16. Dominic

The crowd was too thick for me to make out any particular face. I searched carefully, trying to move quickly as I walked between groups of people. My thoughts pounded with everything that had happened over the past week, and my parting words to Cielo.

There had to be a chance I could make everything better. Barring that, I felt I had to at least make an attempt to make sure Cielo knew he wasn’t to blame. He wasn’t to blame for anything, he was sweet, earnest, and the kindest person I had ever known. If I didn’t at least ensure he knew the real truth, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to live with myself.

The people, both those from the local county, and from all over the country, were making it difficult, however. I cursed the celestial event for its timing, and mostly myself for being so stupid. It was next to impossible to guess where Cielo was seated. My only chance was to hope that somehow he and his friends stood out among everyone else.

My hope rose when I heard an unusually loud laugh coming from a group of trees. Careful to not kick up any blankets or bump into anyone, I hurried toward the sound. There were enough lanterns and flashlights for me to make out the faces of the three people sharing a bottle as they laughed merrily. The man’s face I recognized, but as I glanced around, I realized Cielo was nowhere near them.

Fear and disappointment pounded through me as I searched the nearby area desperately. It couldn’t be possible that he wouldn’t have come, not while his friends were still there for the show. My gut clenched as I remembered the heartbroken expression on Cielo’s face before we’d separated. If I had somehow ruined the entire experience for him, making him avoid a once in a lifetime opportunity, then I would deserve whatever misery came my way.

Despairing but unwilling to give up just yet, I paced away from where his friends sat. There was still an entire section of the rolling hills for me to search, and I wasn’t going to stop until I was absolutely sure Cielo wasn’t there.

The air around me burst to life with a splash of green. I stopped, staring upward to the sky which was lit with waving bands of color. Blinking, I watched in amazement as the colors weaved their way across the sky, the beauty of the cosmic moment stopping my thoughts.

It was only for a moment however, and my amazed expression fell. Yes, the Northern Lights was an absolutely breathtaking and beautiful scene. The clear black of the night sky had become the perfect canvas for the waves of color dancing across it, but without Cielo there at my side, I couldn’t enjoy it. What I wanted, was to hear him ooh and ahh over it, cooing as he excitedly chattered about the various hues, bringing his own colorful tale about something his brain had leapt upon after seeing it.

“Dominic?”

I whirled around, immediately spotting Cielo in the crowd. Even if he was one of the only people still standing, I would have known that shock of unruly white hair anywhere. His expression was puzzled as he stood, hands shoved into his jean pockets.

I stepped forward, unsure of what I was going to say. Cielo continued to stare at me, tilting his head curiously. The expression of confusion and hesitation on his face was too much for me. I remembered the sleepy expression of contentment on his face as I held him in my moonlit bedroom, the soft smile on his face when he told a story that made him happy, the look of pleasure as he dug into a hearty meal after working all day. I never wanted him to ever look as worried and unhappy as he did beneath the glow of the Northern Lights.

I stepped forward, took hold of him and pulled him into a desperate kiss.

Cielo tensed, surprise rippling through his body as I enfolded him in my arms. I almost pulled from the kiss, suddenly afraid I’d gone too far. Then, he softened, his body melting against mine and returning the kiss. My heart thudded feverishly, and my spirit soared as he wrapped his arms tight around my waist.

When the kiss broke, he smiled nervously. “But…”

I shook my head, taking hold of his wrist and pulling him away from the crowd. My head felt like it was filled with fog and thunder, and I fought to not look at the people around me. I couldn’t believe I’d kissed Cielo in front of everyone, when I knew there were plenty of people from Hilsbury around. Instead, I focused on taking him to an out of the way place near the edge of the forest, where we could talk in peace.

“Dominic, I don’t understand,” he began.

I turned to him, cupping his cheek. “I’m sorry, that’s what. I’m sorry I treated you like dirt, you didn’t deserve that.”

He shook his head. “You were right though. You have every right to live your life the way you want to. If that means not telling the people in town about who you want, then you should be allowed to without me coming in and trying to force you to be someone you’re not.”

I took his hand in my own. “That’s the thing, Cielo. This is who I am. You were the one who was right. I’ve been trying to keep this image of a man who works hard, believes in his town, who will eventually settle down and have himself a family. The thing is, I kept hiding who I want to settle down with, not wanting to admit who I am, or what I want.”

“I can understand why, and I should have…” he whispered.

“No, Cielo, you were right. I need to believe in these people. I’m sure it’s not going to be easy, and not everyone is going to be okay with it, but I can’t live my life to make everyone happy. I can’t always care about what other people want from me.”

I couldn’t, but I was going to, and I knew that. I had lived my life for so long worrying about what others would say or do to me if they knew I wanted a husband and not a wife. The truth was, I wanted Cielo, and I wanted him desperately. I couldn’t continue hiding if I wanted him by my side.

He glanced toward the crowd behind him. “You kissed me in front of everyone.”

I smiled. “I wasn’t planning to, it just kind of happened.”

He whirled around, a grin on his face. “You kissed me in front of everyone.”

I laughed, pulling him into another kiss. I made sure the kiss was as long and deep as he deserved. My heart still thudded, and I could feel my nerves jumping as I waited for someone to say something. Cielo reached to run his hand along the side of my face, his lips gentle, his breathing eager. Happiness practically bubbled out of him as he literally jiggled with joy.

“You did it again!” he exclaimed.

“Shh!” someone hissed from nearby.

I chuckled softly, resting a hand on the back of Cielo’s neck. Those two kisses had been the hardest, yet the easiest choices I’d ever made. Buying the orchard, fixing it up, and running a business on my own, none of those had ever compared to the choice to kiss the man I wanted most in the world, and in front of all the people I’d ever known. I would have happily made the choice all over again, however, and I smiled.

“This is the part where I’m supposed to get down on one knee and swear my eternal love for you,” I said.

He snickered. “Do you?”

“I don’t know, but even if I’m not in love with you yet, I could be. I started falling the moment I saw your little smile when you told that story about the friendly chipmunk who followed you around for an hour in the park.”

He blinked, eyes widening. “You…  remember that?”

I scoffed. “I listened to every story you ever told me, Cielo. Even if they might have seemed silly or stupid to you, they weren’t to me. I love your stories, your drawings, your laugh, and holding you at night. I don’t want to lose that because I’m too scared. I want you by my side while I go through this.”

It was then I realized what I was asking him to do. To stay with me meant leaving behind art school, his friends, and New York. I had been so preoccupied with trying to make things up to him and salvage what I could, I hadn’t thought it all the way through. I was asking him to uproot his entire life and plant it somewhere strange, with someone he barely knew.

He beamed. “I want to.”

I straightened in surprise. “Just like that?”

“Too sudden?”

I laughed. “I just asked you to stay with me and hold my hand while I came out of the closet. Shouldn’t it be me asking you if it’s too sudden?”

He squeezed my fingers. “You’re not asking me to hold your hand, you’re asking me to support you. And really, I think it’s time I moved on. This might sound crazy, but the past week I’ve spent with you has really opened my eyes to my life. I never fit in anywhere like I did when I was with you, and I could be myself in a way I’ve never been able to before. I don’t know if I believe in fate or divine will, but I know a good thing when I see it.”

“I don’t think it sounds crazy at all.”

“So, does that mean I get to stay with you? Because I really don’t have anywhere else to stay if I’m going to become a resident of Hilsbury.”

The sound of it was beautiful to my ears. Things were going to be different for me, but they weren’t going to be any less so for Cielo. There would be a whole process of integrating him into the community, especially since he would be known as my partner. The two of us had a lot of change ahead of us, but with him at my side, I didn’t fear it as much as I would have on my own.

I snorted. “Of course you’re staying with me, but you’re not on the couch anymore. Holding you at night was the best thing I’ve ever felt and I’m not giving that up so easily.”

“Deal,” he beamed, kissing my cheek.

Someone cleared their throat nearby, bringing our attention around. Barbara McKenzie, the owner of the only fabric and dress shop in town, was standing nearby. For a wild, fearful moment, I thought she was going to say something. Then she jiggled the box in front of her, bringing our attention to the container full of binoculars.

“Binoculars for the love birds?”

Her voice was sweet, and her smile was kind. Cielo’s hesitation disappeared in the wake of that warm expression and he stepped forward to take one from her.

“Thank you,” he beamed at her.

She winked. “Of course sweetie, enjoy. Oh, and Mr. Stone?”

I straightened. “Yes?”

“I better see you at the Apple Festival this year. Nothing beats stopping by your display and buying up all the cider I can.”

Relieved, I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

Her eyes lingered on Cielo’s hair and clothes. “Though, you might want to let him be the one to decorate it for you.”

Cielo positively glowed at the compliment and I smiled gratefully at her. With a little wave, she turned to pass out binoculars to others.

“She seems nice,” Cielo said.

“She really is.”

“Apple Festival?”

I groaned. “It’s a Fall Festival, but ever since I started getting really big harvests a few years ago, people started calling it the Apple Festival. Everyone was showing up with stuff that had my apples in it, and I have my own setup.”

He grinned. “Are you really going to let me decorate it?”

“Only if you come to dinner with me when I go to Debby and Steven’s.”

“Isn’t that the man I threw paint on?”

“The very same. His wife yelled at him and he came apologizing.”

“I like her already.”

That prompted him to immediately launch into a story about an odd woman he’d met in his apartment building. She was apparently so fond of velvet, just about every piece of clothing she owned had the fabric in it. He regaled me with the time he’d visited her, marveling at the different ways velvet could be used and… “You wouldn’t believe the colors, but so soft.”

I sat beside him as he chatted merrily, taking turns looking through the binoculars. Listening intently, I allowed myself to be lulled by the happy sound of Cielo’s voice. My life was changing for sure, but I was perfectly content with that as it was also considerably brighter.

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A/N: next chapter will be the epilogue! please don't forget to leave a vote for every chapter and tell me what you think of the story in the comments section <3