Chapter 23
Willing And Able
The days after Christmas were full of joy for Olivia.
For years, the season had been nothing special. The workers at the group home where she’d spent her teen years had been great. There had always been good food and little treats for everyone. But those people’s real Christmas time had been with their families.
She, Mary Mae, and Liam had enjoyed extremely frugal Christmases while they’d worked through the season, always saving for the future instead of buying gifts.
New York was a multi-cultural city, and Olivia had always enjoyed serving on Christmas Day.
People were generally happy, and the tips were good.
This Christmas had been different from any in her past. Bigger and brighter. Full of family, love, and fun. Exactly as she’d always pictured a family holiday.
They’d skated, snowshoed, and built snowmen. Ella loved being outdoors and protested when they had to go inside.
Her little girl was using more words by the day. She now identified everyone in the group, although some of the sounds continued to be a challenge. Olivia didn’t doubt for a minute that she’d figure it out.
“Mama. Go.”
Olivia laughed. “And now you’re using verbs, aren’t you my precious Ella Mae?”
She figured the girl was dealing well with the traumas she’d experienced. Being surrounded by safety and comfort had to help.
For the first few months after her friends’ deaths, Olivia had been nothing but a bundle of nerves, and she knew that hadn’t helped Ella feel secure.
Now, they were safe. Better, they were happy. Looking forward to the future.
“Go. Mama. Go.”
Ella walked toward the stairs and Olivia scooped her up. “I know Charlie’s teaching you to scoot down the stairs, but we’ll save that for later. They’re waiting for us now.”
“Lee. Oggie. Na. Go.”
Olivia kissed her cheek. “Yes, Ella Mae. We’re going outside with Oggie, Charlie, and Nash.”
There was fresh snow, and the Malssums said it was perfect snowman making snow. She hoped in time she’d be able to tell the weather like a Vermonter.
With Ella fussy to get outside, it took longer to get her dressed in her outer gear than normal. “I think I’m going to have to learn to be an outdoors writer if you like being outside so much.”
And she could picture it in her head. Sitting on the porch in the summer while the kids played outside. Maybe not in the winter, but she’d bet sitting in the orchard in the autumn would bring her all kinds of new story ideas.
She didn’t spot anyone outside until she walked around to the front of the farmhouse. Instead of being on the rink, the crew was spread out on the space where Gray’s gardens would grow in a few months.
Charlie waved. “Hi, Ella. I hope your nap gave you lots of energy. We’re making a path for you. The dogs like it, too.”
Nash walked over to Olivia and lifted Ella from her arms. He blew a raspberry on the girl’s cheek, sending her into giggles. Then he leaned down to kiss Olivia. “Did you get lots of words in while she napped?”
Olivia nodded. “I did. Looks like you’ve been having fun, too.”
Nash placed Ella on her feet on a brand-new pathway. “Charlie and I thought it would be fun to make a path for Ella to walk along. She’s getting better at her walking. With the way she likes it outside, we thought she’d have fun practicing.”
The snow was about two feet deep and a pathway had been stomped into it. “Did you use snowshoes to flatten it?”
Nash nodded. “We did. Once we started, the others showed up. Now we’re getting all kinds of paths and benches made of snow. It’s kind of like what Gray has planned for the area in the spring.”
“We’re not hurting his plants?”
Nash shook his head. “Claus oversaw the overall map so we don’t squash any of the bushes he planted in the fall. Some things won’t be planted until spring, so we’re good.”
Ella walked along the path, following Charlie and Oggie. “She’s going to love this. She can be more independent on the hard snow, and the walls will keep her from getting stuck in deeper snow. You’re amazing, Nash.”
He shrugged. “We just thought it would be fun.”
“There’s no just about it. I love the way your mind is always thinking of others. Of Charlie and Ella. Of me. It’s one of the many reasons I love you.”
His eyes heated and so did her entire body at the look.
He leaned in to growl in her ear. “I want to toss you over my shoulder and head for the stairs. Instead, we’re going to be responsible parents and play with the kids. But later? We’re going to put in some play time of our own.”
Body tingling in all the good places, Olivia managed a nod. She loved his growls, especially when they rumbled against her skin.
She couldn’t wait for later.
In her heart, she knew she’d feel the same way decades later. It was going to be an amazing life.
As they approached the New Year, Nash still glowed with the joy of the holidays, and the relief that Adam Parsons was behind bars.
According to Marcus, he’d be there for a long while.
The man rambled his plans to anyone who would listen.
Apparently, he’d interpreted the publisher’s social media posts as Mary Mae’s attempt to contact him, to ask him to rescue her.
He’d been linked to other assaults, and he’d crossed state lines to attempt to kidnap Olivia. Doctors were checking his mental health. No matter what they decided, Parsons wouldn’t be free any time soon.
With Charlie towing the sled holding Ella and Oggie, Nash held Olivia’s hand as they skated along the path. It was way more efficient than walking. Even on windy days like this one, the trees blocked most of it.
Ella clapped and laughed as they slowed at the cider cabin. The girl loved it here, which made his plan perfect.
As long as Olivia agreed.
He’d brought Charlie in on the idea, wanting to see what his son thought. Then he’d checked in with the Malssum family, who all approved and were willing to help. The military had brought Nash this family, and he couldn’t be more grateful.
Now it was time to surprise Olivia. She hadn’t had many good surprises in life, and he wanted to change that for her. Forever.
Ford had made them a bench to sit on while they removed their skates and put on their boots.
Nash grinned at Charlie. “It’s a good place, isn’t it?”
Charlie laughed. “I love it back here.”
Olivia nodded. “Me too. I always wonder about the family who originally lived here. Life has changed a lot, but I imagine this cabin was considered huge when it was first built.”
Perfect segue. “How do you feel about expanding it to be more in line with today’s houses?”
She frowned at him. “What do you mean?”
Nash picked up her mittened hand with his. “Our family needs a place of our own. The Malssums said they’d love us to build our own place here. And adding onto the cider cabin that helped us figure out we make a really good family seemed like a great idea.”
It was also the first place they’d made love, but he wasn’t talking about those memories with his son right there.
Olivia’s eyes sparkled, and he figured she was thinking about that day as well. “That sounds amazing.”
Charlie pointed at the cabin. “Dad said we could go up and add a second floor or we could make an addition out the back. Or both. Add a mudroom and laundry room, too. And another bedroom and bathroom for you guys. There’s already two bedrooms for me and Ella.”
Nash watched Olivia’s eyes fill with happy tears as she envisioned it. She smiled as she leaned into his side. “It sounds incredible. I bet Ford is the best person to speak with about what would work best. What opinions did he have?”
Nash hugged her. “He said everything was doable. We just have to give him a budget, and he’ll get working on some ideas. His buddy Sean Falcone runs Falcon Construction in Phail, and they’ll work things out once we have a plan.”
Olivia laughed and bounced Ella on her knee. “I can’t believe we’re going to live in this amazing place. I never expected to be this happy or this positive about the future. I love you all so much.”
Charlie’s eyes misted, and Nash knew his did the same. He pulled Olivia to her feet and then pulled Charlie into their group hug, with Ella laughing in the middle. It was going to be more than he’d ever imagined.
Charlie bounced out of the hug and grinned. “I’m going to check out the back and see if there’s room to add things on back there. “Come on, Ella. Let’s go see.”
While the kids raced away, Nash tilted up Olivia’s chin. “You’re sure?”
She smiled. “Absolutely, positively, one hundred percent sure. Building this life and this home with you is everything I never dreamed I could have.”
He kissed her and tried to pour all his emotions into the touch. “You deserve all the happiness the world can bring you, Olivia. You’re an amazing woman.”
She smiled. “I’ve written fantasy for years, but you’re making all my personal fantasies come true.”
He laughed. “And we’re just getting started.”
The sound of the kids laughing drifted their way, making them both smile.
Olivia grabbed his hand and tugged. “Let’s go see what our kids are up to.”
Our kids.
Would she want to add to the total? Would she want a baby? They should add a two-story addition just in case. It would be fun to fill it up.
They rounded the corner to find Charlie building up an arsenal of snowballs. Ella sat nearby patting the ever-patient Oggie.
Charlie looked up with a grin. “You’re too fast. I was going to have a whole pile ready.”
He and Olivia stooped to scoop up snow. He hadn’t finished his snowball before one of Charlie’s hit him in the shoulder. “You’re going down, kid.”
While he was aiming at his son, another snowball hit his other shoulder. From Olivia.
Laughing, he fired it at her instead. “It’s on.”
This was what his future looked like.
It couldn’t be brighter.
Bonus Scene
Lawson Malssum
Lawson tossed another wrench into the toolbox with a sigh. He’d loved Boston since the moment he arrived. Until now.
The acrid scent of burned rubber, metal, and plastic filled his head. The garage where he’d spent more than five years held no more than a few metal tools and toolboxes. The rest had been scorched by stupid kids looking to have a few kicks.
Now, his boss had lost his garage, and Lawson and the others had lost their jobs.
It would be months before the insurance companies and police figured it out. Months before Ricky could rebuild or start over somewhere else.
Lawson waved to his buddy, and headed out to the street for a breath of fresh air. Well, as fresh as the busy street got.
The niggle in the back of his head grew larger.
He knew where he could get loads of fresh air and time to figure out his next steps.
Did he want to leave Boston? Leave behind his friends?
He wouldn’t be leaving behind a woman, because he was done with that for now. The last couple had thought being a grease monkey meant he wasn’t quite good enough. Hell, Gloria had pushed him to open his own shop so that he could run the office and leave the grease and the dirt behind.
He liked the grease and the dirt a whole lot more than he’d liked Gloria.
As if he knew he’d been thinking about it, Lawson’s phone rang with a call from his brother Knox. “Hey.”
“Hey. Checking in to see how you’re doing.”
Lawson rolled his eyes. At least his younger brother had got a whole sentence out without applying pressure for Lawson to move. “I’m okay. I was just going through the site with Ricky. Anything that isn’t metal is gone.”
“Are any of your tools okay?”
Hmm. Two sentences. Not bad. “A few. I’ve got a lot in the truck and in storage at the apartment, so I’m not as bad off as some of the guys.”
“That sucks for them, but I’m glad you haven’t lost everything. How’s Ricky doing?”
When Knox lived in Boston, they’d all hung out together with their other brother Burke and some other friends. Well, Burke had cancelled more than he’d shown. The man lived his job.
Lawson shrugged. “He’s pissed and considering collecting the insurance and retiring. He’s going to take some time to think about it.”
There was a pause, and then Knox spoke with more excitement in his voice. “That means you’ve got some time to decide on the next steps as well. When should we expect you?”
And there it was. Although he’d give Knox credit, he’d lasted three or four sentences before hitting the pressure button. “I didn’t say I was coming.”
Knox laughed. As the middle kid, he was damn good at getting his way. “You didn’t say you weren’t. Did I mention the huge-ass barn you can use as your shop?”
Lawson couldn’t stop the grin. “Only twenty or thirty times.”
Knox laughed. “Make it one more. You’re going to love it here, Lawson.
Tons of different equipment that needs fixing.
But it’ll leave you time to do your own shit, too.
I’m betting there’s space in there for you to set up a restoration area.
Hell, Vermont has to be littered with old trucks you could buy up and restore. It’ll be your own version of paradise.”
It sounded good when Knox put it that way. “How’s everyone doing? Your snow finally melt up there?”
Knox laughed. “First class job changing the subject. Snow’s pretty much gone. Lots of mud in its place, and the trees are budding. Thea tells me the orchard’s looking good. We need you, Lawson.”
Lawson didn’t want to answer, but he figured his brother knew he was considering it. Instead of saying any of that, he changed the subject again. “Going to give Ricky a hand with some cleanup. Talk to you later.”
“See you soon.”
Knox hung up, leaving Lawson shaking his head. Would he see him soon?
It was such a pain in the ass that his younger brother almost always got his way. Persistent pest.
But when he re-entered the garage, Lawson started putting his usable tools into his toolbox. Maybe it was time to try something new.
Maybe.