Chapter 23 Olivia
Four Months Later
“Hey, Livy. How’s it going?”
“It’s going,” I laugh, looking over at Cooper.
“Are you sure you like working here?” he asks, staring at the mountains of filing I’ve been going through.
I look around me and giggle. I giggle. If you had asked me four months ago if I even remembered how to giggle, I’d say hell no.
Now? I’m free, I’m happy and apparently, I’m a giggler.
I wish Bear could see me now. I wish he could join in.
There are so many things I wish the two of us could have experienced.
I push those thoughts away. I can’t spend my life wishing for what will never be.
This is my life now, and it’s a good one, despite my past.
I’m working at the front desk of the campground.
It’s hectic at times. I answer phones, check people in and out, make sure the cabins are clean—sometimes helping there—and ensure the camp store stays stocked.
It may sound simple, and in some ways, it is.
Yet I love every second of it. It’s a long way from what I used to do when I worked under the mayor, but I actually love this job.
I’ve even made a friend, Debra. She’s a little older than me, and she’s also Carson and Cooper’s personal assistant.
The two of us have bonded, and it feels good having her nearby.
I’m currently in the middle of the floor behind the front desk, organizing all the files.
“Ask me on a day when I don’t have quite so much paperwork, Coop,” I tell him.
“Are you almost finished?” he asks.
“Yeah, I just need to put the folders back in the cabinet. I’ve got one pile here in this manila folder that goes to the ranch office. It’s the invoices for the feed and hay. I had to accept a delivery the other day when Debra was out with the flu.”
“Well, we kind of have a favor to ask. Lisa was wondering if you’d be able to watch Claire tonight. Carson wants to take her out to dinner because he’s been out of town. If you can’t, though—”
“Are you kidding? I love getting time with that baby. I’ll be up in just a bit.”
“Thanks, Livy. Have I ever told you I’m glad you came here to live? I don’t know what we ever did without you,” Cooper says, making me smile.
“I think you’ve mentioned it, but I always like hearing it again,” I laugh.
He winks at me and heads out. I finish up my filing, dust off my jeans and bright orange T-shirt.
I’m not really a Tennessee fan, but I do like the bright color—especially this time of the year.
It will be October in just a few weeks. I grab the manila folder and then head out.
I put the closed sign on the door that has a number to call for emergencies, and then I head toward the house.
I take my cell out of my back pocket and dial Winnie.
“Hey, Livy. Are you heading this way?” she asks when she answers.
“Just the opposite. Lisa asked me to sit with Clare tonight. Carson just got back in town, and they wanted some alone time. Can I have a rain check?” Winnie and I were supposed to have a girl’s night full of pizza and bad romance movies. Blade’s out of town and she’s alone.
“Hey! What if I come up? I’d love some time with Clare.”
“That’d be great,” I answer at once. “Maybe Debra will want to stay, too.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be at your cabin in a couple of hours with pizza,” Winnie says.
“Can’t wait. See you soon.” I put my phone back just as I make it top of the small hill the walkway leads over.
Once I do, I come to a complete stop. Over by the stables, there’s a man in a faded green thermal and worn jeans.
His hair is short, and I can only see his back, but what I see takes my breath away.
He looks so much like Bear that my heart stops.
In fact, except for the hair being shorter, the guy has the same build and everything.
I actually forget how to breathe and automatically my feet lead me to the stables.
“Bear?” I ask, but the one word is filled with confusion and not very loud.
“Hey, Lake! Can you give me a hand with the new stallion?” Jeff—one of the hands—calls out to the man I’m watching.
“You got it,” the man says.
I shake my head as I fight to get my breath back.
His name is Lake—not Bear. His voice is more graveled and lower in cadence than Bear's, too. Not to mention, there’s no way Bear is alive.
Plus, if Bear were alive, he’d be with me.
He also wouldn’t have ever let Blade sit in jail for his murder.
No, this is just me fooling myself again.
I will not allow myself to lose sight of reality now.
Things are going too great. I’m not about to fuck it up.
On that note, I turn back to the main house. I’ll call Debra after I collect Clare. She can get the filing then, too. Right now, I need to see Clare and lose myself in all that is good and happy in the world. I need to remind myself life is good even though Bear isn’t with me.
I can’t afford to get lost in my dreams …