37. Everly

Chapter 37

Everly

“ T he paperwork is filed,” Hayley says as she slides across from me at Bookers.

Relief fills me, but I’m sad that it’s come to this. I’m not sure how Willow will feel about this when she’s old enough to understand it all. But sometimes parents just suck. Unfortunately, I know that firsthand.

While my dad has promised to change, I’m not holding my breath. Talk is cheap, but actions are what matters. Honestly, I think Jennifer was more excited about having contact with me than my father.

“How are you feeling about all of this?” Hayley asks.

“I feel like I’m ready to move on with my life and be done with the Sullivans for good. ”

“Did you know that their house is up for sale? They’re in the process of moving closer to Richie. His dad resigned as the town manager. With the town reacting the way they did, he had no choice,” Hayley says as she sips her iced tea.

“So the arena is fully off the table?” I ask, relieved.

“For now. It’s not a terrible idea, but where they wanted to put it wouldn’t work. They did it just to make trouble. And their idea of naming it The Richard Sullivan Arena was just asinine.” Hayley rolls her eyes.

“Gross.” I shudder.

“They’re moving on. I think Richard is going to try to help Richie save his dealership. Apparently, he’s struggling with it. Hopefully, they won’t have reason to come back to Cozy Creek,” she says, and I nod in agreement.

“Our Cozy Creek is safe. Thank you for getting Richie to sign those papers. When we talked about it, I never dreamed he would just do it without a big fight or some sort of hostage negotiation.” I exhale as I sit back in my seat, relieved that it’s finally over.

“The library is safe, and the entire block of downtown has been declared a historic protected place and safe from any developers. In addition, the library has a grant that fully secures your job until Anne Marie retires next year,” Hayley says.

“It’s over, and we’re safe,” I whisper, grateful for Hayley, Nash, and the rest of the McCreedys who stepped up for me and Willow.

My family.

“Hey there, fall hater,” Hayley says as Nash comes in and sits next to me in his Carhartt overalls and a baseball cap pulled low .

“I’m not a fall hater,” he grumbles.

“Right. You wouldn’t let me put up a single fall decoration in here,” Hayley says as she rolls her eyes.

“It’s a pub. Not a damn Hobby Lobby. People don’t come in here to see turkeys, pumpkins, and shit.”

I stare at him in mock horror, being so negative about fall. “You hate fall?”

Nash puts his arm around me and leans in. “I don’t hate fall. I just hated fall without you.”

“Aw,” Hayley drawls sweetly, then says sharply with a tease, “Get a room.”

“Well, now, it’s almost time to start planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas,” I say excitedly.

“We should do a Friendsgiving here at the pub. For some of the locals who have nowhere to go,” I say as ideas fill my head on what to make and how we can decorate.

Hayley and Nash exchange a look.

“What?” I ask.

“Some things will be changing around here,” Nash says.

“What do you mean?” I ask as I notice Hayley isn’t making eye contact with me.

“Kincaid will be taking over running the pub,” Nash says as he watches Hayley, and she nods.

“What are you going to do?” I ask, confused.

“I’m going to travel,” she says softly. “First, I’m going to Ireland to stay with Baa for a while. Then I’m going to travel the world. ”

Oh my God. “Hayley, that’s amazing. I’m going to miss you so much, though.”

“We can FaceTime, and I know we’ll talk daily. I’ll be back, but I need to do this. I just feel like I’m made to wander, you know?”

I nod and smile sadly. “I get it. You have always talked about wanting to travel. But we’ll miss you.”

“Who will bake when I return to the library?” I ask as I look at Nash.

“We’re going to outsource it from the confectionery. It’ll be okay. I’ll still help Kincaid, but my focus will be more on farrier work and the ranch. Kincaid was supposed to help Dad on the ranch, but we’re switching spots, so I’ll help Dad.”

“Which is what you wanted to do all along,” Hayley muses as she looks at him and grins.

“I do prefer animals to people, alright?” He laughs, pulling his ball cap and curling it with his fist.

“Everything is working out,” I say as I slide my hand into Nash’s.

“Alright, let’s plan Friendsgiving, but just know that Mom has a huge dinner planned at the ranch, and if we’re not there, she’s going to lose her mind,” Hayley says.

“When are you leaving?” I ask Hayley, scared of her answer.

“After Christmas,” she promises, and relief fills me that we have some time. “I’m going to help transition the pub and sell some things.”

“What about your house out on the ranch?” I ask.

Hayley looks at Nash and raises her eyebrows .

He looks at me. “I was hoping you and Willow would live there with me while we build our own home.”

My breath hitches. “Really?”

“Really.” He nods. “It’s right next to our property, so it makes sense that we stay close while we build. Plus, we can keep Willow’s horse there.”

Our property. He called it ours.

“Wait, Willow doesn’t have a horse,” I say as I wrinkle my eyebrows at him.

“She will for Christmas.” He grins.

“You’d better get used to it. Willow has Nash wrapped around her little finger, and he can’t tell that kid no for nothing,” she says, cracking up. She playfully bumps her shoulder with his as she stands.

“I did notice that actually,” I say as I look at Nash quizzically.

He raises his hands. “You’re going to live on a ranch. You never know when you need a horse.”

“Alright, we have something to talk about,” I say as I stand and lean down to kiss Nash. “But first, I love you.”

“I love you more,” he murmurs.

“I know you did the grant,” I whisper in his mouth, unable to finally keep from addressing what I know he did.

His eyes widen, and he looks surprised. “Anne Marie told you?”

“No. I just knew. That had Nash McCreedy written all over it. And I handle the library paperwork, which has your LLC on it as the donor.”

“Just securing your place. It means a lot to you.” His arms go around my waist, and he pulls me onto his lap.

“She’s retiring after next year, you know,” I point out.

He nods. “I know. But she’ll still be around. We’re not losing her.”

I nod. “It won’t be the same without her there every day.”

“But this town will have you, so it will be okay. You matter here, Everly. This town is lucky to have you.”

“Now that we got all of your surprises out of the way, I have a surprise for you,” I say with a smirk.

“What’s that?” he asks, sitting back, staring at me, and waiting with eyebrows raised.

“Two surprises actually.”

I have been perusing all the local shelters and found one with two abandoned Australian Cattle puppies. I picked them up, and they’re back at my house and ready to surprise Nash and Willow. Those two are obsessed with Bluey, and I found them their very own Bingo and Bluey.

I pull out my phone and open it to the photos to show him. He reaches over and kisses my head. “Where are they?” he demands, excitement on his face.

“At home.” I grin.

“Let’s go,” he insists, standing and pulling me with him.