Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
OLIVE
T he Pleasant Valley City Council meets in the community center downtown, just a block from my former store, in the opposite direction of my house.
Tonight, I want to walk. Maybe I need to walk, to mentally prepare. The cold Christmas air will hopefully lift my spirits, which have been a little low since my conversation with Liam.
I don’t like that I’m keeping things from him, especially something as huge as Lacey potentially taking over the farm. As much as I tried not to be, somehow, I’ve landed smack in the middle of this whole drama—head over heels for one sibling and keeping secrets for the other.
I don’t like it.
Most of the trees lining the street have lost their leaves, finally surrendering to a new season. While I have vowed not to think about expiration dates and endings, when things get quiet it’s impossible not to.
Yesterday, I found a small jar of acorns on my desk that wasn’t there before. Proof that he was thinking of me. Proof that he knows me.
It’s nice to be known .
I worry it’s too fast to like him this much—that I won’t recover when it’s time to let him go. And because I know I will have to let him go, everything is heightened. My senses are all on high alert, like I want to cram a year into the short time we have left.
I said I could do this. Why is it so hard?
Because Liam has seeped into every aspect of my mind. I replay our kisses and conversations. I try to memorize the way he makes me feel, the way he looks at me, the way he touches me. I want to bottle it all up, like the acorns, so I have access to these memories and feelings anytime I want.
Dim light falls on the sidewalk from the streetlamps overhead. Even though I’m bundled up in my coat, scarf, gloves and hat, with the waning of the sun, I’m chilled to the bone.
I don’t walk downtown often anymore. It’s always a little depressing to pass by the old shop space and not see my adorable Wit and Whimsy sign above the large front window. Decorating the space for Christmas was one of my favorite things to do. My hand-painted storefront windows accidentally started a new town tradition, and it hurts a little to not have windows to paint anymore.
The wind kicks up, and I swear the temperature has dropped ten degrees in the few minutes I’ve been outside. I pick up my pace when a shiny, black Escalade slows down beside me. I glance over and see Travis behind the wheel. “You need a ride?”
“I’m fine.” I keep my eyes forward. I shouldn’t have walked.
“Come on, Olive, we’re going to the same place,” he calls out. “And you look cold.”
I stop. “Why are you going to the city council meeting?”
He looks at me like I should know already, duh. “Because I’m involved in the sale? Brant and Jo are going to talk about it, so I’m going.”
“It’s not a done deal,” I say. “The buyer hasn’t even seen it. ”
“Yeah, but it’s good to get community support, especially for something as ingrained and historic as Pine Creek.”
I scoff and take a few steps closer to the car. “You think you’re going to get community support to bulldoze one of the community’s favorite businesses?”
His grin is cocky. “You’re cute when you’re upset.”
“I’m not upset.”
“Well then, you’re cute all the time,” he throws out.
I’m starting to lose my patience.
He doesn’t seem to care. “You always were passionate about the things you cared about.”
I lean down and put my hands on the door of the car. “You don’t know me anymore, Travis.”
He reaches across the seat and pushes open the passenger side door. “Truce, Olive. I’m not trying to upset you. I want what everyone wants—for the sale to go through and to make sure Liam’s parents have a great retirement.”
I draw in a breath, slowly and silently counting to five. I’m really trying to take the high road, but there is a detour sign that I’m having a really difficult time ignoring.
“Once again, you have no idea what everyone wants. You know what you want. And that’s all that matters to you.” I start walking again, thinking that should be enough to shut him up.
“Olive, come on, don’t be like this.”
Obviously not enough.
Fine. I’m taking the detour.
I rush over to the car and slam the passenger side door shut. “You knew Liam was going to ask me out that night. You knew he liked me, you knew he probably wouldn’t say anything if you stepped in, but you made your move anyway. You were a crappy friend then and an even crappier boyfriend, so guess what, Travis, I really don’t want anything to do with you. Ever. Again. ”
I storm off and don’t look back, and a few seconds later I hear Travis drive off .
I no longer feel the cold.
I stomp up to the community building steps and see Liam’s truck pull into the parking lot. If my body was a fist, it would be unclenching as the anger begins to dissipate.
I wait for him on the sidewalk, thinking about all the reasons I could let myself fall in love.
Get it while it lasts, right?
I’m pretty sure I couldn’t stop these feelings anyway.
Liam crosses the street and stands a few feet away from me. To any passerby (and there are none), we probably look like two people talking and not like two people who’d much rather be cozied up under a blanket in front of a fire, pretending to watch movies.
The second he sees me, his face falls. “What’s wrong?”
Hm. Maybe I don’t have a poker face after all. I force a smile. “Lots of emotions.”
He gives the area a cursory glance. “I want to hug you, but people might see.”
I like our secret, stolen moments, but right now I need to feel his arms around me. “I don’t care.”
He reaches for me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling my body against his. “I don’t like seeing you upset. Can I do anything?”
Stay ?
Of course, I don’t say that out loud, but the thought reveals that I’m not emotional because of Travis. I’m emotional because losing Liam—now that I know how truly incredible he is—is going to rip my heart out. And knowing that is like an open tab in my browser, running in the background all the time.
“No,” I say. “Unless you want to ditch this meeting, go back to my place, get a pizza, and watch It’s a Wonderful Life .”
“Don’t tempt me. Plus, if you’re going to insist on Christmas movies, then I suggest Die Hard .”
I laugh. “How about The Polar Express ? ”
He shudders. “With the train hobo? Too creepy.”
I rest my cheek on his chest, aware of the way his hands hold me firmly to him.
“Uh, hey, guys.”
I draw back and see Lacey standing behind Liam with a curious look on her face. “Is this—” she points at him, then at me, then back at him— “a thing?”
Liam looks at me, and I give a little might as well admit it shrug.
He starts to respond, but Lacey cuts him off.
“Finally!” Her eyes go wide. “I cannot believe you didn’t say anything! I approve. I absolutely approve.”
He wraps an arm around me and pulls me closer. “I mean, I don’t care if you approve or not, but I guess it’s good that you do.”
She smacks him across the shoulder, then loops her arm in mine and pulls me toward the front door of the building. “You sneak!”
I giggle as she pulls the door open, thankful for the warmth of the community building. It has a distinct smell that only old buildings have, like the woodsy dankness of a small-town church.
Now that the weather has officially decided on winter, I can see myself spending far less time outdoors. Cozy fires, warm sweaters, and my favorite blankets are going to be on constant rotation.
We make our way into the meeting room, and it takes me back to the last city council meeting I attended before closing the shop. When I was a small business owner, being part of the local community was important to me, so I made a point to be involved.
But once the shop failed, I stopped showing my face around town leadership. I felt like I’d let everyone down.
I stop outside the door of the meeting space to gather myself. I take off my coat and unwind the scarf. Liam reaches for my winter things. I hand them over, and he turns to hang them up, alongside his coat.
It makes me think of the night of the Christmas Kick-Off—how that Olive, the one who stood at the coat check counter blabbing on to a very grouchy Liam, could never have predicted that just a couple weeks later she would feel this strongly about the boy who grew up next door.
It also makes me thankful I’m not in coconuts.
I draw in a breath as Phoebe walks up. “You ready for this?” she asks.
Liam looks over, and I widen my eyes at Phoebe, willing her to be a little more discreet.
“Olive! You didn’t tell him?” she asks, voice low.
“No. I promised Lacey,” I say in a stage whisper.
“But Olive. It’s Liam,” she says.
I glance at him, suddenly afraid that keeping Lacey’s confidence was the wrong choice. “I didn’t feel like it was my place. It’s family business and none of mine.”
I can tell by the look on Phoebe’s face she disagrees, which only makes me worry more.
“You think I should’ve said something?” I ask quietly, grateful that Liam’s parents have shown up, giving me a few minutes alone with Phoebe.
“Yes, I do,” she says. “Lacey didn’t know you were hooking up with her brother.”
“We aren’t hooking up .” I pull her a few steps away, as if that will make a difference. “That makes it sound so cheap.” What I feel for Liam is so much bigger than those words capture.
“All the more reason to be honest, don’t you think?” she asks.
“Phoebe, you were there,” I remind her. “Lacey specifically asked me not to say anything to him. I feel weird, and I want to tell him, but I’m not going to break Lacey’s confidence.”
Ironically, at that precise moment, Travis pokes his head out the door. I glare at him, but he ignores me and walks over to Liam’s parents.
Liam catches my eye but doesn’t move. He looks like he’s trying to not punch Travis, and a part of me sort of wishes he would. I turn back to Phoebe. “I can’t stand that guy.”
She frowns. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” I push my hand through my hair. “I just feel jumbled. I’ll fill you in later.”
“Okay, well, take a breath, say a prayer, and let’s go save a farm!” She starts off, and I reach for her arm.
“Do you really think this plan is going to work?” I ask.
She pauses for a second, then says, “Yes. I feel safe betting on us.”