SAPPHIRE
Sapphire stood in front of her mirror, biting her lower lip as she adjusted the neckline of her blouse. It was her favorite one—soft lilac cotton, neither too flashy nor too plain. She paired it with fitted jeans and a light cardigan. Comfortable, but still presentable. Her fingers reached for a small bottle of perfume on her dresser. One gentle spritz on each wrist, then a soft tap behind her ears.
She paused, catching her reflection. Her dark eyes sparkled with something she hadn’t felt in a while—nervous excitement. A flutter stirred in her chest, and it wasn’t just because she looked nice. It was because she was about to see him again.
Pierce.
They’d reconciled, finally. The distance, the misunderstandings—they had put that behind them. And now, with a calm heart, she was going to visit him.
Her father had seen her preparing earlier and simply gave her a knowing smile, nodding without question. He had always trusted her judgment. As for her mother—well, Sapphire didn’t dwell too much on what she’d think. That was her father’s territory now, and she wouldn’t ruin the peace they had regained.
Clutching Cooper close to her chest, she stepped outside. The late afternoon air was cool, the sky glowing in a warm gradient of orange and lavender. Just a few houses down, Pierce’s home came into view. The gate was slightly ajar, as if expecting her.
Sapphire approached it, heart tapping like a soft drum. “Pierce?” she called out gently.
After a beat, footsteps sounded from inside. The door opened—and there he was.
Pierce stepped out wearing nothing but loose shorts, his skin damp from a recent shower, hair still tousled. His lean, athletic form caught the golden light, and for a second, Sapphire froze.
Time stilled. Her breath hitched.
Pierce blinked, then glanced down. “Oh—shoot!” He laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fire, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you this early. This is… kind of embarrassing.”
She offered a small smile, cheeks warming. “It’s okay. I should’ve called first.”
“I’ll, uh, go throw on a shirt,” he muttered, still grinning sheepishly before disappearing upstairs.
Sapphire stepped inside, the scent of freshly cooked rice and garlic wafting in the air. She gently settled Cooper on the couch, carefully unwrapping his blanket. The baby stirred but didn’t wake. Pierce already knew about Cooper—there were no secrets between them now. That conversation had been long and emotional, but it brought healing.
She picked up a magazine from the coffee table and absently flipped through the pages. The quiet house was warm, lived-in, and full of subtle signs of family—schoolbooks on a corner shelf, a drawing taped to the wall, a half-eaten cookie on a saucer.
Suddenly, tiny feet thundered on the stairs.
“Sapphire!” a young voice squealed.
Priscilla, Pierce’s younger sister, raced toward her, her arms wide open. Her energy was like sunshine after a storm.
“Cooper!” she added excitedly, planting a kiss on Sapphire’s cheek and peeking at the infant with a giggle.
Sapphire laughed. “Hi, Priscilla. How are you? Have you eaten?”
“I’m good! Pierce let me eat early,” Priscilla beamed, puffing her chest proudly.
“That’s good. So, what’s your plan for tonight?”
“I have a story! Pierce will read it to me. Want to listen too?”
“Right now?” Sapphire asked, amused.
Priscilla nodded eagerly and tugged at her hand. Not wanting to disappoint the little girl, Sapphire adjusted Shan in her arms and followed.
They entered Priscilla’s room, pastel-colored and decorated with stuffed animals and drawings. Pierce was already there, smoothing the blanket on the bed. He looked up and smiled when he saw them.
“What story do you want tonight, girl?” he asked.
“Noah’s story, please,” Priscilla said, crawling into bed and snuggling under the covers.
Sapphire stood by the door, cradling Shan, observing quietly. The clock said 7:53 p.m.—early for most, but the perfect time for a child’s bedtime tale.
Pierce sat beside Priscilla and opened a children’s Bible.
His voice was steady, low and warm. “God saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become…”
Priscilla’s eyes widened as Pierce painted the tale with words—the warnings, the ark, the animals walking in pairs, the torrential rain. It was more than a story. It was a comfort.
Sapphire’s gaze lingered on Pierce. The way he read, the way he made each word come alive—it stirred something inside her. He wasn’t just reading. He was nurturing. Priscilla watched with fascination. Shan stirred slightly, his tiny fingers curling.
When Pierce finished, he closed the book gently and said, “Now, it’s time to sleep.”
“But it’s still early,” Priscilla whined.
He pointed at the window. “Can you see the moon?”
She nodded.
“Well, the moon whispered to me just now. It said, ‘Priscilla should sleep now.’”
Her brows furrowed, lips forming a reluctant pout. But she lay back down.
“Okay… if the moon says so.”
Pierce leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Good girl. Good night, Priscilla. I love you.”
Priscilla sat up suddenly, eyes on Sapphire. “I want a kiss from Sapphire too!”
Sapphire blinked in surprise, then chuckled. She leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on Priscilla’s forehead. “Good night, sweetheart. Sweet dreams.”
But Priscilla wasn’t done.
“You should kiss too!” she announced, pointing between them.
Pierce’s face turned a brilliant shade of red. “Priscilla, no! You’re too young to ask that!”
“Why not?” she pouted. “It’s unfair. You two always kiss—even when it’s not a good night!”
Sapphire covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Pierce looked mortified.
“We’ll do that later,” he said, attempting to tuck her in tighter. “Close your eyes now, Priscilla Harret.”
But her lip began to tremble, and suddenly she burst into dramatic tears.
Pierce panicked. “No, no, no! Don’t cry! Okay, okay, shhh—”
“It’s fine,” Sapphire whispered, suppressing a giggle. Her hand reached for his cheek, turning his face toward hers. She leaned in, their lips meeting in a soft, tender kiss.
Priscilla stopped crying instantly. “Yey!” she cheered, clapping. “Now I can sleep.”
As she snuggled under the covers, her voice grew drowsy. “Good night, Pierce. Good night, Sapphire…”
Sapphire smiled as she watched her drift off. She glanced at Pierce.
“Shall we go?” she whispered.
Pierce nodded. “Yeah, let’s go downstairs. I’ll grab the food I was cooking. You can lay Shan on the bed here—he’ll be safe.”
Sapphire kissed Shan’s forehead and gently laid him beside Priscilla. The two children—one dreaming of Noah’s ark, the other safe in peaceful slumber—made her heart swell.
They went downstairs. Pierce headed to the kitchen while Sapphire returned to the living room, where a large TV faced a comfy couch. Moments later, he came back with bowls of popcorn, chips, and a tray of juice.
He flopped beside her, handed her a bowl, and turned on the movie.
“The Kissing Booth III,” he said. “Your favorite, right?”
She grinned. “You remembered.”
They settled into the cushions, shoulders brushing. As the opening credits rolled, Sapphire felt a quiet contentment settle over her chest. Not everything was perfect, but this moment—it felt right.
And sometimes, right now was enough.