The late July day was bright and cloudless. We’d had weeks of unusually hot weather. Hot for Lavender Shores, perfectly pleasant for anywhere else. It was beautiful, but I preferred the cozier, foggier days most of the time. Even the cavern lost some of its mystical quality with the bright light pouring through the arches.

Part of me felt guilty for my melancholy. It seemed wrong to ask the universe for more, not when I already had it all. Truly and completely had it all. But maybe it was okay if I was asking for someone else.

Was I asking? I wasn’t sure. But this was where I’d sat countless other times as I planned out my future. Dreamed of Connor. Played song after song as I pictured the New York skyline over the horizon of the ocean. Mentally designed the interior of the Green Violin and found the courage to ask Adrian to be my business partner.

It only seemed right I would be here again. That I would envision the world how I wanted it, let my little cavern hold it for me until it came to fruition.

I looked around the space, seeing it in a new light even after all these years. Maybe that was what this place was. A womb of some sort, not the sexiest of notions by any means, but still. A place where dreams, desires, and needs could gestate and then be born into the world.

That seemed to fit, actually. The warm earthiness of the walls and floor and cavernous ceiling. The relatively steady temperature inside no matter what was happening in the world beyond, the safety and comfort I always felt.

Sitting on the edge of the pool that made its way in, I pulled my legs up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I focused on the rippling surface of the water, the gentle lapping waves as they wafted into the cavern, and I… prayed. Not really, but it was the closest comparison I could come up with. What I was doing seemed stronger than wishing.

Life was just as wonderful as I’d hoped it would be with Connor. Better, honestly. No matter how much I had believed we would end up together at some point, there’d never been a time where there wasn’t tension or strain between us. Now that was gone. It was beyond what I’d been able to picture. So much better. It was obvious Connor felt the same. But in his newfound comfort and peace, the ache that built inside of him was evermore clear. As well as the guilt.

He rarely mentioned Moses. But it was like the kid was with us at all times. Always just a thought away. The shadow of him lingering. Just as I never would’ve felt complete being separated from Connor, it was clear Connor was going to have a wound that never healed as long as Moses was gone.

So that was what I envisioned as I stared out to sea, what I prayed for, what I hoped. That somehow, someway, Moses would find his way back. And though I knew it was the epitome of selfishness on my part, and while I knew it would be best for Moses as well, I wished it more for Connor’s sake than anything. It didn’t seem like too much to ask, even if it meant Connor and I both would have everything we wanted, which surely might tip the world out of balance. But still, it would be best for Moses too.

As always, time faded as I sought refuge in my hideaway. But gradually, the whispers of guilt and obligation began to creep in. I’d told Adrian he only needed to cover the shop while I took lunch. And I was certain I’d been gone way longer than an hour. I was also certain he’d been calling my cell. One more benefit of the cavern. No cell service. A womb indeed.

When I could put it off no longer, I let out a breath of regret, hating to leave, and started to stand. Then noticed something at the edge of the water, just a few inches from my feet. I leaned closer and smiled. A bright purple starfish with white crackling across its rough skin, was partially out of the water, one of its suckered legs slowly reaching for my shoe. I leaned closer, and felt a smile cut across my face. There were often little creatures in the small tide pool of the cavern. And starfish weren’t unusual, but I’d never seen such a vibrant purple one before. Not outside of photos.

I nearly pulled out my cell phone to snap a picture for Lacy. As much as she loved all things Lavender Shores, the purple starfish would have thrilled her. I started to reach for my phone, then paused—the moment felt too personal, too magical, in a way. Like if I let a piece of technology in, or shared it with someone else, it would lose its power.

It was just a starfish, purple or not. A starfish in the ocean. There were probably billions of those. Only a fool would choose to see meaning in a starfish. Well, I’d been a fool for many things. Why not again?

I whispered thanks to the purple fellow and stood. Then I did my normal routine before exiting the cave. After rolling the rope ladder up and putting it in a safe place once I reentered the real world, my cell began to buzz, a wash of messages arriving all at once. I checked them, even though I knew they’d all be from Adrian.

They were, all of them but one.

There was a text from Mom, sent about five minutes before.

I’m with Moses, at the house. Come meet us now. Don’t say anything to Connor.

I glanced back toward the barely visible entrance to the cavern. Damn. That was one powerful starfish.

Mom met me at the door. I glanced over her shoulder. “Moses is still here?”

“Yes. He’s in the dining room.” She motioned back over her shoulder.

“How did you get in touch with him? He even quit texting Walden a couple of weeks ago.”

Her exasperated look clearly stated it should be obvious, and I was wasting time asking for details. “I don’t give up very easily. I kept texting. Only times I knew that stupid father of his was in his pulpit.”

She was a marvel. “Thanks, Mom. This will mean so much to Connor.”

“Connor?” Confusion crossed her face for a second, then cleared. “Oh, of course it will. But I didn’t do this for Connor. Moses is one of mine. Just like you, just like Connor. Just like all of my children.” Fire burned bright in her eyes, and her jaw twitched before she spoke again. “He’s mine. And I won’t let one of my children suffer.”

Of course. I should’ve known. For all her crazy antics, when Regina Bryant set her heart on someone, there was nothing that would get in her way. That little starfish hadn’t had much work to do, if any. “So why did you text me and not Connor?”

Her composure slipped, going from strong to looking on the edge of tears in a heartbeat. “I can’t even explain it. I’d almost forgotten how it was when Connor came to us. How it had been when I lived in Texas. I’d forgotten the things that people teach their children, about others, about themselves. Moses won’t be able to hear anything from Connor, won’t be able to trust it, but I think he might be able to trust you.” She leveled her gaze at me, the strength returning. “He’s not going back to the Clarks, but I thought it would be smart to have you talk to him before we tell Connor.”

She didn’t wait for me to confirm, just turned and headed back toward the dining room. I followed, trying to think of what in the world I could possibly say. Wishing she’d gotten ahold of Connor instead of me. At least he would understand what Moses had been through with his family. Even hearing the stories of the Clarks, I couldn’t manage to wrap my brain around it.

Moses was at the table, eating. It looked like Mom had prepared a Thanksgiving feast for him. Of course she had. When he looked at me, I wondered if we needed a whole lot more help than either Mom or the starfish could provide.

Mom went to him, rubbed his arms, and then patted his cheek softly. “I’m going to give you and Micah some space. But I’ll be in the kitchen. We need pie.”

He gave a tiny nod.

“Hey.” I moved to a chair, a seat’s space between us. “It’s good to see you. How are you?”

“I’m fine.”

I hesitated. “Mind if I sit?”

He smiled, looking like Moses for the first time. “I can’t eat all this myself.”

“Well, I did tell Adrian I was taking a lunch break, so I might as well eat.” I pulled out the chair and sat down, then grabbed some of the meat from the platter between us. “I’m playing hooky.” Maybe try to keep things light? I had no fucking clue what I was doing. I wanted to jump in and talk about Connor, but I wasn’t that big a fool. “Adrian was late on Charlie’s order of cilantro last week. You should’ve seen the blowup. And this time it was Adrian’s fault. He completely spaced the order. Of course I had to remind him of the shit he gave you when you were late for the very same thing.”

“Yeah?” The corner of Moses’s lips curved slightly. “You know, I was actually thinking about them the other day. I kinda think Adrian has a crush on Charlie.”

I barely caught myself before pointing out the “pray the gay away” his parents were using must not be working so well if Moses was playing mental matchmaker between the single gays of Lavender Shores. “Actually, I’ll fill you in on a secret, but you gotta keep it between us. If Adrian hears I’m spreading gossip, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

Despite himself, Moses’s eyes twinkled. “Yeah, sure.”

“You know the redhead who owns the bookstore?”

He nodded.

“That’s the guy Adrian’s wanting to—” Shit, almost said fuck. “That’s the guy Adrian’s crushing on.”

Moses’s eyes narrowed as he considered. “I can kinda see them together. The redhead is pretty cute.”

“Really? You have a thing for redheads too?”

Moses started to nod, but then his grin faded, undeniable guilt crossing his face.

Well, shit, I’d fucked that one up. Silence fell between us. It felt like we had been off to a good start. A couple of laughs. A smile or two. Now… nothing. I couldn’t think of anything to say.

Luckily I didn’t have to. “You got new ink.” I hadn’t even noticed Moses looking at me.

“Yeah.” I took the opening and extended my forearm. “Pretty sweet, right?”

Moses leaned in, genuinely interested. “It’s beautiful. Connor knocked that one out of the park.”

“He sure did.” Again the conversation ran dry. There had to be an opening there, if only I could find it. Then I did. At least I hoped. “And you? Created any new superheroes lately?”

He shook his head but didn’t elaborate.

“That’s too bad. You’re so good at it. I kinda thought you’d give Marvel and DC Comics a run for their money one day.”

He scoffed, but when he glanced at me, there was a glimmer of hope. “Really?”

“Yeah. Really.”

Moses nodded and another smile played at his lips.

Again the conversation evaporated. I tried to think of something else quippy or fun, but it felt forced. And if Moses had decided to return, maybe things weren’t on such thin ice. Who knew what his time with the Clarks had been like. What had made him willing to keep talking to Mom. My gut told me going down that path wasn’t the right direction. That maybe Connor had been right. Moses was going to make his own decisions and that being direct and upfront would be the best way to go. “Mind if I talk about what you saw, about Connor and me?”

Though he shifted in his seat, he gave a little nod. “Sure.”

Here went nothing. “Connor has been part of my family since I was a kid. And without a doubt, he is truly Gilbert, Lacy, and Hayley’s brother. And he is Patrick and Regina Bryant’s son. Either of them would die for him in a heartbeat. And though he’s always been my family, Connor has never been my brother.” Moses’s gaze stayed on me as I searched for the right words. “I think part of what kept us apart for so long was that he’d been taught the same things as you. He was afraid he was hurting me. That the love he felt for me was evil or wrong. I bet you can understand why he felt that way. But ever since I knew what love was, I knew that Connor wasn’t my brother, that he was my soulmate.”

He studied me for minute. “Your mom said the whole family knows. That everyone’s okay with it.”

I nodded. “They are.” I reached out to touch his arm, hesitated, then followed through on the impulse. “Connor and I don’t expect you to be okay with it. You can feel however you feel. It won’t change things. Whether you’re at the Clarks, here with my mom, or living with—” I almost said us, but maybe he didn’t know about Connor living with me yet. “—with Connor, you’re family. And we love you. I’m just glad you’re back, that you’re safe.”

His lip trembled, but he squared his shoulders and nodded.

Maybe I shouldn’t push, but I couldn’t keep from it. “You are back, right?”

Moses didn’t hesitate. “Yeah. I’m back.” He blinked, looking close to tears again, and I could almost imagine what he’d been through, both with the Clarks and whatever he’d been thinking since he’d seen Connor and me together. “I’m sorry if I overreacted. I just….”

“You have nothing to be sorry about.” I squeezed his arm, then released him. “I simply hate you found out in the way you did. Connor and I were planning on telling you… we were just figuring out the best way to do it.”

Another nod.

A clatter of dishes wafted in from the kitchen. “Mom thought you might need to talk to me before Connor. Is there anything you need to ask me? Are you worried about… Connor?”

“No.” He shook his head, then spoke again, more emphatically. “No. I can’t say it won’t be weird to see the two of you differently, but I’m not worried about….” Another shake and his words trailed off.

I pushed again. “Then how about I call Connor.” God, he was going to be beside himself. I gestured toward the spread of food. “You know he’s the only way you and I are going to make a dent in all of this.”

Moses snorted out a laugh, and though he looked nervous, he nodded a final time. “Good idea.”