Chapter 16
LILA
I swirl the brush along my palette, trying to mix the perfect shade of a spring sunrise and failing miserably. It’s been two days since Fisher and I tied the knot, and he left yesterday for Seattle, where they will play the first two games of the playoffs.
With my new husband out of town, I wanted to finally spend some time focusing on my art.
A few days back, I spoke with Carmila, the curator from the gallery downtown who loved my work, and we confirmed I would conceptualize a series of four paintings that will go on display at the gallery in June.
I’m beyond excited for the opportunity, but no matter what I try, I can’t seem to lose myself in the painting I’m working on.
Probably because my mind keeps getting lost elsewhere…
“Doing okay over there, Lilabug?” I look up to see Masha frowning at me from where she’s stationed at the easel opposite mine and realize I must’ve just sighed out loud.
“Just having some trouble getting these colors right.”
What I don’t say is that the combination of yellow ochre and iridescent gold I’m mixing should be the perfect shade for morning sunshine, but it’s just making me think about how the studio lights caught the golden tones in Fisher’s hair before he kissed me senseless.
Goosebumps break out on my arms for the millionth time at the memory of that heady, intoxicating kiss. The practiced skill with which he touched me had every sensation down to my core awakening in hunger…in a stupid, reckless craving for more.
“Are you still working on your cherry blossom painting?” Masha asks me through narrowed eyes as she studies my face, which is suddenly feeling very warm.
I do my best to school my expression into neutral indifference. “Finished that one last week; I’m starting a sunrise piece now.”
Angel raises her brows at me as she pins a drape of navy satin around her mannequin. “Judging by how flushed you are, I was half expecting you to say you were experimenting with erotic art as a new medium.”
“No, no. Just another boring old landscape,” I sputter, my cheeks heating again at the thought of switching out golden sunshine for a sketch of the golden planes that make up Fisher’s body—a thought I firmly shove away as fast as I can, because it’s the last thing I need to be thinking about right now.
I need to keep my head in the game and my eyes on the prize, which is saving the firehouse and getting a new series ready to hang in a prestigious gallery…
lusting after my husband is not going to help me do either of those things.
Obviously, what happened at the photoshoot can’t happen again, because I cannot afford to be distracted from my work like this. Not when the biggest gallery opportunity of my life is lurking right around the corner.
“Well, if you do ever want to move into life drawing, maybe you need to find yourself a muse.” Masha’s eyes twinkle as she looks at me. “Or maybe you already have one?”
“Nope, definitely not.” My phone buzzes in the pocket of the smock apron I’m wearing over my clothes, and I pull it out, grateful for the diversion.
Hercules
Good morning, Wifey.
I dip my head so a curtain of hair falls forward, hiding my grin as I type out a response.
Lila
Good morning, Hubby.
Hercules
Happy two-day anniversary.
Lila
Can’t believe we’re still so happily married after all this time together.
Hercules
Maybe absence really does make the heart grow fonder…
Lila
I’m more of an out of sight, out of mind kind of girl.
Liar.
Hercules
Well, in that case, here’s a little something to remember me by.
The text comes through with a picture attached—it’s a photo from the boudoir studio. I’m sitting in Fisher’s lap, my legs kicked up, and neither of us are looking at the camera. Instead, we’re staring into each other’s eyes, matching naughty grins pulling at the corners of our mouths.
It’s almost scary how real it looks, even the way my eyes look into his. In this picture, we appear to be kindred spirits. A perfect match.
Lila
We make a very cute fake bride and groom.
Hercules
Speak for yourself there, Lila. I’m not cute, I’m handsome AF.
Lila
Modest, too.
Hercules
Modesty is overrated. Anyway, I was just texting to tell you the officiant filed our marriage license, so I’ll send that to Granddad’s lawyer today.
Tomorrow, our announcement should be in the paper, and my family will find out.
So if you can, it might be a good idea to talk to the current owner soon.
Lila
Okay! Rebekah’s here at the firehouse right now, so I’ll talk to her today.
Hercules
If she agrees to pull out of the Fisher Group sale and sell to us instead, I’ll make sure our OTP is sent to her immediately, so she has it before my family even realizes I got married.
Lila
OTP?
Hercules
Offer to purchase. Real estate acronym, sorry.
Lila
Don’t be. I kind of like it when you talk douchey to me.
Hercules
Noted
I can practically hear his smirky, innuendo-laden tone through the text. I swiftly change the subject because I don’t need anymore sexy distractions.
Lila
You ready for your big game tonight?
Hercules
Of course. If you’re a good girl and watch it, I might even score a goal for you.
My pulse picks up, and I hurriedly stuff my phone back in my smock. When I look up again, I find Masha still looking at me.
“Still sticking with your story about not having a new muse?”
“Yes.”
I expect Masha to tease or pry more, but instead, she shakes her head. Her expression grows soft. “Well, muse or no muse, I love how happy you looked while you were texting just now. Happier than I’ve seen you since before you lost your mom. It’s good to see you really smile again, Lila.”
I meet her misty eyes, and a lump forms in my throat.
I swallow, then smile. Because it really does feel good to have something to smile about again.
For the first time since my mom died, something in my life is within my control.
And by saving the firehouse, I can do something meaningful for the people I love and repay them for all the kindness they’ve shown me, to thank them for how they’ve looked after me during this difficult past year.
“Thanks, Masha,” I say, while wondering what on earth she’s going to think when my marriage announcement is covered in a national newspaper tomorrow. I can only hope she’s not going to think any differently of me.
“Anytime, Lilabug.”
As Masha goes back to work on the gorgeous still-life oil painting she’s working on, I decide that since the world is going to find out tomorrow, there’s no time like the present to go and see Rebekah. I slip off my apron and then make my way across the warehouse to her office and knock.
“It’s open,” she calls.
I push open her door to find her sitting at the ornate wood-carved desk, surrounded by paperwork.
“Oh, hi, Lila, honey, come on in.” She looks equal parts frazzled and frail, and I can only hope what I’m about to propose won’t somehow add to her stress.
“Are you okay?” I ask, twisting my hands in the flowing fabric of my burnt orange maxi skirt.
“Sit, sit,” Rebekah urges, and I sink into the armchair opposite the desk and sit on my hands to force myself to stop fidgeting as she continues, “I’m fine, thanks for asking—just busy.
It’s a lot of work getting all the documents together that the Fisher Group has asked for as part of the conditions of sale.
They want so much information, and I must admit, I haven’t always been the best at record-keeping…
” she trails off as she waves a hand in the direction of the sheets of paper scattered around.
“If you wanted to pull out of the sale, could you still do that?” I ask.
She frowns, her face pale with exhaustion. “Technically, yes. But like I mentioned before, I have to sell. I can’t afford to keep this place anymore.”
“I meant more like what if you found another buyer? Someone who doesn’t want to flatten the place?”
Rebekah looks almost ashamed. “I’ve been trying not to think about that part because there haven’t been any other offers. I’m so sorry. I feel terrible about all of this, and if I had another option, you know I’d sell to someone who didn’t want to proceed with demolition—”
“Me,” I interrupt.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Me,” I say again, leaning forward on my elbows on her desk and steepling my hands. “Would you consider selling it to me instead?”
Rebekah looks at me with obvious pity. “As much as I love that idea, Lila, I’m not sure you have the collateral to get a loan for such a large purchase.”
“What if I didn’t need a loan?”
“Well, that would be a no brainer, I’d choose you to be the buyer in a heartbeat.” She gives me a wistful smile. “If only, right?”
I flex my fingers, suddenly nervous to have this conversation. “So, here’s the thing, Rebekah. I actually have the money…and well, when I say I have the money, I mean my husband does.”
“Your husband?”
“I got married.” I hold my hand out to her so she can see my ring.
Her brows shoot up. “Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?”
“Because my husband is Archibald Fisher,” I tell her in a low voice, then glance behind me at the door to make sure nobody else can hear me before I continue.
“I haven’t told anyone at the Collective yet, because obviously the Fisher family isn’t exactly popular around here right now.
But I promise everyone will find out soon. ”
“How did this happen?” Rebekah murmurs.
“We fell in love quickly…it was such a whirlwind.” I swallow, then try to mix my lies with as much truth as possible. “And he wants to help me save the firehouse from being demolished—so he asked me to tell you we will offer more than Fisher Group did, if you can agree to let us buy it instead.”
“Us,” Rebekah repeats blankly. It’s clear she’s more than a little shellshocked.
“Archibald’s not like the rest of his family,” I assure her. “You know I wouldn’t marry someone like that. He truly wants to help me save this place; you have to trust me.”
Rebekah stares at me for a long, tense moment before she suddenly laughs in delight. “Oh, my dear girl, if that’s not the most stranger-than-fiction story I’ve ever heard!”
“It’s definitely bizarre,” I agree. That much isn’t fiction.
She clasps her hands together. “I knew there was something different about you lately, I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it should have been obvious—you’re in love.”
“Oh, yeah. Totally in love.” I plaster a smile on my face.
“And you’re serious about this? About wanting to buy the firehouse?”
“Yes! Archibald said he can send you an official offer to purchase when he gets home from Seattle later this week. It might take him a little time to free up the funds, but he said he’s happy to sign a contract with a payment plan and agree to whatever terms you wish for—whatever you need from us.
” I rattle off everything Fisher explained to me before he left, and I’m delighted that with every word I utter, more color returns to Rebekah’s pallid cheeks.
She leans forward and clasps my hands in hers, moving her bony fingers over my vintage ring in awe.
“Lila, my girl, you have no idea what a headache this has all been. Fisher Group is awful to deal with, and I’ve been riddled with guilt about selling to someone I know is going to destroy this place. ”
“So you’ll pull out of the Fisher Group offer and sell it to us instead?”
“I’ll have to look at the offer first to make sure everything lines up, but yes. I’d love nothing more than to pass the firehouse and its legacy on to you, Lila.”
She smiles, and my heart picks up speed, barely able to believe what I’m hearing.
“Thank you!” Tears are streaming down my face, and I don’t even care. They’re the best tears I’ve ever cried in my life, a river of relief and gratitude.
“Plus, I was dreading having to tell you this, but now I don’t have to worry about it,” Rebekah goes on.
“As part of the sale process, there will be multiple inspections of the building—and if they discovered someone was living here, that would put us in jeopardy with the city because it’s not currently zoned for residential.
” Rebekah gives me a huge smile. “I didn’t want you to have to find somewhere new to live, but now you’ll obviously be moving in with your new husband, so I don’t have to worry about that anymore! ”
“Oh, no…you definitely don’t,” I say quickly, a nervous laugh bubbling out of me. “Archibald and I are all loved up and ready to live together, so you’ve got no worries there anymore.”
It’s not a big deal, I assure myself. I’ll just have to figure out a temporary place to stay later, because I’m not going to let a little detail like impending homelessness rain on my parade.
“So, I’ll draw up a new contract?”
“Let us know when it’s ready, and we’ll sign it ASAP!”
We shake on it, and the second I leave her office, I text Fisher the news.
Lila
She said yes!!!!
Hercules
Of course she did. Who could ever say no to you?
Hercules
I’ll have the lawyers send our OTP to her this afternoon.
Hercules
And feel free to imagine that last text spoken in my sexiest douchebag voice. I know how much that gets you going…
His dumb message makes me laugh out loud, which startles one of my fellow artists, Lenni, whose station I’m walking past. Her head jerks up in surprise, and I wince, mouthing “sorry” before turning back to my phone with a stupid smile on my face.
Lila
Between the real estate dirty talk, the threat of you scoring a goal for me tonight, and the ridiculous emojis, I don’t think I’ve ever been so turned on.
Hercules
Ahhh, so you like role play? How about I dress up as a sexy little secretary and come sit on your desk?
Lila
That’s a mildly disturbing visual.
Hercules
You’re right. I should be the boss in that scenario.
Despite the clearly jokey nature of our conversation, my cheeks heat at his words, and I swiftly change the subject.
Lila
Speaking of being the boss, if all looks good with our offer, you’ll be the proud new owner of the firehouse...
Hercules
You mean *we* will be. We’re in this together, Lila.