Chapter 81: My Love Mine All Mine

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Grace twisted around, trying to get comfortable in her hammock. The sun had set and the group had needed rest before their journey ahead. 

Grace knew she needed to sleep, but she couldn't. The anticipation running through her veins kept her mind buzzing, the stress of being so close to Ward kept her hairs standing straight up, and the absence of JJ's arms around her kept her eyes wide open.

Eventually she gave up and climbed out of her hammock. She carefully stepped around her sleeping sister and made her way out of their little hut and onto the dock. She sat herself down and stared up at the moon.

The summer heat being replaced with a cool night breeze felt familiar. Her feet dangling above the water, and darkness painting the world blue reminded her of home. 

It was like the night she and JJ had shared their first kiss, or the one when she held him because he was too anxious to go to sleep, or even the night she, Sarah, and John B returned to the Outer Banks.

Instead of fearing the shadows cast by the moon's dim glow she felt great comfort in the starry sky reflecting off the river in front of her. It wasn't because the sight was peaceful and quiet although that played a part, it was because it felt like JJ. 

She wanted him right there next to her so they could sit in silence with murmurs of love being the only speck of disruption in the quiet of the night.

Grace stared up to the moon letting the cool light reflect off of her face and place a glimmer in her eyes. She didn't have anything in her name but she knew she had him and that was more than enough. A soft smile grew on her lips as she imagined JJ staring at it with her; not next to her like she had wished but somewhere. That thought was comfort enough. 

She hoped the moon was a strong enough vessel to transport her message of love to her muse. 

Something about the light refracting off of the calm river told her it was.

___________

JJ sat on the edge of their boat. They'd docked for the night, tying off to a low hanging tree but staying in the safety of the boat. None of the Pogues found setting up fort in the tropical woods after the sun had went down all that appealing.

JJ glanced over his shoulder to see Cleo asleep on Pope's shoulder with his head balanced against hers.

He smiled, imagining the excited pokes and prods he would have received if Grace could see it. Sure, he was hoping he'd win their bet but having her grin up at him proudly was a prize enough.

JJ's gaze followed his muddied boots as they swung back and forth over the water. It was a breezy night making the leaves rustle behind him. 

A soft smile settled over his lips. The noises of nature surrounding him reminded him of Grace. She was a song, his favourite song, and he could hear her pretty voice echoing in the wind as it caressed his face.

JJ's head lifted towards the stars, staring up at the glowing moon as it painted the sky silver. He could imagine Grace beside him telling him he was pretty as his blue eyes deepened in the dark of the night. He could see the twinkle in her brown eyes as she stared up at him.

The moon beamed down at him making a feeling of serenity settle over him. He could feel her all around him. He could hear her voice in the gentle hum of the wind. He could see her eyes as they twinkled in the moonlight. He could feel the warmth of her skin as the late summer heat embraced him. 

Grace was right when they said their vows, it was always there. Whatever intangible, beautiful, inexplicable it  was had always been there. The fact that he knew she could feel it too filled his chest with a warmth that was incomparable to anything he had ever felt before.

𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ MaybankWhere stories live. Discover now