He grins wide, the kind of grin that lights up his whole face. “Yup.”
“And she’s taking care of both of them?”
“For now. We’ll have to keep an eye on them,” he says, his voice warm and steady.
I know what he means. Cows often only bond with the stronger calf when there are two. We’ll have to watch the smaller one carefully. But right now, it’s perfect. Right now, they’re together.
I turn to Liam, my chest full to bursting.
“Thanks,” I say softly.
He lifts an eyebrow, his smile tugging into something softer. “For what?”
“This.” I gesture around us. The misty field, the new life, the way he’s anchored me when everything else felt like it was slipping away. “For making me smile.”
For giving me a reason to believe I’ll be okay.
Without a word, Liam slides his arm around me, pulling me into his side, tucking me close under his arm like I belong there.
“Always,” he says against my hair.
We sit there for a long time, the engine ticking as it cools, the mist rising in silver ribbons around us. Watching life begin again. Watching hope bloom in the wet, muddy fields.
I lean against Liam a little more, feeling the warmth of him seep into my chilled skin.
“I was just thinking,” I say quietly, “Opal would have loved it out here.”
The words slip out before I can catch them. My breath catches, just like it always does when I think of her. My sweet twin sister. Gone too soon, leaving a hollow ache behind that never really fades.
Liam’s arm tightens around me.
“Sure wish I could’ve met her,” he says softly, no teasing now, just quiet sincerity.
I smile a little, blinking against the sudden sting in my eyes.
“You two would’ve butted heads so hard,” I say, my voice thick with a laugh that feels half-sad, half-sweet.
“Nah,” Liam says, grinning like he’s already picturing it. “I have a way of winning people over.”
I shake my head, still laughing. “She would’ve never forgiven you.”
His eyebrows lift. “For what?”
“For calling me the wrong name the night we met.”
He blinks, visibly thrown. “I called you the wrong name? Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Twice.” I nudge him with my elbow, teasing, but there’s a little bite to it I can’t quite hide. “You called me Olivia.”
“Ouch. That’s bad.”
“And yet,” I add, pretending to study my nails, “you sure didn’t forget Amber’s name.”
“Amber?” His eyes light up, mischief sparking in them. “Right. The fake redhead.”
I roll my eyes, but before I can come up with a snarky comeback, he’s watching me with that look that makes my chest ache.
“You know what I remember most about that night?” he asks.
