Chapter 48 If Alan Rickman Could See Me Now
forty-eight
if Alan Rickman could see me now
Maya
We quickly settled into regular life after that.
Liam worked from Nana’s kitchen table and joined us for dinner every evening before going back to the apartment he shared with Kai and Greg.
Together, we got Nana’s paperwork in order and applied to the assisted living facility.
We kept to the schedule, and Nana hadn’t gone on any more late-night walks.
When we were alone we watched and listened to every Alan Rickman performance we could find, but those evenings frequently wound up with us naked, wrapped in each other’s arms. Hell, I’d even told off my parents, with Nana shouting insults helpfully in the background, of course.
All things considered, life had been pretty much perfect.
Now, after months spent on a waiting list, we’d finally received the call that an apartment was ready for Nana. And what an apartment it was!
“Wow, Nana. This is way nicer than the unit we toured.”
“Have you seen this view?” Nana fanned herself dramatically, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. “Phew. Now that’s what I’m talking about.” She whistled long and low. “Check out that scenery.”
The enormous windows flooded the space with natural light, making the apartment feel airy and bright, but the real highlight?
They faced the local fire department’s training yard.
The training yard where, at this precise moment, Carlisle Creek’s finest firefighters and EMTs were being absolutely drenched in baby oil by enthusiastic volunteers.
We had our own personal Magic Mike, but with fewer tearaway pants and more turnout gear. Also, an abundance of shirtless, greased-up first responders.
“Must be time for the annual calendar photo shoot,” I said, watching the action for a moment before turning back to unpacking.
“If I’d known about this view,” Nana said, “I’d have moved in the instant my memory started acting up.
This is so much better than watching all the hunks parade down Main Street.
” She paused before adding in an exaggerated tone, “I’ll have plenty of great fodder for my spank bank—more than enough to last me until next year’s photoshoot, for sure.
” She gazed dreamily at the firefighters.
“Do you think they need an extra pair of hands?” She flexed her fingers.
“Should I go down there and offer my help?”
I choked on air. “Jesus, Nana.” Even after years of listening to her inappropriate comments at book club, somehow she still surprised me.
“Come on, Nana. Have some respect for the neighbours,” Liam grumbled, stepping inside with a stack of boxes teetering in his arms. “The least you could do is leave the spank bank talk for when I’m not about to walk in with half your stuff.”
“See, Maya? Didn’t I tell you Liam didn’t have the stomach for running the book club?
Just another of the many reasons we’re all glad you stayed.
” Nana smirked and turned to Liam. Teasing, she said, “That speech was for your benefit, by the way. I could hear your huffing and puffing all the way down the hall. Maybe you should go ask the firefighters if you can train with them? I’m worried about your cardiovascular health. ”
“Hey,” Liam protested, clutching his barely-there belly protectively. “It’s not my fault that I’ve put on some weight. I can’t stay away from the cheese balls that Maya stockpiles. They call to me.”
I laughed. “It’s true, Nana. Liam can’t resist those crunchy little balls of cheesy goodness. And I can’t resist throwing a barrel into the cart every time we go shopping. It’s a vicious cycle.”
“You mean vicious circle. As in vicious circles of crunchy cheese that are impossible to stop eating. I can’t believe I ever thought I didn’t like them.”
“It will be so much worse now that we’ll be using the smaller apartment for storage,” I said to Nana. “I know he’ll want at least one entire shelving unit dedicated strictly to cheese ball storage. That’s the last thing he’ll want to run out of if a zombie apocalypse happens.”
He gasped and clutched his chest, feigning shock. “Never speak of that again. Running out of cheese balls? Heaven forbid.”
Sure, he’d filled out, but I knew with certainty his eleventy-billion-pack abs were still very much intact. I’d had a front-row view this morning in the shower, in fact. Besides, I loved him like this. Those half-naked firefighters outside had nothing on Liam Bishop.
“You’re perfect to me,” I murmured, patting his stomach. “You could turn into a cheese ball, and I’d still love you.”
Liam grinned. “Aww, Pipsqueak. I told you I’d make you fall in love with me.”
I glared up at him. “Listen here, Bishop. Loving you won’t stop me from marching you to that training ground, jamming a fire hose up your butt, and turning on the water. I wonder if you’ll explode like a water balloon or fly into the air like you’re wearing one of those water jet packs.”
“Or,” Greg chimed in, peeking out from behind a towering stack of boxes as he walked into the apartment, “there’s also a third option.”
I perked up. “Oh? Do tell.”
He set the boxes down, pausing to rub his lower back. “If you build up enough pressure with the hose, you might just launch him into the sky.”
“Hmm,” I said, tapping my chin. “Think the funeral home would offer a discount if I aim him over that way?”
“I don’t see why not. They’d save time by not having to pick up a body.”
“You make a good point. Looks like that would be my most budget-friendly option.”
“Since when does Greg get a say in my death threats and last wishes?”
“Since I’ve been your roommate for six months and haven’t killed you myself. That alone gives me special dispensation to partake in any and all death threats.”
As if on cue, Kai strolled in, his arms stacked with pizza boxes from Tony’s.
“Are we discussing Liam’s untimely demise?
Because as another of his soon-to-be former roommates, I vote we shove his own socks down his throat until he chokes.
The guy strips them off whenever his feet get too warm and just leaves them lying around.
Kitchen. Couch. Backyard. It’s nothing but stray socks as far as the eye can see. ”
“Tempting,” I admitted. “But it’s too close to one of my earlier threats. You know I like to keep things fresh.”
Kai’s face was a mask of seriousness. “That’s fair. Gotta keep him on his toes.”
Liam grumbled in protest, but his arms stayed locked around me. He may put on a show, but everyone knew he loved my ridiculous death threats.
“Hi, Auntie,” Carter said, racing toward me, his light-up sneakers flashing with every step. “Can I play a game on your phone?”
I chuckled, tugging my phone from my pocket and pulling up his game. After a quick nod of assent from Andie, I handed it to the eager boy bouncing on his toes beside me.
“Sure thing, buddy. But you have to stop as soon as your mom says it’s time.”
“Okay,” he yelled before bolting for the couch at full speed, gripping my phone in both hands.
“I suppose that’s enough eye candy,” Nana said, reluctantly tearing her gaze from the firefighter show.
“I’m famished. I need a proper meal. What kind of pizza do you got there, kid?
” She shuffled toward the kitchen counter, nose leading the way.
“Is that pineapple I smell? We Canadians sure knew what we were doing when we invented Hawaiian pizza.”
Leaving Nana and the guys to their pizza, I tugged Liam to the other side of the room. Settling my cheek against his chest, I inhaled his scent and wrapped my arms around him tighter.
What on earth made me think I’d be able to walk away from all this?
If these last six months had taught me anything, it’s that Carlisle Creek was my home, and this bunch of weirdos I’d surrounded myself with were my family. Better still, they were a family I could rely on.
“You okay?” Liam asked, resting his cheek on my head. “That was a heavy sigh.”
I snuggled closer. “I’m good. Just thinking about how close I came to leaving all this behind.”
His body stiffened. “You’re not still—”
“No, definitely not.” I laughed, shaking my head. “No need to plan another intervention. I was thinking about how thankful I am that I stayed.”
Tension melted from his shoulders. “You know, I’ve been thinking the very same thing.”
“Have you really?”
His hands slid up to cup my cheeks. “I sure have,” he whispered before dropping a soft kiss on my lips. “Every damn day, I think about that. And when I think about it, I thank my lucky stars that you stayed.”
“Is that so?”
“It is. It’s had me thinking about something else, too.” He leaned back, his hand slipping into his pocket. “I wasn’t planning on doing this today, but … I feel like I’ve been waiting forever already.”
He extended his hand, a simple gold band set with a small but exquisite cushion-cut diamond pinched between his thumb and forefinger.
My heart stopped.
“This was my mother’s, and before that, it was Nana’s.” His voice remained steady, but the barest hint of nerves flickered in his eyes. “I’m hoping it’ll be yours next.”
The room fell silent.
“I thought my life was fine before I met you,” Liam continued, his voice thick with emotion.
“But you showed me what really matters. That family is the most important thing. You’ve also shown me that family isn’t just about blood; it’s about the people you choose, and who choose you.
I choose you, Maya. Every day. Always. Forever. ”
A tear slipped down my cheek.
“Which is why I’m asking you this here, surrounded by our chosen family.” He took a deep breath. “Maya, from the moment I first saw you, I knew my life would never be the same. I love you. Say you’ll marry me. Be my family forever.”
Tears blurred my vision. This was everything I’ve ever wanted. I tried to answer, to scream yes at the top of my lungs, but the emotions threatened to overwhelm me.
“Maya?” His voice wavered, as though he were afraid I’d say no.
I agreed so rapidly I might have given myself a concussion. “Yes!” I sobbed finally. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you!”
Cheers erupted around us as Liam scooped me into his arms and kissed me senseless. When he finally set me down, my legs were so shaky I wobbled. My heart was so full it made my knees buckle.
“You okay? Seems like I kissed you silly.”
I laughed, breathless. “You really did. This is such a surprise.”
“I know it’s fast, but when you know, you know.” He kissed my forehead. “Just imagine what Alan Rickman would say if he could see you now,” he says, teasing away my anxiety.
I snorted a laugh. “Shut up.”
The funny thing is, since fully accepting that I belonged here in Carlisle Creek, I haven’t listened to my Alan Rickman playlist as often.
Where I used to turn to him for comfort when I was overwhelmed and alone, now I had people—friends, family, Liam—I could turn to instead.
I no longer hide from my problems. I didn’t need to rely on his voice to soothe me anymore.
Mr. Rickman still slipped into the rotation every so often, though, because let’s be honest—his voice was too delicious never to hear again.
Liam grinned. “How about we eat some pizza with our family, and after that… I take you home and kiss you silly all over again?” His tone left no doubt what he really meant by kiss you silly, and it definitely was not something we’d be doing in front of our family.
Butterflies ran riot in my stomach at the thought of getting Liam home to bed. But before I could respond, a loud growl from my stomach stopped me short.
I huffed a laugh, torn between my hunger for food and my hunger for Liam. “Pizza sounds good,” I admitted reluctantly. “But I’m holding you to that kiss me silly thing.”
“Oh, Maya. I am so looking forward to kissing you silly,” he said, his voice softening, “over and over and over again. It’s you and me, forever.”
“Promise?”
“Absolutely,” he said with a cheeky grin. “Pipsqueak.”
“Keep it up, Bishop, and you won’t live to see forever.” I wrapped my arms around him and held him close.
“I’m okay with that, as long as you wait to kill me until after I’ve kissed you silly.”
“That sounds perfect to me.”