Page 129 of Perfect Satisfaction

His grandfather splutters so hard his coffee dribbles into his beard. I find it utterly charming when he whips out a bandana and mops it up. “The money...”

“That he gave up? That he told the lawyers to keep? For a minute, an hour, a year with me,” I inform Edward without removing my eyes from Arek’s.

I blush when Arek mouths,I want forever.

Edward listens to the byplay without comment. After a few minutes, I scrape my chair back and begin to clear the table. Edward takes the plates from my hands and pronounces, “Let the boy do it.”

Arek drops a kiss on my lips as he saunters over to the sink. “Nice to know I’m good for something.”

“It isn’t for your brains,” Edward snaps, “but while you’re here, can you call the gravel people about my driveway? It’s killing my ass every time I have to drive into Mooseberry to get supplies.” Then Edward turns toward me and says, “Come for a walk with me, Sula. I want to tell you a story.”

I don’t bother to hold back my snicker at the disgruntlement on Arek’s face. Instead, I accept the arm Edward’s holding out.

He guides me out the back door toward the jetty. I inhale the clean air and feel peace settle over my soul. “Now I understand why you live here.”

“Only during the summer, Sula. In the winter, I move to my house in Massachusetts, next door to the house where Arek was brought home from the hospital and his father was born. But this place? This is home.” His jade eyes, so much like Arek’s pierce through me. “Where’s your home, Sula?”

“I don’t have one,” I tell him honestly.

“What makes you say that?” He points to a spot on the rocks, and I scramble up so it appears I’m perched on his shoulder.

I contemplate my words carefully. “Love is what makes a home.”

“You love, Sula. Even as an old man, I can see that.”

“I do. But my heart is conflicted. Is it possible to love and not to trust?”

“My wife thought so,” the old badger admits.

“Excuse me?” I almost fall off the rocks at his admission.

“I think it’s a good time to tell you the story about StellaNova. You know the translation means new star?”

“I looked it up one day,” I admit, but don’t share it was after I realized Arek was the owner of the successful media news site.

“My Erica—yes, your husband was named for both of his grandparents—loved coming to Maine. She used to claim there was a new star every time we returned.”

“StellaNova,” I whisper, tears misting my eyes at the simple beauty of that memory.

“I was working at the local newspaper in Mooseberry so we could afford to summer here. Then one day, I stayed out all night drinking. I dimmed the only star that mattered in my sky.”

I place my hand on his shoulder. He shudders beneath my touch. “What happened?”

“I... too much... alcohol. Never should have happened. My Erica was devastated when she heard. Small town, you know.”

An ache of understanding for Arek’s grandmother blooms in my heart as Edward pulls out his handkerchief and wipes his eyes before blowing his nose. “I do.”

“By the next morning, it was all over town. I said to myself, if they were going to spread what happened to me, I’d share all their secrets.” His smile is full of bitter recriminations. “I taught the boy sex sells. Mooseberry’s summer paper became very popular. The circulation grew tremendously once I decided on cutting a path of revenge through our tiny town.”

“When did all of this happen?”

“The year Arek’s father was born.”

I draw my knees up to my chest and rest my face against them. “I see.”

“There’s a reason both my son and my grandson weren’t born in this home.” He gestures behind him. “It’s because my wife—my star—rightfully booted me out.”

I swallow hard. “Are you trying to tell me something?”Like what I should do with my husband when I’ve fallen in love with him all over again?