Chapter Twelve
Evie
“Even though I want the pie, I should probably head home to do some bookkeeping.”
“At this point, I’m used to rainchecks,” Liam said teasingly.
We’d driven back to town, and he parked by my truck.
“I’m starting to think I’ll never make up the number of rainchecks I owe you.”
“Nah. We’re even.” He climbed out of the truck, and just as I was about to get out, he opened the door for me and helped me out.
“Well, so that you know, I’m holding you to that pie date. We just won’t call it a raincheck.”
“Yeah. We’re past that,” I said lightly.
I felt incredibly guilty for letting him down, but I only had so much time to finish things.
Liam walked me to my truck and lingered as I climbed inside, resting his hand on the doorframe for a moment.
“Drive safe, Evie.”
“You too, Liam. And thanks for showing me Red Barn Cider. I believe you can make it everything and more.”
“Thanks for saying that,” he said softly, his gaze dropping briefly to my lips before flicking back to my eyes. “It means a lot. You mean—”
His voice trailed off, and he hesitated. He tilted his head ever so slightly as my heart pounded.
Liam shoved his hands into his pockets like he was debating whether or not to kiss me or back away.
It didn’t help that all I could think about was the oopsy kisses I’d managed to stumble into earlier. The moment my lips landed on Liam, my entire body felt electrified with something I didn’t even know could happen to me any longer.
Liam switched gears. “You really think Red Barn Cider has potential?”
“I do. It’s not just potential, Liam. It’s already something special—you just have to bring it to life.”
His eyes quickly dropped to my mouth before he stepped back and smiled at me.
“It was great seeing you again, Evie.”
“You too.”
He closed the door, and I felt like I could finally breathe. The tension between us was unstoppable, and I think it all had to do with my accidentally planting a couple of kisses on him at Buttercup Java.
As I pulled away, I couldn’t help but glance at him in the rearview mirror. Besides his incredible physical attributes, something else there drew me in.
He felt…
Safe.
He waved in the rearview mirror, and I drove toward my home.
By the time I pulled into my driveway, the weight of everything had settled squarely on my shoulders.
I parked the truck and leaned back in my seat, taking a long breath. I shouldn’t have let things get this far. Not with someone like Liam—kind, thoughtful, and persistent in a way that made my heart ache. He deserved more than a single mom with too much baggage.
I shook my head, grabbed my things, and headed inside. The house was quiet with Hayden at school, but the silence only made my thoughts louder.
I set my bag on the counter, pulled my hair into a messy bun, and set up my laptop at the kitchen table.
Before I could even open my bookkeeping software, my phone buzzed.
I glanced at the screen and saw my mom’s name.
“Hey, Mom,” I said, answering with a forced brightness.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“What’s up?”
She sighed. “What’s going on? You sound… distracted.”
I hesitated, fiddling with a pen on the table. “Oh, just trying to catch up on work. The usual.”
“Uh-huh. Come on, Evie. What’s really going on?”
“It’s nothing. Just… complicated.”
“Complicated, huh? Does this have anything to do with a certain someone? Maybe someone who’s been making you smile more than usual lately?”
I let out a weak laugh. “How do you always know?”
“A mother knows,” she said simply. “So, spill. Who is he?”
“His name’s Liam,” I said softly, the words thrilling and terrifying. “He’s… amazing, Mom. He’s funny, kind, and great with Hayden. But—”
“But what?” she prompted gently.
“But it’s not right,” I said, my voice breaking slightly. “He’s this incredible guy with all these big dreams, and I’m just… me. A single mom trying to keep her head above water. It’s not fair to waste his time. Not to mention, I don’t know when my ex might show up again.”
“Evie,” she said, her tone soft but firm. “You are so much more than just you. You’re strong, smart, and one of the most loving people I know. If Liam is half as amazing as you say he is, he’s lucky to have you in his life.”
I pressed my lips together, my chest aching. “You don’t understand, Mom. I’ve been through this before. I’ve let someone in, trusted them, and it didn’t work out. I can’t go through that again.”
“I understand more than you think,” she said quietly. “And I know how much you’ve been hurt. But you can’t let the past define your future. Not every man is going to let you down, Evie.”
“Even Dad did…” The words escaped my lips before I realized what I’d said.
A soft echoey sigh ruffled through the phone.
“He let us both down, Evie. But we’re all human. Unlike some men, he stayed accountable.”
“No, you’re right. I just… I don’t want to risk it,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I get that,” she said, her tone softening. “But life is full of risks, sweetheart. Some are worth taking. From what you’ve told me about Liam, he sounds like one of the good ones. And if he makes you happy, maybe it’s worth seeing where it goes.”
I swallowed hard as her words sank in.
“What if it doesn’t work out?”
“Then it doesn’t work out. But at least you’ll know you gave it a chance. You deserve to be happy, Evie. And so does Hayden. If Liam brings some light into your life, maybe embrace it. You’ve had a habit of letting the shadows win.”
Tears stung my eyes, but I wiped them away quickly.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Anytime,” she said, her voice filled with love. “And remember, you don’t have to figure it all out at once. Take it one step at a time. You’re stronger than you think.”
“I’ll try. I love you, Mom.”
“Love you too, sweetheart. Now, go make a cup of tea and give yourself a break. You deserve it.”
As I hung up, her words lingered in my mind.
Maybe she was right.
Perhaps it was time to stop running from the possibility of something good, even if it scared me.
And as much as I tried to push the thought away, I couldn’t help but wonder what it might feel like to let someone like Liam in—to take that risk, one step at a time.
I saw Hayden’s school bus round the corner. The yellow gleaming exterior was a happy sight, reminding me how much I loved this time of day.
My heart did the little flip it always did when Hayden came home. The bus hissed to a stop at the edge of our driveway, and Hayden bounded down the steps like he had rockets strapped to his sneakers.
I opened the door as his little voice rang through the air.
“Mom!”
His backpack bounced against his shoulders as he sprinted toward me. His face excitedly lit up when he saw me, and his cheeks turned pink from the crisp air.
I knelt slightly as he barreled into me, wrapping his tiny arms around my waist.
“Hey, Little Man!” I held on for a moment longer than usual. These moments were precious, and I knew they wouldn’t last forever.
There would come a time when he’d wave from the bus and stride into the house with barely a glance, when hugs would be replaced by a quick “Hey” over his shoulder before he’d disappear into his room to call friends or do whatever older kids did.
The thought tugged at me, bittersweet and grounding all at once.
“Guess what?” Hayden said, pulling back to look at me, his eyes sparkling.
“What’s that?” I asked, smoothing his hair as he grinned up at me.
“I’m not sick anymore,” he declared proudly, spreading his arms wide. “See? All better.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “I know. I wouldn’t have sent you sick.”
As we walked into the house, Hayden chattered about his day—how he’d gotten an A on his math test, how his friend Ben tripped during recess, and how Mrs. Callahan was letting them start a class project on space the next week. His excitement was contagious, and I smiled as brightly as he was.
I set his backpack on the hook by the door and guided him to the kitchen. The familiar warmth of the space greeted us, and sunlight streaming through the window danced across the light blue cabinets.
“Alright, snacks first,” I said, opening the fridge and pulling out bagged apple slices and cheese cubes I’d prepped this morning.
I added a handful of crackers for good measure and set it in front of Hayden at the kitchen table.
He dug in immediately, crunching on an apple slice as I poured him a glass of milk.
“So,” I said, sliding into the chair across from him. “What do you think about Liam?”
He paused mid-bite, his brow furrowing.
“Liam?”
I nodded, keeping my tone casual.
“You know, the guy who brought over soup when you weren’t feeling well. What do you think of him?”
Hayden chewed thoughtfully for a moment before swallowing. “I know who he is. But why would you ask? You already know I think he’s cool.”
He reached for another apple slice.
“Cool, huh?”
I guess he was kind of cool.
“He makes funny jokes. And he didn’t mind that I was sick, which is nice.”
I smiled, propping my chin on my hand. “Anything else?”
He shrugged, but there was a slight grin on his face. “He’s good with Lance. And he helped you, right?”
“He did,” I admitted, watching him carefully. “Do you think you’d want to spend more time with him?”
Hayden tilted his head, considering the question. “Maybe. He’s awesome. Why?”
I hesitated, choosing my words carefully.
“Well, he’s someone I like spending time with. I just wanted to make sure you feel comfortable with him.”
Hayden looked at me for a long moment, his expression serious in a way that always reminded me how perceptive he was. “You like him, don’t you?”
His bluntness caught me off guard, and I felt my cheeks heat.
“I do,” I admitted softly. “But you’re the most important person in my life, Hayden. Your opinion matters to me.”
He grinned, finishing his milk with a dramatic gulp.
“I like him too. So, you can like him if you want.”
I laughed, ruffling his hair. “Thanks for the permission.”
“You’re welcome.”
As I cleaned up the plates, I glanced over my shoulder at Hayden, who had started drawing on a scrap of paper. He was so small yet so full of life and opinions. His world was still simple, still untouched by the complications of adulthood. And as much as I loved seeing him grow, the thought of him building a life that didn’t always include me made my chest ache.
“Mom?” he said, looking up from his doodles.
“Yeah, hon?”
“Can Liam come over again soon?” he asked, his tone hopeful.
“I’m sure he’d like that.”
As I washed the dishes, I let myself imagine what that might look like—a world where Liam was more than just a visitor, where he became part of the laughter and chaos that filled our little home.
It was a beautiful thought, but it was also terrifying.
Because as much as I wanted to believe it could work, I knew the risks. And I wasn’t sure my heart could take another fall.