Page 126 of Between the Lines

I screw the lid onto my to-go cup, grab the diaper bag, and kneel down to give Hamburger a scratch before I leave for the day.

“Ahh—I love fall,” I muse, breathing in the crisp air. Well, as crisp as Wilmington gets in October.

Caden straps Daisy into the stroller and nudges his sunglasses up his nose.

Still too cool.

I roll my eyes but smile, grateful for the company as I push the stroller towards Luanne’s.

“You’re coming up on one month. How do you want to celebrate?” Caden asks as we wait at the crosswalk.

“Truthfully? I just want an afternoon to finally read a book. I know this guy who’s an incredible chef. Maybe we can arrange for him to serve me my food poolside while I read . . .”

Caden laughs. “I’ll talk to my people. See if we can make this happen.”

That means yes.

Because if the last three months have taught me anything it’s that Caden Brooks is a man of his word. After he handed me keys to what felt like the city—the empty space next to Good Grinds—everything changed.

In the best way possible, in the way maybe everything was supposed to be.

I poured my heart and soul into learning the ropes of being a small-business owner. My used bookstore dream was slowly coming true before my eyes.

My family, and Luanne, rallied behind me, taking care of Daisy so I could spend long hours in the shop, painting, planning, and dreaming—all the things.

Though I made sure I saved at least one afternoon each weekend to spend with Caden and Daisy, together. That’s been my favorite thing in the world.

Caden also promised me we’d take everything between us at my pace, and he’s proven that that wasn’t just talk.

Some days between taking care of a growing toddler and working on the bookstore, I don’t see him at all.

But there are also many days where I’d crawl into my own bed exhausted but happy, and he’d be there waiting for me.

Happy to be wherever you are.

That’s what he’d say when I’d apologize for not having a lick of energy left for anything but to cuddle until we fell asleep.

I’m not the only one filled with joy when I see him though. Daisy runs straight to him the moment he steps through the front door. By the grace of god, even Hamburger has stopped hiding when he’s over. He simply watches from his many perches, eyes full of judgement, but I’m still holding on to hope that they will become friends one day.

Caden also helped me organize the estate sale. The house has room to breathe now, and though it still gets messy and things break, living here no longer weighs me down.

It’s now a house where I rest well at night, the place my family gets together once a month for dinners. A beautiful house with decades of memories.

But every day I’m creating new ones outside of it, too.

And even though I’m not ready, I’m not fearful of the idea of letting go anymore. One day, Daisy, Hamburger, and I will move out. Perhaps into a house with a pool and yard of hydrangeas.

But I’m taking it all one day at a time, and it feels just right.

“Alright, baby, you be good.” I hand Daisy off to Luanne.

“You two have a good day at work.” She winks at me and I blush.

Luanne is very invested in my new romance and finds Caden to be a strapping young man.

We leave, walking together towards Good Grinds, hand in hand.

“How’s Nate doing?” I ask.