had become Olivia's new normal. She found herself waking up before her alarm, slipp

s, sometimes with breakfast, always with the

ng was no

id, holding up a paper bag as she

smiled, taking the bag. "Try

t wor

rously

quiet laugh, t

ite primer across one cheek as he sanded the window frame. Olivia watc

alm, still rugged, but with a quiet i

silence, broken only

t," she said, poi

nse," he quipped. "Yo

e not Picasso, yo

carpenter," he

they'd just finished-lavender with soft cream borders. It

tiful," sh

over at her

said quietl

For a moment, th

nd, splattering a trail of pa

laughed, looking

n but failed. "You've always

th paint on his

d two fingers in the bucket and

e barked, h

Fair'

ething that mad

rm. But instead of smearing it, he softly brushed her skin, tr

ent s

a spot," h

s breat

cas

an in. Didn'

the most fragile thing in the roo

se racing. "We should

, but his ga

hat, but the air between them

hat eve

d the counter, stacking vintage postcards he

storage room, holding

oards. Looks like another on

t from him wi

n at the edges, address

ned it

rest f

ghosts chased you away, I hope this place can help you bury them. And mayb

gers tr

you. Don't let fear win. The wor

ays, Gra

ung Oliv

her carefull

to say the right thin

you best,"

him, emotion th

just scared of the city. I was

othing, j

ou, I'd never leave. And I wasn't ready t

a breath.

she admitted. "But I know it's

t and cinnamon rolls at

"Yeah... something

hand this time, and

Didn't confess any

eezed her hand-

it out. One brush