On a sunny day in late October, with fall leaves the color of red wine underfoot, Faith ran up the stairs of Lawson House and took a moment to catch her breath before heading inside.
She was running late. She’d got caught up at The Dock, helping Samantha with a new payroll system, and lost track of time. She glanced at her phone. There were four missed calls from the realtor.
“Shit,” she muttered, as she reached for the door and let herself inside.
Miranda, the realtor, greeted her as soon as she doffed her jacket.
“Hey, glad you made it. Candy is nearly ready to go. Her friend Darla, is with her.”
“Is Gus here?”
Miranda shook her head. “Not yet.” Then, she offered her a large key ring. “These are yours. You and Gus are officially the owners of Lawson House.”
“Thank you,” Faith murmured just as Candy shuffled into view. Her friend, Darla, was weighed down with several large bags, and Miranda offered to help get them out to their van.
Faith knew this was hard for Candy, leaving the house. The woman looked pale and her hand trembled. She leaned onto her walker and exhaled a big, long breath.
“Please tell me you will come and visit.”
Candy shook her head. “No. I don’t think so.” She smiled then. “I’ve just closed a long chapter in my life. No need to read it back again.” She touched the hall table. “This is your place how. You’ll make new memories, and this house is glad for it.” Shelooked at Faith, faded eyes shimmery and full of tears. “You’ll be happy with him and that’s enough for me.”
Faith stood back as the woman pushed her walker forward and, after a few moments, disappeared, leaving her alone in her new home.
They had plans, she and Gus, and she wandered back to the common room. She ran her fingers across the old countertop and looked outside. Liam sat under the shade eating an apple while Taco romped in circles, jumping at falling leaves and barking at nothing.
Lost in thought she didn’t hear him until Gus’s arms wrapped around her waist and drew her back against him. He kissed the top of her head, and she rested there a bit, content just to be.
“It’s ours,” she whispered.
“We’ve got some plans to make.”
Faith nodded. “Liam’s staying as long as he wants.”
“Agreed.”
“Sage has already told me she’s moving back to the city, so we have upstairs and the loft to work with.”
“It’s a lot of space for two.”
Slowly, she turned in his embrace. She looked up at him and cupped his face, then drew him down for a long, slow kiss. “We’re going to be three.”
“Yes.” He pulled her into the kind of hug that felt so right it brought tears to her eyes.
“I was thinking it might be time to make an honest woman out of you.”
She stilled. Her blood stopped pumping, and the air in her lungs caught in her throat.
“Marry me and let’s do this right.”
She looked up at this man who meant everything to her but couldn’t form the words. She stared up at him for so long that afrown touched his beautiful face, and he rubbed his thumb along her jawbone.
“Faith?”
Yes, she screamed inside, though only a squeak or something equally as embarrassing fell from her lips.
“Jesus Christ, answer the man.” Walker leaned against the doorframe to the common room with his hands shoved into his front pockets. Dressed in jeans, boots, a T-shirt, and leather jacket, he flashed a smile and shrugged. “It’s painful for me to watch this.”
“That’s because you’re a dick,” Gus shot at him.
