ain. The new paint was warm and buttery, the dusty windows now gleamed in t

was struggl

ffee, tools, and silent strength. They worked side by side-measuring,

ced around it with jokes and sarcasm, but Olivia could feel the tru

ng had

ugh the bay window and painted golden streaks

.. can

ng a loose light fixture. He glan

we were,"

said softly. "Not

nd stepped down from the ladd

where you left and

. Raw. Bare.

wallowed

ainst the count

dbye. You didn't even leave a note. I fou

whispered. "

king away. "Sor

ght if I stayed here, I'd never

yes narrowing. "Someone who for

htened. "I did

ve fool

a bag and danced into a new life? I cried every night the first month

didn't

so needed to know who I

oked at her-r

her? The girl you

ht I was. I had a job I thought mattered. But it all fell apart. He che

exed. "So why

l whole," she said. "This sh

followed was he

ust close enough that she coul

r you, Olivi

n her eyes. "I

he said. "Becaus

ice was sharper th

re," she said. "I'm not

ly moved closer to his on the counter. Their

it," he sa

her eyes to

ta

eath h

looks like yet," she admitt

low, almost im

steppe

n his voice returning. "And if you're staying, we nee

a declarat

sn't

something.

ow, that

that n

staring at the photo on the wall-her grandmot

ispered aloud. "And

ow he'd carve little wooden hearts and leave them in her mailbox. How t

n't for

t all under years o

bloomed again-fragi

in New York, flipping through pages of heartbreak

onder if he hates me. Sometimes I d

ispered into the quiet roo

startl

to find Lucas holdin

this?" s

ago. I just found it in my shop's de

o find a hand-carved si

oat tig

believed I'd

e her a s

aid you just

in-less guarded th

ight,

ight,

her heart wasn't as heavy as

broken