“Daddy has the best girlfriend.” I’m stopped in my tracks. We’ve yet to really talk about our relationship and where things are going, but one thing is for sure: leaving at the end of this project is going to be impossible, which is probably why when Rafe called me, I spilled the beans about falling hard and fast, giving him every last detail about Colt and Nellie. Of course, he in turn did a full background check, then told me he came backpretty damn clean, minus a scratch here and there when he was younger.
Though I’m still muddling with the idea of the B&B, truth be told, Gus and his wife have yet to say anything about what could happen. I’m overthinking but also trying to plan for the future. While I love being a mural artist, I know the toll it will take on my body long term, and an investment might not be a bad idea with the nest egg I’ve been saving.
“Well, I think your daddy has the best daughter ever. Thanks for the compliment, toots. It’s the best one I’ve ever received.” Nellie beams at me, and I pour the paint in the area for the green part of the ground I have ready to go for her. It’s a place where, if mistakes are made, I can easily blend it in.
“Maybe we're just the best, and Daddy is right up there with us.” The minute I have her palette ready, it’s as if she already knows where to go without being told.
“I can agree with that. I’m going to say hello to your dad, then I’ll join you.” Nellie settles in, and I gravitate toward Colt just as easily.
“You know, I’m thinking about making sure your car breaks down again, so you won’t be able to ever leave.” Colt greets me, ignoring the mess all over me, and brings me into his arms.
“I guess it’s a good thing I want to stay forever, then.” I wrap my arms around his shoulders, noticing his hair is getting longer at the ends. It gives me something to hold on to when he’s buried deep inside me. We’ve had to be very quiet or very fast the few times we’ve managed to make it work.
“Fuck yeah. Seeing you with my girl, how perfectly you fit in with our family? Never thought I’d find love. Didn’t want to, not until I met you.” His admission is everything I’ve ever hoped and dreamed of before. It makes me want to utter those three words. In fact, they’re on the tip of my tongue when Colt beats me to it, “I love you, Sable. Love every damn thing about you.”
I’m about to respond when Nellie calls my name, “Sable, I think I messed up!”
“Love is in the air, and we’re here to celebrate,” Kara follows up, and now I’m being pulled in every direction. Each one is important to me, but Nellie looking like she is right now, there’s no way I’m going to ignore it.
“Hold that thought. Don’t think I’m not going to say it back, but there’s a little girl who needs me, and, well, sorry not sorry.” I walk over to Nellie and squat down to look at what she could possibly think is a mistake.
“Look, I didn’t follow the lines. I’m sorry.” Her lip is wobbly. No way will I let her cry.
“The best part about art is that it doesn’t have to be perfect either way. If you want to play around with it, you can, or you can leave it be. It’s perfect regardless.” The part she’s talking about is so minute that she could cover it with a fanning motion of her brush, and nobody would be the wiser.
“Oh, okay. Yeah, you’re right. Thank you, Sable.” When she faceplants in my chest, burying herself there, all I can do is hold her.
“You’re welcome. No tears, though, okay?” I wait until she’s ready to move from her place, hand rubbing up and down her back.
“Alright.”
“You know she’s perfect, and if you do anything to ruin this, not only will Nellie be upset with you, but so will I, so will Mom and Dad, and I’m thinking half the town will, too. Specifically Ronnie and Jude. I ran into them the other day, and they told me they’re attempting to commission a piece from Sable. The kicker is, she won’t do more than one piece at a time, and I know how much the historical society is paying her. She’s well sought after, too.” I hear Kara sing my praises. If only she knew how much Colt and Nellie mean to me already, she wouldn’t have to worryabout him screwing up. I’ve been worried more that I will, but Colt saying those three words set my mind at ease.
“She is perfect. I’m not letting her go. She’s mine, and she’s Nellie’s, too. It all feels right, every single part.”
“Just checking, big brother, just checking.” Nellie moves back out of my chest without a frown in sight.
“I’m going back to work now.” I nod and give her a smile, and she turns back to the mural.
By the time I make it back to Colt, he’s standing by the tree, waiting for me, and Kara is long gone. She loves to come and go, or at least that’s what she’s been doing the past week I’ve been working here. Much like the rest of the townspeople. They’ll stop and watch for a few minutes, ask if I need anything, and then move along to repeat the process the next day.
“I love you, Colt. I also love your little girl. I know I will never replace her mom, and I don’t want to. But I’d love to add to her life in any capacity she’ll have me.” My hands slide up his chest, feeling the steady heartbeat beneath my palm.
“Fuck, Sable. You’re so damn perfect. She wants you, and I want you. We all do.” It doesn’t matter that we're out in public, that Nellie is painting a few feet away. From the very beginning, he hasn’t hidden how he feels about me, laying it out on the line when he has so much to lose in terms of Nellie.
“It’s a good thing I want you and her, too. All of you as well.” I blink away the wetness gathering at the corners of my eyes. Colt cups my cheeks, thumbs sweeping over my skin. His calloused hands are a walking contradiction to the smoothness of mine. The feeling is indescribable. And when his lips finally land on mine, every sensation pulses through my blood, and I never want it to end.
Epilogue
SABLE
ONE YEAR LATER
“Did you make a wish?” I ask after Nellie blows out the candle on her cupcake. We’re at the cemetery for her birthday and her mom’s celebration of life. I’ve now been included in this momentous occasion, even though I’ve never once asked to join them. When the time came, Nellie grabbed my hand without saying a word, led me to Colt, and we loaded up together in his truck. The day was Mother’s Day, and she changed the flowers like she usually does and had a moment alone with Brooke.
I held Colt’s hand, wanting to be there with her the entire time, especially when she brushed a tear off her cheek. He held me back, telling me the same thing Kara told him. ‘You have to let her feel all the feelings—grief, sadness, happiness. She needs this. And while all we want to do is protect her from anything and everything, we also have to let her work this out.’ Colt also mentioned that after her last birthday, he almost put a stop to her visiting Brooke but thought better of it after the talk with Kara.
“I always make a wish. You never know when it’s going to come true.” Colt and I are sitting on either side of her, holding each other’s hands. He gives me a squeeze of encouragement to keep the conversation flowing.
