Chapter 35
A few weeks later
Claire
For a small town, Cozy Creek knew how to throw a New Year’s Eve party. After Christmas and how the town had transformed, I shouldn’t be surprised.
It felt like the whole town came out for the New Year’s party on Main Street. The night was freezing cold, but almost all the storefronts were still lit up as the town milled from one building to the other, sharing champagne, looking at Lily’s photos, and celebrating. I chatted with a miraculously healed Gigi, with Madi and Cole, who stared at each other like Levi and I stared at each other. Lu Billings whispered softly to Noah Cooper, a bright smile illuminating her face.
“Lu and the new Huber driver look awfully cozy,” I whispered to Levi. I was secretly delighted in having many new friends and knowing the happenings about town.
“He doesn’t drive for Jimmy anymore, and that”—he lifted his chin to the two who were locking eyes—“is a long story I’ll tell you about later.”
I raised my eyebrow, intrigued. Another local love story, perhaps?
It was perfect. I was buzzing with joy and happiness I never dreamed I could have. And Levi was there on my arm, making everything a million times better.
“And that’s the thing about eels. Scientists really aren’t sure how they reproduce. It’s a mystery.” I had been talking for a few minutes now. I wasn’t really even sure how we got to the lifespan of an eel. Mrs. Kathy Wilson smiled and nodded, but her eyes pinged around the gallery behind me.
“Oh, yes. Excuse me, Claire. I see someone I need to talk to.” She smiled and stepped away.
When she left, I shrugged and turned to Levi, still expecting on some level to see him wince or be embarrassed. Instead, I found him looking at me in that way that meant our plans were about to be overturned in exchange for getting naked.
“Don’t look at me like that. We have hours until midnight.” I bumped his shoulder with mine.
He leaned closer, his nose pushing my hair off my shoulder to better brush against my neck. “Nobody would even notice if we left.”
“It’s your gallery opening. Pretty sure they would notice. ”
He hummed, and it sent chills all over my body.
“I mean, maybe just five minutes,” I gasped out.
He chuckled and grabbed my hand to tug me away just as Pace stepped up. “Hey, you two lovebirds.”
Levi grumbled something not very nice.
“The place looks great. Cheers, man.” Pace held up his glass, and the three of us clinked glasses.
“Thanks,” Levi said. He cleared his throat. “And thanks for everything the last year. And not giving up on me.” He held Pace’s gaze as he spoke.
His best friend’s eyes were wide, a goofy half-smile on his face as he listened. “Of course.” He swallowed. “I know you’d do the same for me.”
They clapped each other into a hug, neither of them speaking but clearing their throats and avoiding eye contact.
Pace’s gaze shot behind us. “I gotta go. Happy New Year if I don’t see you.”
“You too.”
“Happy New Year,” I said as Pace moved away quickly, glancing over his shoulder.
“What was that about?” I asked Levi under my breath.
Levi watched his best friend disappear into the crowd, a look of consternation on his face. “I’m not sure. But I’ll find out.” He looked at me, and his features softened in a way that made me want to melt into a puddle just so he would have to scoop me back up. “I think I’ve been a little distracted lately.”
“Is distracted better than being bored ?” I asked innocently.
His eyes darkened. “Much. Much better,”
He grabbed my hand, and we toured the gallery as I admired the pieces. “There are so many here,” I said, continuing to be in awe of Levi’s talent.
“I’ve been inspired these past few months.” Every time I looked at him, he gazed at me in a way that made me ready to get him home.
I stopped in front of one I recognized. It was the woman, encased in the trunk of a tree, mouth covered as she seemed to call out in pain. It was titled “Grief.” My throat tightened. “I hope you didn’t put this one out for me if you weren’t ready.”
“No. You were right. It should be seen,” he said.
“It’s beautiful.”
“So are you.”
The night went on. We made it until midnight and rang in the New Year. It was a fresh start, and being in town felt like symbolism.
After the ball dropped, we immediately closed the gallery to go home, change into comfy clothes, and be alone together. That also felt like symbolism.
This was my life with Levi now. The Little Cabin sat mostly unused these past few weeks, except when Dad visited or when I went to work for a few hours. My online journal had taken off, as well as the videos I was posting about them. I was getting paid for content that I enjoyed making and was helping other people in the process. The single mother with the ceramic beads told me my video got her so much business that she had to hire somebody to help her. It was more than I ever thought I could do, and it made a difference.
I was happy in this life.
“Next month, I’m driving down to New Mexico to write about this amazing little town I heard of. It’s literally called Slippery Slopes, and you would not believe some of the crazy stories I’ve heard about it,” I told Levi as we lay in bed well into the start of the new year.
“I can’t wait to hear about it.”
“As if you’ll have a choice,” I said. I shifted in his arms so I could study him closely as I spoke. “And you promise to tell me if I ever go too far or away too long? You’ll bring me back to you?” I asked him. I still had the low-level hum of fear, even with the therapy, that if I relaxed too much and felt too happy, I would miss the signs of change around me and would lose everything.
“I promise,” he said. He held my gaze as he spoke. “I will always find you and bring you back to me.” I sighed. “Claire, some sort of magic drew us together, but it’s the commitment that will grow us into something beautiful.”
“Oh,” I said.
“I promise to prioritize you the way we prioritize our souls’ needs. I’ll prioritize you in the way I prioritize art and you with your research, with a gentle determination and commitment to getting it right. I won’t just stop if it becomes challenging because I know the best things are born of time and effort. You are the best thing. This life I want to make with you is as important to me as it was to my mom. All I want is to stretch these days into years and make memories with you.”
I swallowed, throat too tight to say something as beautiful as he said. I kissed him deeply and slowly and held him until we fell asleep.
I would continue to show him how much I was committed to our life. Every day when we showed up for each other for all the years to come.