31. Everly

Chapter 31

Everly

T he smell of kettle corn and cider fills the air, and Willow practically skips between Nash and me as we hold her hands. I love seeing the excitement on her face as she takes in the fall festival. It takes me back to when I was a kid and felt the same way. I have a few memories of being here with my mom before she got too sick to take me. Then I remember Anna taking me with her kids, and while I missed my mom, the fall festival was one thing I looked forward to every year and missed when I had moved to another town with Richie.

The Cozy Creek fire brigade has its vintage red fire truck decorated for fall next to the town hall, with firefighters standing in front grilling hot dogs and handing out candy. We pass by vendor tables, sampling the legendary fresh fruit jam from the local Sutton farm and checking out tables by local artists. I see Lu Billings, a local artist, and look through her gorgeous art prints. Nash tells me to pick one, and we’ll hang it out at the tiny home. We settle on a gorgeous mountain view watercolor, and she packages it up for us. We thank her and continue to shop. When we walk by a city hall booth, Kathy Wilson stands there talking to Richie’s parents, and their eyes narrow when they see us walk by. Willow doesn’t notice them, and they make no effort to say hello to her or acknowledge her. It dawns on me that she doesn’t even recognize them. Nice. I exhale a deep breath and glance around nervously, wondering if Richie is here. I hope he isn’t because I don’t have the energy to deal with him or his trouble. We turn and keep walking, not looking their way or acknowledging them. The old me would try to smile, wave, and people please. I am not doing that to people who are intent on destroying me and everything that I love. If Richie wants Willow, which he doesn’t, he can take me back to court. I’m done putting myself or my daughter in toxic environments to keep the peace. There is no peace when it comes to any of them.

No one.

I think about what Nash said as he fucked me up against the town windows. People can try to do whatever they want, but it’s us against the world now. Not against each other. Whatever comes our way, I have him, and he has me. We are family now. We always were family, but now it’s official and real. I squeeze his hand and look up at him as his eyes meet mine. He smiles, and the corners of his eyes crinkle .

God, I love this man.

The great pumpkin hunt has begun, and we laugh as we race and help Willow find a pumpkin to add to our growing collection that we still need to carve. So much laughter fills the air with the music, and the night is perfect weather for this. It’s cool but not cold and feels and smells crisp. There won’t be too many days like this before the snow comes and blankets our sleepy mountain town and turns it into a winter wonderland that attracts tourists, making it a busy time for the town.

After our pumpkins have been tucked in the back of Nash’s truck, we play carnival games. Nash wins Willow a big stuffed ghost, which she jumps up and down with excitement over and insists on carrying with her despite its large size.

We sit and chat with Anne Marie and share treats while Nash goes to the cider stand for us.

“You look so happy, honey. I’m so glad you and Nash got your head out of your butts,” she says as she plays with Willow’s hair, who sits in front of her.

Willow laughs, and I cover my mouth. “Anne Marie,” I warn quietly, but I can’t help but smile. I love that she’s in my corner, too. We’re used to her just saying what comes to mind by now. And I will take anyone in my corner that I can. I’ve had too many shit sandwiches in my life not to know when I see someone good. I may not have had a supportive parent or spouse, but now I’m building the good around me, and Anne Marie is one of the most important people in my life.

Nash carries our cider over to us and hands a cup to each of us and slides in next to me, draping an arm around me like it’s the most natural thing to do. My body still reacts to him, and a happy buzz fills my body, having him nearby. He feels safe, secure, and makes me feel relaxed. Something I haven’t felt for a long time.

We play tabletop games with Willow. We laugh and cheer each other on until Willow is laying on us, worn out from the day spent playing in the fresh air and hopped up on too many fall treats. After a dinner from the Tres Chica’s food truck, Anne Marie pulls me aside and says, “Let me take Willow home and get her to bed. You two stay out a little longer and have fun. I know you look forward to this festival every year. Make the most of it.” She winks.

“Can we read more of our book?” Willow asks with a yawn, looking at Anne Marie hopeful.

I chuckle. “I’m not sure she’ll stay awake long enough for the book.

I look at Nash and back at Anne Marie wistfully. “It is one of my favorite events of the year. I wouldn’t mind taking a sunset gondola ride with Nash,” I admit. His gaze is on me, but he’s unable to hear what we’re saying. His mouth turns up, and he looks so good. His eyes on me make my stomach dip, and I smile back at him.

We hug them and wave as they make their way the few short blocks back to the house.

Nash takes my hand, and we head to the gondolas, where people take in the sunset and mountain views.

We get coffee while we wait, keeping our hands warm since the temperatures have dropped. I lean into Nash, and he wraps his arm around me, dipping his head to kiss my cheek.

“I love you,” he says softly.

“I love you, too.” I smile.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that this has been one of the best days I’ve ever had, and I’m not ready for it to end yet,” I admit.

“Well, it’s a good thing it hasn’t ended yet,” he says as we’re almost next in line to get on the gondola.

The ski village is busy with people mingling and taking rides, and the ski bar is busy and loud in the distance. A few people give us curious glances, noting our intertwined hands.

When we both slide onto the gondola and pull the bar down, Nash pulls me in and places his arm around my shoulders. “You ready?”

“For the gondola ride?” I laugh.

“No, for our next step. Our new life. We took a chance on what was right in front of us the whole time.”

I nod. “In you, I’ve found my best friend, my lover, and my protector. I love you, Nash.”

He leans in and kisses my lips softly, then pulls back, looking at me.

“Our love story is a mess. We have torn pages and missing chapters,” I say as we look down at our town lights. The festival is still busy. People are dancing and filling our Cozy Creek downtown.

“It doesn’t matter what the mess looked like. It matters that we keep writing our story and make an epic epilogue,” he says.

“Then what?” I prompt.

“Then…we write the sequel.” He leans in and says, “Spoiler alert: the next book is even better.”

“Speaking my literary language.” I smile.

He squeezes my hand, and we kiss again, only pulling apart when some of the people across from us on the gondola cackle and call out, “Get a room!”

We walk the town together, hand in hand, sending a message to everyone that we’re together. Neither of us is bothered in the least. It feels good to finally get to be with him and not care what anyone thinks. This has been the best day.

“What are you thinking about?” he asks as he holds my hand, warming it with his.

I take a deep breath and exhale as I think about my father being unable to love me and then moving on with his new wife and stepdaughters so easily.

Somehow, I always come back to the self-doubt that I’m hard to love, and if I wasn’t, then why do all the people in my life not love me or keep me safe?

“Do you think I’m hard to love?” I ask quietly.

“Beautiful,” he says as if the breath has collapsed his lungs.

I look over at him and wait for his response, wondering if we’ll be able to make it or if this is just temporary.

His hand tightens in mine, and he spins me to look at him, wrapping his arms around my waist. “You are not hard to love.”

“That’s what Richie told me once. I was too guarded, too hard to love.”

“No.” He shakes his head.

“Why didn’t my dad love me, then?” I ask, defeat filling me just saying it out loud.

“I don’t know why Brian let you down in ways a father should never let down his child. And I don’t know why Richie did that, too. The cards you’ve been dealt have been a shitty hand, Everly. Sometimes we need to reshuffle the deck. I haven’t had very many relationships and never a love like ours. But I do know this—when the right person loves you, it’s not hard. It’s just love.”

I nod and swallow. “Okay.”

His face dips to mine, kissing me and making me almost forget that feeling of not feeling loved. Almost.