21. Everly

Chapter 21

Everly

R ichard Sullivan wasn’t bluffing. The library funding was really pulled, and the library and several nearby buildings are in the process of being shut down. The ice arena project, which is a massive and expensive project, is really in motion. The town plans to bulldoze our beautiful old iconic library to make room for an enormous hockey arena, which the town promises will bring many income opportunities for Cozy Creek. Not only is the library at risk but so are other important landmark buildings that mean a lot to Cozy Creek. I end the call with Anne Marie, who is fit to be tied and beside herself upset about this. She’s been in meetings all week trying to figure out what’s going on and how we can stop it. I hate it, and deep down, I feel like this is my fault. If I hadn’t had a target on my back, then maybe they wouldn’t be coming after the library.

I tidy up my house I’m nervous cleaning and take the apple pie out of the oven I baked to take to the McCreedy’s. It smells so good. I breathe it in and take a deep breath. I love cooking, baking, and taking care of the people I love. It feels good to be able to do things with the McCreedys again.

I called Mary, the town manager’s assistant, who is also good friends with Anna. She said she couldn’t talk while working but would call and update me later. At least I might have an ally there who can tell us what’s going on so we can fight this.

I’m still helping Anne Marie at the library even though we aren’t sure about the future of it, and baking with Hayley to supplement the lost income. The town suddenly can’t lose its resources because of this, and she needs my help. But we’ve been telling everyone we can what is happening, hoping others will be outraged and fight for the library with us. No one seems to be happy about this, and a lot of people are offering good ideas.

Working at the library is my dream job. I have loved books ever since I was a little girl, and the library here in Cozy Creek has always been my sanctuary and special place. It’s a special landmark for so many people here. They can’t just shut it down and bulldoze it. Richie is making this personal. He’s coming for something I’ve worked hard for, and it’s my dream job. It’s not just a fight against an unknown corporation coming to build a business. This is a battle to be free from Richie and his manipulative abuse.

I won’t allow Richie to steal any more of my life. I will not stand around and let him take away my dreams as they shut the library down and raze it to the ground. But according to Mary, who finally called me back, that’s exactly what will happen. On January first, the doors will officially close, and it has been defunded. There has to be something more we can do; I can’t accept defeat just yet. Not when so many people rely on our services.

But one thing they don’t know is that I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me. The Sullivans don’t have as much power as they think they do. Richie’s mother was no help when I reached out to her. She said she thought the ice arena would be great for tourism and bringing income into the town and local businesses. She laughed at me and said I just needed to go home to Richie. “Stop this nonsense,” she’d told me in a condescending fake voice. After we had hung up, I realized that she’d never even asked about her granddaughter. Not that I’m surprised. When we moved back, she asked if Willow had started school yet. She’s in third grade. She’s clueless and hasn’t bothered to get to know Willow.

Note to self: his mother is out. This is a power play from the Sullivans to shut down the one place that I love and cancel my job. Anything to further manipulate me into going back to their son so he doesn’t look bad.

Taking this job was my way to prove to the town that I’m reliable, and I’m not the town loser who grew up poor and on my own for the most part and married the town jerk because I got pregnant. I refuse to be knocked down. I’m back. And I’m not letting anyone take the library from us without a fight. Anger fills me as I look at the clock. No time to do anything right now. I promised Anna and Mack we’d come out to the ranch. Nash is going to work with Willow on riding a horse. I am nervous for her but happy she’s getting to do what she loves; I quickly fix my makeup and hair. I glance down at my sage green sweater, jeans, and boots. I wonder if it’s enough and realize if I wore anything else I’d look like I’m trying too hard.

Be cool. Don’t be weird.

I head out to my porch and give it a quick sweep and shake the rug of the fallen leaves. I’m bent over arranging the pumpkins and mums when I hear behind me. “Hey, beautiful.”

I look over, and he’s wearing jeans that fit just right. His messy dark hair is tamed, and his beard is neatly trimmed. He walks up my sidewalk and looks like a whole dang snack. Scratch that, a whole meal. A feast. I bite my lip and stare up at him.

I give him a playful look, and he offers me a hand as I stand. His is rough but fits mine perfectly. He doesn’t let go as I stand and pulls me into him against his wall of muscle chest. He lets go of my hand, wraps his arms around me, and pulls me in for a kiss. He feels firm and good. Safe.

“How was your day…”

Nash’s lips touch mine, and I stop talking. My tongue touches his delicious lips, and he tastes minty and like Nash.

His hand goes to my hair, and he wraps a lock around his hand.

We finally pull away, realizing we’re on my front steps for the town to see, and I smile at him. “Hello to you, too.”

“Hello,” he murmurs.

“I made pie,” I say lamely, nerves starting to shoot through me.

He grins down at me. “I like pie.”

“What kind of pie?” I tease, realizing he doesn’t even know what kind I made.

“Your pie,” he says. But something in his smirk tells me he’s not really talking about pie.

My stomach dips in nervousness and excitement. I take him inside by the hand and call out, “Willow! Nash is here.”

I hear footsteps down the hall as she crashes into him and hugs him. “I’m ready to go ride horses with you.”

He places a hand on her head and says, “Me, too, kiddo.”

This simple gesture warms my heart, and it swells seeing him interact with her.

“I’ll get the pie in the carrier, and we can head out.” I head to the kitchen, stopping at the stove to realize he’s behind me and close.

“Can I help with anything?” he offers as he surveys the kitchen. “Hey, what happened to your faucet?”

“Oh, it broke today. I haven’t had a chance to contact the property management guy. It’s on my list,” I say as I wave to the handle of the broken faucet.

He walks over and picks it up and looks at it, then sets it back down and looks at me.

“Really, it’s fine. It still works; it’s just snapped off at the top.” I snap the lid on the pie carrier and say, “Are you ready?”

He takes it from me and places a hand on my lower back as he follows me to the entryway, where Willow is sliding on her boots .

He pulls the door closed behind us and reaches his hand in his pocket then freezes and says, “Beautiful, your keys.”

“Did you forget this is my house?” I tease with a laugh as I hand him my keys.

His mouth turns up as he locks the door. “Yep.”

The ride to the ranch is beautiful, the mountains showing off in a blaze of autumn glory. “We should go on more rides this time of year,” I murmur as I take in the view.

“We can do that,” Nash agrees.

“Remember how we used to go for drives in your truck as soon as you got your license? You took Hayley and I everywhere and took me home and picked me up countless times. You loved driving.”

He looks over at me and back to the road. “My parents didn’t mind, either. They liked that they could send me to town and run all their errands.”

“Do you miss living out here at the ranch?” I ask him as I watch his profile, his face relaxed.

“I stay above the pub because it makes sense. But it’s not home. I have a home.”

“What? Where?” I ask, confused.

“Out on the back of the ranch land. Next to Hayley’s house.”

“How did I not know this? Since when?” I look at him in surprise.

He shrugs. “Since we were little, we knew. I don’t have a real house built on it yet. I have a tiny home out there and sometimes stay out there. I’ll build a house someday when I have a family.” He glances over at me, then his eyes look in the mirror at Willow, who is glued to the window, probably looking for horses.

“Can we see it sometime?” Willow asks. “Do you have your own horse?”

He chuckles. “I don’t have my own horse, but someday I plan to get a bunch of animals out there.”

I stared at him in fascination. He catches me staring and says, “What?”

“Nash McCreedy, you surprise me.”

“How’s that?” he asks as his hand slides over and threads his fingers through mine. He stops at a stop sign and looks both ways, a muscle in his cheek twitching as his mouth turns up.

“You have come a long way from the teenage boy who hated ranch work and dreamed of getting out of Cozy Creek.”

He shrugs. “I’m ready to settle down. I had my years to figure out what I want.”

“And what do you want?” I find myself asking.

“A family to come home to and build a life with. A house full of kids with big family dinners. A barn full of animals.”

My heart clenches because I want that, too. How is this feeling like it’s too good to be true right now.

“What about you? What do you want?”

“I didn’t have as many years to figure out what I want. But I figured out what I don’t want.”

Looking at me, he tips his head a little and squeezes my hand. “You can take your time figuring out what you do want.”

I squeeze his hand back, and he holds it steady as we pull into the ranch. We barely get stopped before Willow is unbuckled and bounding off toward the barn, where Mack raises a hand and waves, clad in blue jeans and a flannel, dark brown weathered cowboy hat on his head.

“Be careful,” I call as Willow races away, not paying attention to me.

“Hey, son, Everly. Can I talk to you both?” he calls as he stuffs his hands in his pocket. A look of concern passes over Nash’s face as he takes my hand, and we walk to Mack.

“What’s wrong, Dad?”

Mack’s face crumples. “It’s your grandmother, son. She’s not doing well. Your mom and I are going to go over, but we need your help here at the ranch.”

I suck in my breath, and Nash says, “Of course. I’m sorry, Dad.”

I think of his sweet grandmother, whom I haven’t seen since high school. She’s come over several times to visit when we were younger, but I heard she hasn’t been well. She reminds me of the real-life Mrs. Doubtfire. A spitfire-spirited Irish woman who is a fantastic baker. Like she makes things you can only dream about tasting. She’s just that freaking good. She also has the best stories. She reminds me of an older version of Hayley. They have a lot of similarities.

I pull Mack into a hug and say softly, “How can I help, Mack?”

“We need all hands on deck if Anna is going to go with me. Can you help, too? We have a lot to do before the weather turns. I’ve made a list for Nash, and Kincaid is going to cut his last stop on the circuit short and come home, too. ”

Holy cow. If Kincaid comes back early, this has gotten serious.

“Of course,” I agree immediately, relieved they want me to help. I’ll do anything for them as they have always done so much for me.

Mack looks relieved, and his eyes drift to Willow sitting on the floor of the barn surrounded by baby barn kittens. She’s smiling and petting them, lost in her own little world.

“I’m going to check on Anna,” I say to them as I head to the house just in time to see Hayley pulling up in her SUV.

She gets out and joins me to walk up to the house. “Did Dad tell you about Grandma?”

Worry etches her face, and her voice is subdued as I put my arm around her, pulling her in for a hug. “I’m sorry, Hayles.”

She nods but blows out a puff of air. “I knew she wasn’t doing well. Apparently, she’s taken a turn for the worse. It just sucks.”

I nod, biting my lip, hating this for her. She has always been so close to her grandma, and they both share a love of baking. Her grandmother owns a bakery in her small town and has run it with her best friend for the last fifty years. This is heartbreaking for all of them as she is the pillar of their family.

“I was planning on taking a trip over, but now I have to stay here to help out while Mom and Dad are gone,” she says, looking upset.

“I’m here,” I say, “If you need to go, I’ll fill in at the pub, bake, whatever you need. I can even come out here and stay if that’s what’s needed.”

Hayley bites her lip as if she’s considering this .

We open the door and head toward a frazzled Anna, who is making frozen pizzas and looks up at us apologetically. I didn’t even know she had frozen pizzas. I’ve only ever seen her cook things homemade. She must be so stressed and overwhelmed.

I immediately get plates and start setting the table. “Anything else I can do to help?”

Anna pulls me into a hug and kisses my cheek. “No, sweets, but thanks. I’m just getting us packed and ready to head out. I assume Mack talked to you?”

I nod. “Nash is going over everything with him now. I’ll help with anything that you need. I have a lot of time because I’m not working at the library right now.”

“I need help cooking and feeding the ranch hands and just keeping things going so Mack isn’t stressed and can focus on his mom.” She waves her hand around the kitchen and lets out a deep sigh.

“Of course, I can do that,” I reassure her.

“Thank you, honey.” Her lip turns down as she pulls out another pizza and cuts it.

I mix up a salad and throw in some veggies she’d already cut up on a cutting board. Tidying the kitchen as I go along to help.

“It’ll be okay, Mom,” Hayley says as she sets out salad dressing, looking worried.

She lets out a deep sigh. “I know. It just sucks. I thought we had more time with her.”

I swallow a lump in my throat. I know the feeling.