Chapter 34
Jace
One Month Later
“I feel bad lying to her man. I don’t lie, and especially not to her. It feels like the lie is eating me from the inside out.”
Hayden sighs on the other end of the line, “I know, man, but if you tell her the truth, it won’t end well.”
“You’re right, it just feels so wrong. I just got here, see you in a minute.” He’s right, if I tell her, she’ll be pissed, and my five steps forward will be twenty steps back.
The last month has been busy; if I’m not working at the fire station, I’m remodeling Lilla’s clinic. Everyone from the station came together to tackle the job, and today we put the final touches on it.
Lilla has been working hard with physical therapy since getting her cast off, and moving her stuff from her house to mine.
It’s like everything is finally coming together.
Ava got sentenced to fifteen years in prison for arson.
Yes, it was her first offence, but she lit the place up with intent to harm not only my dog, but also my Lilla.
She finally got what she deserved. Looking back, I can’t believe I stood by her and her behavior.
I always knew she was a shit person, but she had access to booze and drugs, and that was what I craved.
Lilla’s leg is healed; now she goes twice a week to strengthen the muscle and improve mobility.
The Chief also agreed to have Lilla work from the fire station as a call-in vet for all animal rescues.
I try to tell her to take it easy and allow her leg to heal correctly, but being the strong, independent woman she is, she told me to kindly fuck right off, and so I kissed her and did just that.
With all my strength, coworkers, and Haley, we have done a fantastic job keeping Lilla away from the clinic. Since her cast has been on, she hasn’t been able to drive, so she hasn't been able to see the truth about my late nights and extra shifts, but today is the day.
Haley:
I have the package.
Jace:
Perfect, we’re ready.
All month, I have been waiting for this moment. The second my girl walks through those doors and sees her clinic put back together and ready for operation. Everything is as it was. I did my best to keep her original clinic style, as she had designed and envisioned it; I changed only one thing.
Behind the front desk is now a large open wall with a mural.
Starting at the bottom of the wall, dark blue and murky green fight over the once-white space, flowing into lighter blues and greens higher up, culminating in a smoky bridge that stretches from left to right.
The bridge is true to form, rustic, with paint chippings, from our very own vet.
But that will be my little secret. Above the bridge, luminous oranges and reds fade into one another, creating a sunrise that represents another day fought.
In the sky, in bold white letters, reads, Come, Sit, Heal.
This very bridge is where Lilla healed; she went, she sat, and she healed.
With each moment of uncertainty and insecurity, she flourished.
She took those harsh words everyone drove into her, and it made her strong, resilient, a force.
Now my favorite part, the sun. In the middle, where the rays of light shine, there, where the sun should be, is a phoenix.
Vibrant amber colors shine, mingling with the oranges and red that portray the sunset.
Lilla Lane is my sun. She is my phoenix, the girl who overcame her shortcomings, who jumped over life's most significant hurdles, and kept running.
She never once looked back, and in doing so, she made it. She figured it out, and she rose.
Now we all stand in front of the painting of the very bridge she once wished to leap from. We’re all here for her, and because of her, we have all come together to fix what was destroyed, because it’s okay to need help.
Haley:
Here
With one text, my heart drops to my ass. It’s time. My woman is about to come through those doors, and all I can do is hope like hell she loves what we’ve done. “She’s coming.”
With seconds that felt like hours, the door chimes, and in walks Lilla and Haley.
We all pop out, some behind the front desk, some fly out of the hallway, and others hide behind the shopping aisle filled to the brim with toys, treats, and food.
“WELCOME HOME!” We all yell and plaster on our best proud smiles.
“Hey, baby.” My smile grows as her eyes scan the completely restored building.
She takes slow steps towards us, taking in piece by piece, “How did you? This is incredible.” She wraps her arms around me, hugging me tightly. Haley comes around the front desk, taking in the painting.
“This is amazing, even better than you explained.” She gawks at the artist's work, which brought my vision to life.
Lilla follows her, “Jace…” Her chin trembles as she looks at the painting, taking in every detail made just for her.
So many minuscule details just for her, I watch her as she seeks out each one.
She holds back her tears, pressing her lips together, as her long ash-blonde hair moves slowly with each harsh breath. “It’s beautiful,” she whispers.
Walking behind her, I wrap my hands around her waist, pulling her into me.
I drop my chin to her shoulder, placing my mouth on her ear, “I’m so happy you didn’t jump.
You light up this world, baby.” Everyone starts clapping behind us, pulling us from our moment, showing her how happy they are for her.
“Thank you, everyone. I don’t know how to repay you for all this hard work. It is truly more than I could have imagined.”
The chief walks up and gives her a pat on the shoulder. “Jace here put the whole thing in motion; those extra shifts and late nights were spent here.” He looks around at all we did, and fulfillment takes over.
“Thank you all. Looks like we will open Monday!” Excitement washes over her, lighting up her face.
I turn towards my friends, whom I now call family, all gathered around us, “Thank you all for your endless nights and days. For keeping my lady far away from here as we built and rebuilt. Thank you for being part of this and for showing Lilla that it’s okay to need help.
Needing help doesn’t make us weak; it makes us strong.
Strength in realizing you are worth receiving the help, you are worthy of the time and energy, you are more than enough, you always were, and you always will be.
” That does it, the barrier that kept her tears in, the love knocked down the wall that held her back.
The wall that she believed saved her from the enemy was built by them.
She throws her arms around me once again, pressing her body into mine, squeezing me with admiration and hope.
Haley wipes her tears as she nods, wrapped in Hayden’s arms; she mouths, ‘thank you.’
The moment is interrupted by a call; as pagers start going off, the team says a quick goodbye before filing out and running to save another.
I grab Lilla’s hand, guiding her to the front door after everyone files out. Hayden and Haley wait outside for us. “I hope it's everything you wanted. Let’s go home. Work starts Monday.”
She looks around once more, “It’s more. I can’t believe you did this, all of it, for me.” Reaching my hands up, I grab her face, forcing her eyes to look solely into mine, into the truth.
“Eight years ago, we were in your bed, and you asked me to do something for you. Do you remember my response?” She pauses, her eyes darting between mine.
“I said, I’d do anything you asked me to.
But here’s the thing, you shouldn’t have to ask.
I pay attention. I did this for you because I wanted to, because you needed help, and you wanted it.
You were raised not to ask for it. But I’m here to help whether you ask or not.
You’re done figuring it out. From now on WE figure it out, you and me, together.
There is no more struggling alone, because I want you, I need you, so need me, baby.
” Her eyes swell with unshed tears once more.
As they fall from her eyes, I wipe them with my finger, “I do, Jace.” Sealing her lips with mine, I steal her soul and her heart, begging her never to take it back.