“I even heard that there’s a legend that says she hid some treasure in Looters Lake.”
“Alliterations,” we said at the same time and then smiled widely at each other.
“Now we will have to learn how to scuba dive,” Bee said seriously.
My heart swelled. This was everything I had hoped it would be for her. It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t complete, but she seemed so happy. I felt so much relief at her joy.
“Like I said, this sign is just temporary. Once the earth defrosts in spring, we’ll put the real one in. With some funds Benny Jr. has generously decided to donate.”
“This is … I’m crying. Thank you so much for this, Owen. I can’t tell you what this means.” She squeezed me until I grunted and then turned back to Jane. She placed her hand on the foot to the statue. “You won’t be forgotten,” she whispered to her.
“She’ll never be forgotten … and neither will you.” I pointed at one last thing.
“‘Generously donated by local legend Bee Perkins.’”
“But I didn’t …”
“Benny Jr. did. In your honor. We came to an arrangement. That’s part of the reason I hadn’t called you yet. Sorry I took so long.”
She blushed, went up on her toes, and kissed my cheek. “You better be careful, Owen ‘The Soupman’ Campbell. I am dangerously close to falling for you.” We kissed deeper, arms interlocked, there in the middle of town. She paused to pull back and study me. “You know, I’m not as scared now. I’m not afraid of fading away. I think because if I have you to share the day-to-day with, I won’t feel like I’m a ghost. As long as I’m here making memories with you, I think that’s more than enough. More than I thought possible.”
My throat tightened, and I nodded. “I’d love the chance to get to know our story together.”
She looked back at the statue and shook her head. “I can’t believe you did this. Most people would think this is so silly, thatI’mso silly for caring.”
“You’re not silly, Bee. You are fierce and brave and hilarious and beautiful, and I can’t wait to get to know you more,” I said, tucking her under my chin so she could admire her statue.
“I’m so glad I got us trapped in the tram with my harebrained idea,” she said.
“I didn’t realize how stuck I was. You’ve shaken me up and turned my whole world upside down. I thought I was only capable of violence. I thought there was no coming back from my mistakes, but nothing feels like a mistake anymore. How could it be when it all led me to you?”
“Even getting stuck in the tram?” she asked, voice shaking.
“Especially that. That night meant so much to me. You mean so much to me. You are extraordinary. You make me excited about life again; you are exceptional. I’ll remember you forever. You aren’t a forgotten statue, Bee. You are a marker in time. There was after I met you and everything before. I will never be the same again. And I wanted you to know that, no matter how many years pass, I will never forget you.”
She turned into my arms and stepped up on the low wall until we were face-to-face.
“I know it would be crazy to say I’m falling in love with you after just one night on a tram?—”
“Don’t say crazy, it’s not nice.”
She grinned at my mirrored words. “But also crazier things have happened in this town.”
My throat bobbed at her confession. She grinned so wide.
“I feel the same way,” I said.
I leaned forward, and we kissed. The future lay ahead of us, and I couldn’t wait to see what it brought.
Chapter 26
Bee
One year later(ish)
New Year’s Eve
“Aw,come on. Why would he do it that way?” I threw a hand up at the screen of the new fancy TV in Ivy’s room. A comedian was attempting to transfer spaghetti sauce from one container to the other using a teaspoon and failing epically.
