Chapter 13
Felicity
Like all small towns, Ashford Creek had one of everything.
An ice cream shop.
A bed and breakfast.
An old-school diner.
A bar and grill.
And a cemetery.
There was more than one church, of course, as there was more than one denomination within town, but even then, the churches were unique, and some shared the same building for different services.
But there was only one cemetery.
Gregory Teller had been the town’s accountant and bookkeeper for longer than I had been alive.
Honestly, he’d been in that position for longer than most people in town had been alive.
Even when he had been overwhelmed and dropped a few balls, people had been there to help, and he had ensured the town thrived.
And now he was gone, and I hated myself for feeling relief in this moment. Because all I wanted to do was cry and beg for him to take just one more day off to rest. To enjoy life. To not work until his seventies.
“I would ask if you were doing okay, but we both know that you need time.” My mom slid her arm around my waist, and I leaned on her shoulder, my arms crossed in front of me.
“Whenever I would ask why he wouldn’t retire, he said he loved what he did.
He didn’t work every day, but he still went to work.
I thought he should be the guy who sat on the front porch with his coffee and newspaper and waved at people as they came by since he still lived right in town.
But no, he refused to do that. I just don’t understand why. Why would he waste so much time?”
“People find solace in their own actions and their own peace in different ways.”
“So he liked working that many hours?”
“He used to work more. And he would always hire those who came with talent.” She squeezed my shoulder.
“And those who needed him. But this job was something he loved. He loved numbers, and it gave him access to everybody in town. They could come in and talk about what they were doing, ask advice, and he’d be able to feel as if he were connected to the town as a whole. ”
“I guess that makes sense. But I don’t know. I always thought he would go and find a way to relax more.”
“He was able to when you came on. We both know that.”
I wiped a tear and let my hand fall back to cross in front of me. “I always felt as if he trusted me every time he gave me more responsibility.”
“He trusted you with everything. You know that.”
I swallowed hard, my gut aching. The will had already been read, as it had taken a couple of days to get the funeral ready. And our town lawyer had wanted to make sure I understood what was coming my way.
Because he had left the damn company to me. And I had no idea what to do with that.
“When Gregory’s wife died, we all mourned Sascha.
” My mom let out a breath. “She was so sweet and helped him around the office. She wasn’t an accountant, but she made sure that he had everything he needed for the business.
She ran the church bake sale and, along with the mayor’s wife at the time, fixed each bridge in town to ensure we had safe roadways for our children.
Martha and Gregory were the ones who opened up the new school so we could split the buildings into three different schools on the north end, albeit smaller buildings, versus having everybody in one place and all of the children stepping all over each other like we had when I was younger.
Gregory put so much into this town. And I’m going to miss him. ”
I swallowed hard, wiping away another tear. “I miss him more and more each day. And I hate that he’s gone. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now, Mom.”
“You mourn him. You mourn him, and you do what you can to ensure that you allow his legacy to move on.”
“And what is his legacy?”
“You baby. You.” She kissed my temple, her arm falling away, and I let the cold seep in until two other strong sets of shoulders pinned me in.
“I’m glad you came.” I looked up at Atlas, who just smiled at me.
“I’m glad I came too. I loved that old man. You know, he used to give me different sour candies when I would visit, just because he said I had a sour expression on my face.”
“You know damn well you put that face on so that way you could get your favorite candy,” Rune said dryly. My brother reached up and tugged on his septum piercing slightly, moving it around.
Atlas winced. “Doesn’t that hurt?”
Rune rolled his eyes. “I’m just rotating it. It doesn’t hurt. You should get your nose pierced. Join the family lore.”
“I would, but then some guy would rip it out by accident, or I’d lose a tooth.”
I looked up at my NHL star brother and rolled my eyes. “How you have a full set of teeth, I will never know.”
“Maybe if he was a starter and was actually on the ice more, he’d lose some,” Rune teased, and I leaned down as the two of them guffawed behind me.
“Boys,” my dad warned as he came forward.
Both brothers punched each other’s shoulders, and I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh at one of my dear friend’s funerals. Because sometimes it felt as if our family had never been apart, as we fell comfortably into our own positions.
“We weren’t doing anything,” Atlas said quickly, and Rune nodded.
“You three are ridiculous.” My dad clucked his tongue before he leaned down and kissed my forehead.
“I wasn’t doing anything,” I said softly.
“You encourage them like you always have.”
“Well, we’re nothing if not on a schedule and routine,” Rune said dryly.
“I’m sorry I can’t stay for long. I have to head back. We have a game coming up tomorrow that I don’t want to be late for, or the coach will chew my ass.”
“We’ll all be down for the hockey game in Denver. So you better kick their ass,” Dad said solemnly.
“Please don’t curse at a funeral,” Mom said as she came up and leaned against Dad.
Dad just winked.
I loved my family. We had each other no matter what, and I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen when I told them my own secret.
Across the way, I looked up and met Callum’s eyes. He’d stood by me at the funeral and then at the gravesite. Nobody had thought anything of it. After all, he was a family friend. But I wanted to run into his arms and have him tell me everything would be okay.
Instead, he just stared at me as if memorizing my face, trying to see if anything was wrong.
But everything was wrong.
“And it’s good to be back home,” Atlas said after a moment. “It’s been too long.” He stiffened at my side at the words, and I looked up at him, worried. Then I followed his gaze and realized exactly why he regretted his words.
Elizabeth stood there, her eyes wide for just a moment before she smiled at me, tearing her gaze from Atlas.
In a blink, she turned back to be with Teagan and Bronwyn, another friend and longtime Ashford Creek member.
And a stranger stood with them, a woman I didn’t know.
Maybe she was with Gregory’s family, but as one of Kellan’s teenagers ran up to her and asked a question, I realized that it had to be Tess, the newcomer to Ashford Creek that I hadn’t met yet.
For such a small town, you would think I would have. But then again, if I hadn’t been at work or with my family, I’d been with Callum, hiding within our homes because we craved each other.
I needed to get out into town more. To live like I wanted Gregory to live.
Keely wasn’t here as she had to be at the bed and breakfast, but Promise had been able to come and stood near Finnian, the two of them speaking in low voices. Thatcher, still in uniform, spoke with Kellan..
The town had shown up for Gregory. Even Gray had come back to town, and I knew he would head back out with Atlas because they each had games on the road soon. But we were all there. The Carters, the Ashfords, and our friends that we had turned into family along the way.
But the man who had trusted me with everything was gone.
And I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do with that.
“You okay?” Rune asked softly, and for a moment, I thought he was speaking to me. But then I realized that Atlas still hadn’t moved from his spot.
“What? Yeah. I’m fine. Just thinking about what I need to do before I head out.”
I looked at Rune, and neither one of us believed him.
“She’s not seeing anyone right now, at least I don’t think,” Rune whispered, his voice low. Yet it was deep enough that I was afraid it would carry.
If possible, Atlas stiffened even more. “Well, I guess I should go.”
“Oh, Atlas. You don’t have to go,” my mom whispered. “Stay. Let’s go get coffee. Before you really have to go on the road.”
Atlas gave one last look behind her before facing our mom. “No, I need to head out. I love you. I’m going to miss the old man.” He kissed my mother on the cheek, hugged Dad and Rune separately, and then came to me.
“Atlas.”
He shook his head. “Be good, little sister. And maybe tell the others?” he asked, that scarred brow raised.
My eyes widened, and I refused to look over at Callum.
“How? I mean. Okay.”
“I have the power of observation. And I’ve been away long enough that I noticed a difference.”
“How come you get to be mysterious and talk about things like that, but I don’t get to?” I ask, purposely not looking over to our left.
Atlas’s jaw tightened. “Because some things are old news. Broken things. But other ones? Others better not break things.”
I shook my head, getting what he was saying, even though he was trying to be way too subtle. I kissed his cheek, held him close, and watched as he walked away, noticing I wasn’t the only one.
Elizabeth gave me a small smile and then moved on to speak to one of her students.
I let out a breath and turned to my family. “I’m going to go head to the office. If that’s okay?”
“You don’t need to work today, baby.” My mom moved forward, hand outstretched. “Come back with us.”
“I just need a few moments to myself. Honestly, I’ll meet you back at the house.”