Chapter 37
Poppy
Joy Of My Life by Chris Stapleton
In three months, everything can change, that’s for sure. I stand in the middle of the shop with my hands on my hips, staring at the new sign in disbelief that this is actually my life. The letters are clean and bold, freshly mounted above the bay doors that have been here longer than I have.
Wilder Auto Body
Not Murphy’s. And this shop is not my dad’s. It’s mine. And the Pine River Motorcycle Club.
Ollie leans against the tool chest beside me, arms crossed, watching my face like he’s waiting for the moment it really sinks in.
His hair’s a little longer than it used to be, his jaw rough with stubble from a shift that ran long.
He looks tired and steady and completely, undeniably mine.
It still feels surreal that this is my life.
We’ve partnered with the local college to bring in interns, young adults excited to learn.
They remind me of what I dreamed this place could be like.
I still teach at the high school, and in the summer, I get to work in my shop.
I love it. I love seeing that moment when something clicks for them, a puzzle is solved and repaired, and they realize they’re capable of more than they thought.
The bay door opens, and one of the interns waves on his way out, calling a cheerful goodbye. When the door shuts again, the quiet feels good.
I glance at the office wall, where a framed photo now sits—Ellie in Ollie’s arms, with chubby cheeks and a crooked grin. Owen was standing beside him, taller every day, his arm slung around Ollie’s shoulder at their final basketball game.
Ellie is officially ours. I signed the adoption papers last week, my hand shaking as I wrote my name, tears dropping onto the page.
She’s big and happy and loud now, full of squeals and drool and determination.
She smiles when she sees Ollie walk into a room like he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to her.
She’s not wrong. He’s the best thing that has happened to any of us.
Owen is thriving in a way I didn’t know how to hope for.
He got a horse for his birthday and talks about her like she’s a person, like she understands every word he says.
He’s out at the barn as much as he can be, brushing her, feeding her, learning responsibility.
He’s so happy, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted for him.
He laughs more, and he’s confident.
Ollie and I are officially his guardians now, and we’re working with Weston on adoption, too. That court date is coming up. It feels surreal to say it out loud. The Wilder name is all of ours, and Owen’s soon.
We’re still living above the auto shop and it’s crowded but we’re happy.
It’s officially time to retire the last name Murphy. I didn’t realize how heavy that name had been until I got rid of it. Things are different now that we’ve changed everything up. It feels good.
Ollie clears his throat, pulling me from my thoughts. “I’ve got something to show you.”
My brows knit together. “What kind of something?”
“The good kind,” he says, already smiling like he knows he’s about to undo me.
He takes my hand and leads me out to the sidewalk, past the shop, and down the street toward the town square. Then it comes into view. My breath catches in my throat and my heart feels like it’s beating so fast.
It’s my mom’s bench, the one that used to sit half faded and forgotten. It’s been stripped and refinished, the wood warm and smooth, bright, and beautiful again. And carved neatly into the backrest are two words that make my knees go weak.
Grace Eleanor.
No Murphy. Not anywhere. That name isn’t welcome here anymore. We’re wiping it away.
Ollie watches my face, his expression soft and careful. “The town wanted to surprise you,” he says quietly. “Maggie got together with a bunch of people and had it done.”
I sink onto the bench, my fingers tracing the letters like they’re real, like she’s real. Tears blur my vision, but I don’t wipe them away. I don’t need to.
“She’d love this,” I whisper. “She would have hated how Sully turned out.”
“I know,” he says, sitting beside me and pulling me into his side. “But she’d be so proud of you. You are the greatest gift of my life, Poppy.”
I lean into him, pressing my face into his shoulder, breathing him in.
For the first time in my life, pride fills me of where I’m at and what we’re doing.
We’re building a legacy that we can all be proud of.
Owen gets a better shot at life than he would have if Sully stuck around.
We are going to make it out, break this generational curse, and build a good new one.
“Never in my life have I craved someone’s presence like I do you,” I tell him as he kisses me like I’m his prize.
Walker and Violet’s backyard is strung with white lights, even though the sun’s still high, the lake glittering behind the house like it knows something special is happening.
There’s smoke curling up from a flat-top grill out back, the sharp, mouthwatering smell of soy sauce and garlic mingling with the clean lake air.
Japanese steakhouse right here in Bridger Falls, with a personal chef.
Only Walker and Violet could pull this off.
He’s over the moon excited about their new baby that he’ll give Violet whatever she’s craving.
I stand near the patio doors holding Ellie, watching everyone mingle, laugh, and chat.
Maggie’s telling a story with a cocktail in hand.
Owen’s already gotten the chef to give him a shrimp skewer off the grill and is talking his ear off.
That’s Owen. Our little unofficial mayor, who never met a stranger.
Jack’s helping Walker carry out trays of food while pretending he isn’t sneaking bites too.
Cami’s laughing so hard at something Violet says, and she waves when she sees me.
Ollie comes up behind me after he sets out a tray of food and presses a kiss to my temple. “You okay?”
I nod, smiling. “This is an amazing baby shower.”
He grins. “Yeah. I noticed Walker really went all out with the chef.”
Ellie lets out a happy squeal and reaches for him, and he takes her without hesitation, settling her against his chest while she bats at his chin with her chubby little hands.
Violet waddles out onto the deck, one hand on her eight-month belly, the other holding a lemonade with fruit in it and an umbrella hanging off the side. “Okay,” she announces, glowing and dramatic. “Who wants to see the nursery?”
Everyone cheers like they haven’t already seen it twice. She’s so proud of that nursery, she’s redone it like three times. None of us knows what they’re having, and they aren’t finding out.
We pile inside, laughing and bumping into each other, and Violet leads us down the hall with the pride of someone who built something sacred.
The nursery is soft and warm and perfect.
Pale wood. A hand-painted mural of mountains and water.
A crib Walker put together himself, after she gave away the nursery to us the first time.
They refused to let us pay them back, so I told them they all get free oil changes for life.
Walker responded by saying, “We’ll see.”
Violet presses her hand to the wall. “I wanted it to feel calm in here,” she says. “Like he or she is going to be so relaxed and at home.”
Cami’s eyes go shiny immediately.
Maggie smiles. “It sure is beautiful, sugar.”
Violet’s mom and dad are here, and they’re a hoot. Her mom reminds me of my mom and having her around heals something in me I didn’t know needed healing. She’s taken Ollie and I under her wing and says she’ll visit us, too. I just adore her.
I press my lips together, feeling something deep in my chest loosen. I love seeing all of them so happy.
Back outside, food is served, and drinks are passed around. Sutton sits beside me at the long table, Crew asleep in her arms. She watches him for a moment, then sighs with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. She’s been coming around more often, and we love having her here.
“I have this editing conference in Vegas next month,” she says quietly, glancing toward Maggie. “And I’m thinking about canceling.”
Maggie swivels in her chair so fast she almost spills her drink. “Why would you do that?”
Sutton pauses then says, “I’ve never been away from him. Not even overnight. I don’t like the thought of leaving him.”
Cami leans across the table, eyes bright. “You should go. You deserve a break.”
I nod. “Crew will be just fine. Didn’t you say your parents were keeping him?”
“More than fine,” Maggie adds. “He’ll be spoiled rotten with your mom and dad.”
Violet smiles at Sutton, soft and knowing. “You don’t stop being you just because you became a mom.”
Sutton chews on her lip. “I don’t want to be selfish.”
I reach over and squeeze her hand. “It’s not selfish to still want things for yourself.”
Cami leans back and says with authority. “Let your hair down. Go be wild in Vegas.”
Jack chokes on his drink. “How wild are we talking? Vegas can be pretty wild.”
Everyone laughs.
“I don’t think I even know how to be wild.” Sutton sighs. “I know work and motherhood. That’s it.”
“And that’s exactly why you need to go,” Violet says.
“Go meet all the romance authors,” Cami continues, undeterred. “Get new clients. Have fun. Dance. Sleep in. Eat room service. That sounds like a fun time to me.”
Sutton’s eyes fill, but she’s smiling. “Okay,” she says softly. “That does sound pretty great. I can get dressed up, meet new authors, and get some rest.”
Maggie raises her glass. “That’s my girl.”
As the sun dips lower and the lights come on, I step back for a second and take it all in.
Violet is laughing with Walker, one hand on her belly, his arms around her, whispering into her ear.
Sutton, rocking Crew gently, with a peaceful look on her face, takes in everyone.
Cami is leaning into Jack, content and fierce.
Maggie and Mack are bickering like it’s their love language about whether or not they should get alpacas.
Ollie stands near the grill with Ellie, talking to Walker. He looks over at me and smiles, and the look in his eyes makes my chest ache in the best way.
I spent years thinking I had to carry everything alone. Turns out, I just hadn’t found the right person to carry it with me.
I look at Ollie and realize it was always you. And now, it’s always us.