Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“I know,” he agreed, turning his head to press a kiss to my temple.
It had just gotten dark, and the sky was awash with stars. Jonathan and I stared up, admiring them as we sipped our wine. He’d gradually started drinking again, but only a glass or two on weekends. It was a relief to know he’d gotten through the stage of grief that had him latching onto alcohol as a coping mechanism.
“It’s so pretty,” I said, gazing up while Jonathan lazily rubbed circles into my lower back.
“Reminds me of a line from my favourite poem,” he murmured, and I cast him a curious glance.
“Oh?”
He smiled at me gently before reciting, “I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.”
I blinked, catching my breath. “That’s rather beautiful.”
“It’s called The Old Astronomer to his Pupil,” he sipped some wine, and I felt him staring at my profile. “It reminds me of you, too. You were the stars when I was lost in the night, lighting the way and guiding me home.”
My throat thickened at his tender-hearted statement. I drank more wine and endeavoured not to get emotional. That was the thing about Jonathan; he had such a way with words. One moment, he could be growling filthy, sexy things in your ear, and the next, he was reciting sonnets about how ardently he adored you.
“Okay,” I said when I finally got a handle on my emotions. “You are most certainly getting laid tonight.”
He chuckled low. “Not why I said it, but I’ll take the win.”
Something bright caught my attention as I glanced down and spotted a yellow ladybird moving slowly across the pavement.
“Oh, wow, look at that. It’s so rare to see a yellow one.”
Jonathan peered down in the direction I was motioning, at the path just below the step we sat on. His expression clouded a little when he saw it, but he didn’t speak.
“They don’t typically come out at night, do they? At least I only ever really see the red ones during the day.”
“No, they usually nest at night, I believe,” Jonathan said at last. “Do you notice it has extra spots? Red ladybirds have fourteen spots, but the yellow ones have twenty-two.”
I studied the tiny creature again. “You’re right. How did you know that?”
“I found one in my grandmother’s garden when I was a boy. I can’t remember what age I was, but I must’ve been young because it was before we moved to this house and still lived with my grandparents. They’ve passed now.” He fell silent, staring again at the small bug as though something was confusing him. “I pointed it out to my mam, and she told me it was a good sign. That yellow ladybirds symbolised new beginnings and prosperity. She said that whenever I saw one, it was the universe’s way of telling me good things were on the horizon.” He shook his head fondly. “She could be a little new age and woo-woo like that.”
I chuckled softly while tears rose in my eyes. “Yes, she could be,” I agreed, remembering how Leonora loved to read her horoscope and would sometimes hang crystals about the house that were supposed to draw in positive energy. Jonathan turned to me, frowning when he saw I was crying.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Don’t you think it’s a sign?”
His expression gentled. “From my mother?”
“Who else? I mean, what’s it doing out at night? I’ve always found myself wondering if our parents would be happy that we found each other. I think this is a little message from Leonora. She’s telling us she approves.”
I found myself smiling as I watched the ladybird scuttle across the pavement before disappearing into the grass. I didn’t realise how quiet Jonathan had grown until I glanced his way and saw the emotion in his eyes that matched mine. He believed it, too.
“It’s all I want, for her to know I love her.”
“She knows it,” I affirmed. “Wherever she and Dad are right now, their love is shining down on us.”
He gripped my hand so tight, the touch telling me that even if it weren’t true, even if that ladybird showing up was pure coincidence, he was choosing to believe Leonora had sent it, and I was choosing to believe it, too. The idea filled my heart with too much peace not to.