Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Isla
Travis was lucky that the fire department was able to get the fire under control fairly quickly after they arrived, so he didn’t lose his house. At least half the workshop burned down though, resulting in the entire structure having to be torn down.
It’s been a month since the fire, and it’s been difficult for him. Thankfully, he had insurance, and it will cover the cost of replacing everything. But so much hard work and effort went into the pieces in there, not to mention all the equipment and tools he’d acquired over the years. All of it is gone.
It’s Thursday morning, and I’m chatting with Lucas and Josh before they leave for the day. Travis still hasn’t come inside, though I thought I heard his truck arrive a few minutes ago.
I’m just handing Josh his calls when I hear the back door open followed by the heavy thud of boots making their way up the hallway.
Travis appears in the threshold, and like it is every day since the fire, immense relief and gratitude fill me up.
“Hey, honey.” He smiles and walks over to me, bending to place a quick kiss on my lips.
He does this all the time now—shows me affection at work. Ever since he was released from the hospital, he’s been much more open about his affection toward me in front of other people. I’m not complaining. In fact, I’m like a giddy schoolgirl half the time.
“Morning,” I say.
“I’m glad the three of you are here. There’s something I want to discuss with you all.”
Lucas’s forehead wrinkles, trying to work out what it might be, I’m sure.
“What’s up?” Josh asks and sits in the chair across from my desk. He leans back and sets his feet on the desk, hands behind his head.
Travis rounds the desk in his direction. “I just got a call from the insurance company.” He knocks Josh’s feet off my desk, and I stifle a laugh at Josh’s look of consternation.
“Are they giving you trouble?” Lucas asks.
Travis shakes his head. “No, not at all. Now that the fire department’s report has been finalized, stating that the fire wasn’t arson or anything like that, they’re ready to pay up.”
“That’s great news. Now you’ll be able to start rebuilding the workshop,” I say.
“That… or I could put the money into the company so that we can get those vehicles for the guys in Seattle.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks over at Lucas.
All three Abbott brothers are equal partners in the business, but Lucas is the one who has the best understanding of the business’ finances.
He frowns. “If you do that, you won’t be able to rebuild your workshop.”
Travis shrugs. “The company can pay me back as it’s able. Think of it like a loan.”
“But you loved that workshop,” Josh says.
“True. But I love other things too, and I have less time to spend on making furniture now anyway. My priorities have changed.” Travis glances down at me with a soft smile on his face.
My cheeks heat, and I smile back. I’m so deliriously happy these days that it’s ridiculous. Travis and I haven’t told each other we love each other, but I know we do. It’s there in our actions and how we look at each other. How we touch each other and the way we speak to each other.
I vow to myself that I will tell him how I feel by the end of the week.
“Are you sure about this?” Lucas asks.
Travis nods. “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”
The fire destroyed the pendant that he was working on for the contest. Given that it could have lost his life, it wasn’t important in the grand scheme of things, but I know he was disappointed.
“Appreciate it.” Lucas steps forward, and the two of them do that handshake-slash-half hug that the guys do.
Josh gets up from the chair and does the same. “Thanks, man.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s what’s needed most right now.”
“I’ll figure out a payment plan for you tonight and run it by you tomorrow,” Lucas says.
“No rush,” Travis says. “I’m not worried about it.”
Lucas nods. “All right then, I’m going to start my day.” He walks over to my desk, and I hand him his calls for the day.
Josh steps up next, and I do the same for him. “See you guys later.”
The two of them disappear from the room, and then the back door opens and closes.
I stand and walk over to Travis, who rests his hands on my hips. “This is a pretty nice thing you’re doing.”
“It makes sense.” He kisses me, lingering for a moment.
“Are you sure about this?” I whisper against his lips.
“I have more important things to do. Or more important people should I say.” He winks and gives me one more quick kiss before letting me go, grabbing his calls off the corner of my desk, and walking toward the hallway. “Don’t forget that I’ll meet you at your place after work tonight.”
I chuckle. “How could I forget? I promised I’d make you my famous chicken parm.”
“See you then.” With a quick wave, I hear him walk down the hallway and leave through the back door.
When I pull into the parking lot of my building, I’m surprised to see Travis’s truck already there. I had to stop at the grocery store on the way home to get everything I needed for my chicken parm recipe, but he’s still early.
It doesn’t matter since I’ve already given him a key to my place, he can let himself in rather than waiting in the hallway or his truck.
I reach my apartment door and struggle to get my key out of my purse with the grocery bags in my hands, but I needn’t have bothered because the door swings open in front of me and Travis is there.
“I thought I heard you out here.” He steps forward and takes the bags of groceries from me.
“Hey.” I give him a quick kiss on the lips. “How was your day?”
I step inside past him, ready to hang my purse on the hook near the front door, when something catches my eye.
On the wall in my living room, where my stack of books used to be, is a beautiful wood bookcase with all my books neatly organized.
I freeze in place. “What is this?” Instinctively, I know without asking that Travis has made this bookcase.
“Do you like it?” He sounds a little unsure.
“Are you kidding me?” I toss my purse on the couch as I walk past over to my new piece of furniture. “Travis, it’s beautiful.”
Each end of the bookcase has hand-carved flowers, and the design is so intricate that it almost looks like lace.
I run a finger along the edge, marveling at the detail, then turn back around to face him.
“When did you make this? I’m so confused.”
“I started making it right after we ran into Katherine that weekend. The first time I came here, I noticed all your books in piles against the wall. I know how much you love to read, so I felt like you needed a place to display them. This is what I went back into the workshop to save.”
Tears fill my eyes, and I shake my head back and forth. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“This is what I was so secretive about and spent so much time doing, not the pendant for the contest.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, barely able to believe his words. No one has ever done anything this nice for me.
“This is one of the only things that survived the fire. Maybe because I always had it covered and set aside when you were in the workshop so you wouldn’t see it, I don’t know. But it survived the fire, and I think it’s fate. A message to the two of us.”
I blink back tears.
Travis runs his hands through my ponytail from top to bottom. “I love you, Isla. I’ve wanted to tell you that ever since our fight that night, I wanted to do it when I gave you this bookcase, so I’ve put off telling you.”
“I love you, too.” I wrap my arms around his neck and squeeze him in a tight hug that he returns.
Travis tucks his face into my neck. “I’m so relieved to hear that because I can’t imagine not being with you. I know we’re early in the journey, but I’m in this for the long haul, I want you to know that.”
I pull away from him and look up into his dark eyes. “For the long haul.”
I kiss him, and we don’t come up for air until we’ve both worked up an appetite for my chicken parm, which Travis agrees is the best he’s ever had.
Right after, he reminds me that I’m the best he’s ever had, too.
Be sure to check out Hit or Miss , the first book in our Love in Apartment 3B series that centers around three best friends each finding their one true love. You’ll be sure to laugh in this found family series!