of a famous professional hockey player.

When Ella and Luna arrived at the restaurant and were finally seated, Ella jumped right into questioning Luna about her relationship with Hunter again. Luna didn’t mind; she knew Ella was coming from a good place—after all, she was her best friend. The two girls ordered cocktails and sipped their drinks during their lively conversation.

“I’m just saying,” Ella lovingly said to Luna. “I’m just saying, especially since you and your family are close again, if you want to spend the rest of your life with Hunter, you should introduce them to him!”

Luna shook her head, unsure how Hunter would react to her family. She had grown up differently than he did, with a modest upbringing outside the United States. From what she knew, Hunter had always been surrounded by wealth. His father was a successful businessman, and Hunter had inherited a fortune, along with his earnings from a successful hockey career. He seemed to have it all.

“Don’t go there,” Ella said seriously, sensing Luna’s doubts. “Hunter loves you, and he doesn’t care how you were raised. He’s genuinely interested in your background, but he’s not judgmental. Trust me, we’ve dealt with plenty of those kinds of people, and Hunter is not one of them.”

Luna took another sip of her cocktail, realizing Ella was right. She hated feeling vulnerable, which made her feel like a hypocrite for urging Hunter to open up while holding back herself.

“I don’t know if we can travel to Guatemala right now,” Luna said seriously, glancing at Ella. “With Adam, we’re trying to avoid adding any unnecessary stress. Traveling sounds fun, but it might be too much for him at this point. We don’t want to risk triggering another flare-up.”

Ella nodded, reassuring Luna with a wave of her hand to indicate not to worry. After finishing her drink, she signaled for another one before speaking again. Luna didn’t mind; Ella deserved a night to unwind after all the care she had provided for Adam.

“No, no, darling,” Ella said to Luna. “I don’t think that you should travel there. They should travel here, to America!”

“My mom would never come over here,” Luna replied bluntly. “There is no way.”

“There is always a way,” Ella said before taking another drink. “Hunter would pay for it all, darling. He would be happy to do it.”

“I don’t know, Ella,” Luna said, unsure. “That is a lot to ask. Let’s just talk about it another time. Our food is about to arrive.”

The ladies ate their food, and when they returned to the apartment, Luna insisted that Ella stay the night in the guest room. She didn’t want her to attempt to go home in such a condition.

“It is no bother at all, Ella,” she kindly said to her. “I will go and place an extra blanket in the guest room. It can get cold in there at night, sometimes.”

When Luna walked away, Ella noticed Hunter walking out of his office. She smiled at him.

“How was dinner?” Hunter asked Ella kindly. “Did you girls have fun together?”

Ella said yes and told Hunter how delicious everything was. She looked off to the side. Luna was still in the guest room. She moved over closer to where Hunter was standing.

“I’m just going to throw this idea out there, okay?” Ella said quickly, glancing at Hunter with excitement. “Luna won’t admit it, but she wants you to meet her mom and sister, especially now that they’ve patched things up. The only way that’s going to happen, though, is if you fly them out here to America.”

Hunter raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the suggestion. “You think they’d come?”

“Absolutely! It would mean the world to her,” Ella replied, leaning closer. “Luna has been through so much, and having you meet her family could really strengthen your relationship. Plus, it would show her how serious you are about her. It could be a beautiful step forward for all of you.”

Hunter nodded slowly, considering the idea. The thought of bringing Luna’s family to America was daunting but exciting. He wanted to support her and show her how much he cared.

Ella heard the sound of Luna’s footsteps draw closer. She stepped away from Hunter. Luna walked into the room, feeling as if she had just entered into a private conversation.

“The guest room is all set up, Ella,” Luna said to her friend.

When Ella left, Luna turned to Hunter. She quietly asked him what the two of them were talking about before she walked into the room.

“Oh,” Hunter started to say to her. “Oh, it was nothing. She just told me about the restaurant where you two had dinner. She suggested that I take you there sometime.”

Hunter hesitated to share Ella’s suggestion with Luna. If he decided to bring her mother and sister to America for a visit, he wanted it to be a complete surprise. The thought of seeing Luna’s face light up when she reunited with her family filled him with joy, and he felt that keeping it under wraps for now was the best approach.

He wanted to focus on sorting out the details of the engagement ring and planning his proposal before bringing anything up. The anticipation of that moment thrilled him; he could hardly believe how excited he was. After everything he had been through, he had finally found love again, and this time, it felt different — deeper, more profound.

Hunter envisioned a future with Luna, one where their lives intertwined seamlessly, and he couldn’t wait to make it official. Each passing day brought him closer to that dream, and the thought of surprising her only intensified his eagerness.