18. Everly

Chapter 18

Everly

W hen we hit a lull in the afternoon at the library, I sit down and work on a budget for my unstable future. Since Reed waived my rent for three months, which I’m extremely grateful for, we will be okay at least through the holidays. I’ve lived frugally, and since I no longer have any vehicle expenses, I can also take that out of the budget for now. Walking might get tricky, but we’ll make it work.

Anne Marie doesn’t return after lunch and is meeting with the town officials. She said she’ll update me tonight on what she finds out. I’m pretty sure Richard can’t do this and was blowing smoke, but we’ll see. Richie is a chip off the old block, and he’s learned his manipulative behaviors from his dad. I’ve seen it many times, so I wouldn’t put it past him.

I organize our fall-themed book display and smile sadly. I need this job. It makes me happy and has been good for me. I’ve worked so hard on myself, our happiness, and our new life here. And I won’t go out without a fight. How can they wipe out a whole library for a stupid hockey rink? We already have an expanding tourist town, and we want to keep it smaller and more intimate. This is not what the locals will want.

It’s getting darker now, and it starts to rain. I need to pick Willow up from after-school care and get her home. I lock up and pull my umbrella out of my bag just as Nash pulls up. I recognize his truck now from when we were all out at the ranch.

He comes over and holds the umbrella as I finish locking up. “Hey,” he says in a smooth, deep voice.

“Hey,” I say, relieved to see him. Without thinking, I wrap my arms around him and lay my head on his chest. His arms come around, and he pulls me in close. He smells so good.

“You okay? Hayley told me what happened.” He has a different expression on his face that I can’t read.

I shake my head. “No, but I’m going to be. I always am. I’ll figure this out.”

He nods. “I came to pick you up. Mom and Dad want us to come to the ranch tonight for dinner if you don’t already have plans.”

Relief surges through me. “That sounds amazing. For once, I wasn’t looking forward to going home and having time to think about this anymore. I need good food and family right now.”

“We’ve got you covered, beautiful. Let’s go,” he says as he holds the umbrella and leads me to the truck. He holds the door for me and goes around to get in on his side.

Beautiful. A surge of electricity runs through me as his hand rests on my lower back.

“You don’t work tonight?” I ask, curious as he slides in next to me.

“Nope, I did farrier work today,” he says as he cranks up the heat. I take in his profile as he drives, and damn, he looks so good. He’s got a day or two of scruff on his jaw. It makes him look rough yet strong at the same time.

“How was that?” I ask, curious. I don’t know this side of him, and I feel like there is so much I don’t know about him now.

“It was good. I took care of Ed and Mabel’s horses. They’re always good for me,” he says as he turns into the school parking lot and parks.

“Hold on,” he calls as he gets out of the truck and comes around to get me.

Oh, man. He is just… so good. A girl could get used to this. Then I think to myself not to get used to it. Usually, it won’t last with Nash. But it feels so good to be with him like this. I don’t want it to end.

He holds the umbrella and walks with me into the school. Other parents picking up their kids give us curious glances, and a few eyebrows raise. This will make for great town gossip, I’m sure.

Willow lights up when she sees us standing at the door and comes running from a game she was playing with some other kids. Her teacher smiles and waves as I sign her out .

“Nash, you came!” she says as she slides a hand in his and walks beside him, chatting his ear off, which makes me smile. He can barely answer her questions before she barrels on to the next one. He looks over at me, and his mouth turns up a little as he helps us get in the truck. Then he starts it up and turns the heat on as he waits for us to get buckled.

“Your mom and I thought it would be fun to head to the ranch for supper. How does that sound?”

“Yes!” she squeals. “Can we ride a horse?”

He chuckles. “Not today, darlin’. This rain isn’t letting up. But we’ll have to do chores, and maybe we can brush them. You can get to know each of them a little after supper if that’s okay with your mom.”

I nod at her, and she looks a little disappointed but agrees, “Okay.”

“I do have something for you, though. Look inside that bag back there.” Nash nods to the back seat.

I watch her open the brown paper bag and pull out the mini horseshoes. “New shoes for my horse! Thanks, Nash!” she exclaims, holding them up.

He looks over at me, and I smile and mouth, “Thank you.” He says nothing but nods again and puts the truck in drive. Little things like this are big things to Willow. She clutched them in her little hands all the way out to the ranch.

On the drive, Nash reaches over and takes my hand and holds it. I look at him, and he gives me a small smile, but his eyes never leave the road .

We get to the ranch, and when we open the door, the aroma of garlic, basil, and oregano envelops me in a state of paradise. I close my eyes and breathe it in. My eyes scan through the mudroom, and I see Anna in the kitchen at the stove stirring a pot, wearing her bright red apron.

“Nash? Is that you?” she calls as she reaches for a hand towel and wipes her hands, turning around.

“Does she know we’re coming?” I ask, suddenly nervous.

He grins and shakes his head. “I wanted to surprise her. She makes enough to feed an army anyway. She’ll be thrilled.”

“I brought company,” he calls.

Her face lights up when she sees us, and it fills with emotion as she looks at the three of us standing in the kitchen together. She covers her mouth, then reaches out for Willow, who runs into her arms and wraps her in a hug.

“This is the best surprise of the day!” she calls as she hugs Willow. “How are you, my sweetheart?”

“Good. Whatcha making?” Willow asks.

I’m trying to be casual, but I’m nervous about being here with her son and wonder what she’ll think. She seems really happy and can’t stop looking at us and smiling.

“Well, right here, we have sauce simmering. And over there, I made homemade spaghetti noodles. And in the oven, I have some cheesy garlic bread. Want to help with the salad?” she asks as she holds out a little red apron for Willow that matches hers.

Willow eagerly agrees and stands next to Anna as Nash pulls up a stool for her to stand on to reach the counter .

Anna looks over at me. “Where’s my hug, sweetie pie?”

I wrap my arms around her and hug her. She always gives the best hugs. She smells like home. She lingers for a moment longer, and when I was younger, I once asked her why she did that. I noticed she didn’t do that with the other kids. She once told me that she does the extra time of the hug for my mom, who would want her to hug me extra for her. When she told me that, I cried myself to sleep that night, missing my mom so badly but grateful for Anna and her love for me. I cried because I thought it was unfair that my mom died and then my dad chose not to be around me when my mom would have loved to be with me. She wouldn’t have left me if she’d had a choice. And I also cried because I love Anna so much. She always treated me like one of her own kids and made me feel special by doing things like that. Growing up around Anna was great because she keeps my mom’s memory alive and talks to me about her. My dad didn’t do that. In fact, he barely talked about my mother at all, and only if he had to, so Anna played a big part in keeping my mother close to my heart.

The ranch house has always felt like coming home. Worn dark wood floors covered in multicolored braided rugs. Worn but cozy couches have soft and warm quilts draped over the backs. Bookcases in nearly every room are overstuffed with board games and books. Board games are under the coffee table in the sunroom, their boxes faded by the sun. The McCreedys have the kind of house where you can curl up with a book and take a nap, completely relaxed. It’s a dream home for a kid like me who grew up in a quiet and lonely home .

Mack comes in, hanging up his hat and removing his boots. He looks surprised when he sees all of us, but he doesn’t say anything. He just kisses my cheek and says, “Where’s my best girl?” to Willow, who hugs him and sits next to him, telling him all about her day. Mack listens and asks questions, patient with her as a pop-pop would be.

“How’s the new baby donkey?” Anna asks.

“You have a donkey?” Willow’s eyes widen with excitement.

“We do. His name is Waffles,” Mack says. “Hayley named him.”

“I love it! I want to see him!” Willow says with the biggest smile.

“After dinner,” Nash promises.

“Hey, son, when you get a chance, can you help me with the latch on the barn door? Do you have your toolbox handy in your truck?” Mack asks Nash.

“No, I misplaced it,” he says as he follows him out.

I watch them go. Nash is a younger version of Mack, who is still a good-looking man.

After dinner, Anna and I wash dishes while Mack and Nash take Willow out to do chores and see the horses, and she takes this window of time to ask me, “So what’s going on with you and Nash?”

I shrug, trying to play it cool. “He just invited us to dinner with you guys. ”

She grins and shakes her head like she doesn’t believe me. “Okay.”

“Okay,” I repeat, and then we both laugh, knowing I’m full of crap.

“You’ll tell me when you’re ready.” She lays a hand on my cheek, and I lean into it, loving her soothing touch. “I’m so glad you girls came out. I’ve missed you both dearly.”

“We’ll come more,” I say softly. “Next time, I’ll have you all over for supper if you’re up for it. I love cooking.”

“Just like your mom. And we would love that,” she beams.

Just like your mom. She missed out on a lifetime with me, which makes me so sad. Every time I’m with Anna, I feel like she gives me a piece of my mom that I didn’t have before.

When we got home, Willow was exhausted from her day, and by the time I got her settled, I walked out into the living room to see Nash sprawled on the couch, watching me with a hand under his chin and a softness to his gaze. A smirk forms on his face when I walk in the room.

“I just had to get her settled.”

“Looked like she had a good time tonight,” he says as he makes room for me on the couch next to him. I sit beside him but keep a little distance between us, which he notices and closes in on.

“She did have fun. Thank you for tonight.”

He puts his arm around me, pulling me close and tipping his forehead to mine. “Did you have fun? ”

“I did, and we needed it. It’s been a hard week.”

“Yeah, he has to give up eventually. Why is he here so much anyway? Doesn’t he have a dealership to run?”

“You would think. I don’t know why he’s here. I feel like he’s never going to give up,” I admit, feeling defeated.

“You’re doing your best. Leaving a bad marriage from that shithead isn’t easy.”

“It’s not. I hate it.”

“We’re doing this. I told you how I felt. You and me? We’re going to explore this. And Willow?” He points his thumb down the hall. “She comes first.”

“Thanks. Why are you such a nice guy?” I tease.

“Beautiful, I’m whiskey, and you’re tea. We are opposite in so many ways, but we go together. I’m not a nice guy, but I’m a good guy. You need to know the difference. I’ll always love, protect, and be here for both of you, no matter what.” He strokes my cheek, and I lean my head on his shoulder.

“Thanks,” I say, not sure what to say because there’s so much to unpack in that sentence, and it literally made me swoon.

“You know you can thank me by cooking me dinner this week sometime,” he says slyly.

“Oh, yeah?” I tease. “That could be arranged.”

“Yeah,” he murmurs as he tips my nose with his finger. “I’ve heard about your dinners.”

“You can come to dinner anytime, Nash. You know that, right?” I smile at him.

“I do now,” he says quietly, looking into my eyes. My stomach dips in nervousness at the way he looks at me.

I bite my lip, and his eyes linger on my lips. His eyes darken a little as he leans in and kisses me softly on the lips. “Gotta go, beautiful.”

“Okay,” I say as my lips feel electric where he kissed me.

“Tomorrow will be better. Lock up behind me?” he asks as I get up to walk him to the front door.

“Yeah.”

Nash looks out the window. “Dad just dropped off Bobby. I’m giving him a ride back to the ranch. You can use it as long as you like. Nobody’s been using it out at the ranch anyway. Stay safe.”

I start to protest, and he drops a set of keys on the side table and smiles as he tips his chin to me and shuts the door and leaves.

I lean my back up against the door and sink to the floor.

Nash.

God, I love this man.