13. Levi

13

LEVI

L evi jogged down the steps of the big house on the family homestead that his baby sister had always called the castle .

When it was completely fixed up, Emma and Baz would live in the castle, but for now, they were just trying to get the ballroom ready for the reception after their wedding. It seemed that everyone in Trinity Falls wanted to see that ballroom, and Emma was finally going to grant their wish.

Levi and his brothers had started putting together wooden benches early this morning—long before the official start of the potluck. They wanted to ensure the simple design they had in mind would be nice and sturdy, easy enough to get up to the ballroom, and that the humble seating wouldn’t ruin the effect of the incredible space.

Ashton Beck had come by early too. He and Levi were closer than ever these days, and it was an excuse to hang out, even if they were toiling away hard enough to work up a sweat in the frigid air.

“It looks a little like the Quaker meetinghouse in there,” Ashton said with a mischievous smile. “But I think it’ll get the job done. And if they’re sturdy enough for the two of us, everyone else will be fine.”

Levi let out a chuckle, but his mind was already a million miles away. Or maybe more accurately, just a few miles away.

“Are you dreaming about Lily Hathaway?” Ashton teased.

“Yeah, I guess so,” Levi said, his deep voice bouncing off the high ceilings of the empty foyer of the big house.

“Starting to feel a little more realistic now, huh?” Ashton asked with a smile. “Maybe not just dreaming anymore?”

“Maybe,” Levi said, unable to resist smiling back.

“You know I’m friends with her too,” Ashton said teasingly. “I’m even playing Santa for her in her hospital project. If you don’t tell me how that date went, I’ll bet she will.”

“Our date went well,” Levi said, smiling and shaking his head. “And she was excited to be here today.”

“But?” Ashton said.

“But what?” Levi asked.

“Why are you looking worried?” Ashton’s tone was sympathetic.

“She told me something in confidence,” Levi said. “I mean, she didn’t say it was, but I’m pretty sure how she’d feel about it being talked about all over town.”

“You know I’ll take your secrets to the grave,” Ashton told him immediately. “But you shouldn’t tell me anything you don’t feel right about sharing.”

“She can’t have kids,” Levi said softly, feeling relieved as soon as the words were out of his mouth. “I mean, technically, she can but…”

“Her heart,” Ashton said softly, nodding. “I remember how pale she was as a little kid, swimming in her clothes, too.”

Levi chose not to share about the hand-me-downs or the money troubles, but it hurt his own heart thinking about it.

“Yeah,” he said. “I don’t care at all, but I know adoptions are expensive.”

“Well, you know that ours was really different,” Ashton said. “Because of the circumstances. But yes, it can be expensive.”

“What if she thinks I’m rich because I’m a lawyer?” Levi asked. “What if she thinks I can pull strings and just make an adoption happen?”

It felt good to ask the question out loud instead of just worrying about it on his own.

“I don’t think anyone who sees the way you do business would be worried about that,” Ashton said, laughing. “You don’t charge anyone for anything. Half the town is wondering how you’re even keeping the lights on.”

“A lot of people can’t afford lawyer fees these days,” Levi said, shrugging it off. “They don’t need much, just a little advice or an explanation of what something means. And besides, they pay me in other ways.”

“I don’t know anywhere else in the world where a person could get legal advice for a macaroni casserole,” Ashton said, shaking his head.

“That was Marilyn Anderson’s macaroni casserole,” Levi said. “It’s practically famous. And I didn’t hear you complaining about it when you came over for lunch.”

“I guess that was a bad example,” Ashton admitted. “Anyway, I know you’re still just sort of finding out about all this, but when you get started really doing your research, look into foster care adoptions. There’s a lot they do to make it more affordable. If you two want kids, you’ll have them.”

Levi felt a wave of gratitude in his chest, and he stopped where he was.

“What?” Ashton asked. “You okay?”

“You’re a good friend, Ashton Beck,” Levi told him, his voice going a little growly to cover the lump in his throat.

“Well, remember that when I ask you to come over and help me put together Kaylee’s new play set,” Ashton said with a wicked smile. “I opened the box, but it’s in like a million pieces and the instructions make War and Peace look like a short story.”

“You know I’ll be there,” Levi said, laughing.

They hopped back in Levi’s truck and talked about Ashton’s wife, Lucy, and baby Kaylee all the way to the main house.

Levi was happy knowing they would have plenty of time to catch up in the coming days. Along with a lot of the men in town, he and Ashton had volunteered to help out a local farmer who was laid up. Levi was looking forward to spending time outside with his friend.

They got back to the main house just as Lily was heading up the front steps with a covered dish in a towel in her hands.

“I told her not to bring anything,” he said to himself.

“She wanted to show off for you,” Ashton chided him. “Go on. Go say hi. I’ll get everything ready for when the others start arriving.”

Levi swung out of the truck and jogged up the porch steps to meet her.

“Hi,” Lily said shyly.

“Oh, that smells good,” he told her, inhaling the rich scent of cinnamon and fruit. “Apple pie?”

“Apple crumble,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “I hope you like it. It’s my grandma’s recipe, and I love any excuse to make it.”

“What’s in the bag?” he asked.

“Ice cream to go on the crumble,” she said. “And a little something for Flora.”

“Has anyone told you lately how perfect you are?” he heard himself ask her huskily.

“Lily,” his mother cried, opening the door with one hand, her other curled around the baby on her hip. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

“Hello, Mrs. Williams,” Lily said politely. “It’s so nice to see you again. And hello to you, Flora.”

“It’s just Annabelle,” Mom said warmly. “Come on in and show me what you’ve got there. Levi, get back to work and give us a little girl time, will you?”

“See you when it’s time to eat,” he told Lily, laughing.

She smiled up at him and he thought his heart would throb out of his body. He wanted to grab her and kiss her so badly that he had to shove his hands in his pockets to keep them still.

Fortunately for his willpower, she disappeared into the house after his mother, and he headed back to the backyard to work on the next bench. Ashton waved him over and they got busy sawing a new batch of wood.

He got a funny little shiver down his spine a moment later and looked up to see Lily watching him from the back porch window, where his mother had probably asked her to set her dessert, along with the others.

Her eyes were wide, and she blushed when he caught her looking.

He grinned at her, glad she liked him showing off his muscles a little. He knew it wasn’t the only thing she liked about him, but it made him feel good that she thought he was attractive that way.

By evening, Levi was feeling exhausted but happy. He and the rest of the guys had taken turns in the showers upstairs and now he was in a fresh flannel and jeans, sitting down at a dinner table that was completely covered in steaming dishes, with the savory scents of delicious foods filling the air.

Lily had spent the day with Flora. And from the glimpses he’d had of her here and there, she seemed right in her element with Emma and her friends too. And the few times someone else had the baby, Lily made herself useful in the kitchen, which Levi knew had made her dear to his parents’ hearts, since they loved to work away in there, even when other folks had brought so much food.

Now he had Flora in his arms again. She was banging her little hands on the table for more as Lily spooned her yogurt and pureed fruit as fast as she could.

The two of them were working together to care for the baby so naturally, and Lily fit into his family so beautifully, that it felt almost like she had always been here.

All around them the conversation flowed as the Williams crew and their closest friends chattered and laughed and passed dishes around, the sounds of forks clinking and water pouring from the pitcher adding to the music of their fellowship.

But Levi only had eyes and ears for Lily, her blonde head bent over Flora’s as she spoke softly to the little one.

His heart was suddenly full to overflowing and he looked up for a moment, wondering what he was supposed to do with all this love he felt.

His father caught his eye from all the way down the table, and gave him a slow, warm smile that communicated so much.

I understand, son, he was saying, without words. This is what it’s all about.

Levi knew he was lucky. And he knew to his bones what he had to do about it. He just had to find a way to take it slowly enough not to scare her.