Chapter 14
When we finally wake up, it’s to the shrill buzz of Liam’s cell vibrating against the nightstand. He groans, voice thick with sleep as he answers.
“Hello? What? Yeah, we can meet you there at two.”
I stretch beside him, sore in the best possible ways, feeling more content than I have in a long time. Honestly, maybe ever.
I blink over at him, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “Who was that?”
“Will Flowers,” Liam says, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. “He said he needs to talk to both of us. Wants us to meet him at Lura’s at two.”
He hesitates, glancing at me, something flickering in his eyes.
“Her body’s ready to view, too,” he adds softly. “If you want to go.”
The bubble of love and peace we’ve been wrapped in bursts all at once. Reality slams into me like a freight train. Lura’s gone. Really, truly gone. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I swallow hard, nodding.
“I do.”
Liam leans over, pressing a kiss to my temple, his touch warm and grounding.
“Let’s get ready, honey,” he murmurs. “See what Will wants.”
We shower together, but this time it’s different. It’s not about heat or hunger, but soft, grounding touches. A brush of fingers over my back. A kiss to my shoulder. The kind of wordless affection that says I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.
I dress in jeans and a plain black shirt, feeling the need to keep things simple and respectful.
Liam matches me without even discussing it. Black jeans and black shirt, his hand finding mine as we head out to the truck.
We drive into town in comfortable silence, the weight of the day pressing down on both of us.
Will is already waiting when we pull up in front of Lura’s Porch. He leans against his old truck, arms crossed, hat pulled low to shade his eyes. Even from a distance, I can tell he’s nervous.
“Afternoon, Liam. Olive,” he says as we approach.
Liam’s arm immediately goes around me, protective and steady.
“Everything okay, Will?” he asks, his voice low but edged with concern.
Will rubs the back of his neck, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but here.
“It seems Ms. Lura left the building to me,” he says. “Technically, she left it to my grandfather, who passed it to my father, and now, well, now it’s mine.”
He shakes his head, as if he can’t believe he’s inherited a building.
“Anyway,” he continues, “I guess that makes me the new owner.”
My heart stumbles, hope fluttering weakly in my chest.
I start, voice shaky, “Does that mean you’re going to let me keep my apartment?”
Beside me, Liam stiffens, his body going rigid. I know what he’s thinking. That if I stay here, it’s one more reason not to move in with him permanently. But before I can reassure him that home isn’t a place anymore, it’s him, Will cuts in.
“No, ma’am,” he says, voice full of regret. “I’m afraid I can’t let you stay here. Not for a while, at least.”
Pain lances through me sharper than I expect.
“The gas leak’s worse than we thought,” Will continues. “We’re lucky the whole place hasn’t gone up already. It’s going to take months to get everything squared away.”
I nod, forcing myself to stay composed, even though my heart feels like it’s cracking wide open.
“I understand. When can I get my things?” I add, because practicalities are easier to cling to than grief.
“The Chief’s sending over a team,” Will says. “We’ll start today. Shouldn’t take long.”
Liam’s hand tightens around mine. And even though I’m losing the place I called home I know I’m not losing everything. Because I have Liam. And he’s not going to let me face any of it alone.
Liam’s voice is firm, leaving no room for argument.
“Once you have everything loaded up,” he says, his arm tightening around me. “Take it out to my place. We'll deal with it from there.”
Will dips his head, the brim of his hat shadowing his face. “I can do that.”
He looks back at me then, his eyes full of something achingly kind.
“Olive,” he says softly, “again, I’m real sorry for your loss. Ms. Lura was one of the good ones.”
My throat tightens painfully. I nod, blinking hard, trying to hold it together.
“She was the best,” I manage, my voice cracking despite my best efforts.
Will gives a small, respectful nod, then heads toward the porch where the Chief's team is already beginning to gather.
The moment we’re alone again, Liam turns me into him, wrapping me up tight. His hand slides up and down my back, slow and steady.
“You're not alone in this, honey,” he murmurs against my hair. “Not for a second.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, breathing him in, grounding myself in the solid, immovable truth of him.
“I know,” I whisper.
He pulls back just enough to frame my face with his hands, his thumbs brushing away the tears that escape despite everything.
“Come on,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “Let’s go say goodbye.”
My heart clenches, but I nod, letting him guide me to the truck and letting him carry the weight with me.
The ride to Sheridan is quiet, heavy with everything we aren’t saying aloud. Liam drives with one hand on the wheel, the other resting on my thigh, telling me without words that he’s not going anywhere.
When we pull up to the funeral home, I spot Ruby and the rest of Lura’s friends gathered outside, dressed in their best Sunday clothes, clutching tissues and dabbing at their eyes.
Ruby sees me first. She hurries over, wrapping me up in a hug that’s tight and trembling.
“Oh, sweetheart,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “She looks so good. They even painted her nails red.”
A watery laugh escapes me, surprising us both.
“She would have loved that,” I say, blinking up at the sky to try and stop the tears from falling.
Because, God, she would have.
Lura loved anything bold, anything that made a statement right down to her nail polish. Ruby squeezes me tighter, then pulls back just enough to frame my face between her soft, wrinkled hands.
“She’d be so proud of you, Olive,” she says, voice trembling. “She loved you like her own.”
My breath catches, a sob building in my chest, but before it can tear loose, Liam is there, his hand sliding into mine, grounding me with his warmth. I lean into him, grateful beyond words. Ruby gives me one last squeeze, then steps aside to let us pass.
Together, hand in hand, Liam and I walk into the funeral home, where Lura is waiting.
I lose it the moment I see her.
Lura’s body lies in the casket lined with soft pink satin, her hands folded neatly, her nails painted a perfect, bold red. Just like Ruby said. Just like her. It’s too much. The dam inside me cracks wide open, and a sob rips from my throat before I can stop it.
“I know she was ninety,” I choke out, clutching at Liam like he’s the only thing keeping me standing. “I know she lived a wonderful, full life.”
I press my face into his chest, the tears coming hard and fast now, unstoppable.
“But I selfishly wish she was still here with me.”
Liam doesn’t say a word. He just holds me. One big hand strokes up and down my back, slow and soothing, while the other cradles the back of my head like he’s shielding me from the world.
I don’t know how long we stand there, but eventually, the storm inside me softens enough for me to lift my head and meet his eyes.
“She would have been tickled pink to learn about us,” I whisper, smiling through my tears. “She would have said she called it all along.”
Liam’s mouth lifts into a small, soft smile that tugs at something deep inside me.
“I knew I always liked her,” he says, voice rough with emotion.
He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch achingly gentle.
“And I think she knew,” he adds, his thumb stroking my cheekbone. “Knew you were gonna find your way. Knew you weren’t meant to do it alone.”
I swallow hard, fresh tears blurring my vision. Because he’s right. Lura always saw me. Saw who I was and who I could be. And somehow, impossibly, she gave me exactly what I needed. Not just a home. But the space to find love. The space to find him.
I turn back to Lura’s casket, my hand tightening around Liam’s.
“Thank you,” I whisper, voice trembling. “For everything.”
I swear for a moment I can almost hear her voice in the back of my mind warm and teasing and full of pride.
“Took you two long enough.”
And for the first time since losing her I smile through the tears. Because somehow, I know she's still with me. Still cheering me on. Still believing in my future. And I’d like to think she’s somewhere up there with Opal, and they’re both smiling down on us.
I turn to Liam, my heart still aching but steadier now with him beside me.
“I’m ready to go home,” I whisper.
He nods once, firm and sure, and leads me back to the truck like he’s guarding something precious. The drive out to the ranch is quiet, but not heavy. It feels right.
When we pull up to the house, I blink in surprise.
Will, Phern, Sam, and Charlie are already there, unloading boxes and bags from the back of Will’s truck.
Phern, of course, is telling everyone what to do.
Without even needing to be asked, they’re moving my life into Liam’s.
Liam directs everything straight into his room—our room now—and not a single person seems surprised by the arrangement.
It tugs at something deep inside me, this unspoken acceptance.
After everything is inside, we gather in the living room. The late afternoon light spills through the windows, warm and golden, and for a little while, we just sit and talk.
We share stories about Lura. The time she made Ruby climb out a second-story window during a prank war, the pie-baking contest she rigged just so she could flirt with the judges, the way she’d sneak dollar bills into the church donation basket and then grumble that she was being robbed.
Every laugh feels like stitching a ripped seam back together.
Sam leans back on the couch, tossing a pretzel into his mouth.
“So,” he says casually, glancing at Will. “Any idea what you’re gonna do with the building?”