Page 98 of The Story Between Us

Good thing she’d fed him coffee, soup, and sandwiches. But when she’d sneaked out to work on the library, he hadn’t even noticed.

So, maybe he’d forgotten he’d kissed her.

Whereas she couldn’t get it out of her brain. The smell of him, the touch of his embrace, the way his mouth had felt on hers.

As if they belonged together.

Oh boy. Wishful thinking because, hello, she was leaving in three days.

Focus!

She dipped her brush in the water jar. Studied the fox’s tail. Added one more highlight—just a whisper of white along the curve—and stepped back again.

“Oh, Livvie.”

Hazel stood in the doorway, one hand pressed to her heart. The librarian had been checking in every few hours, watching the mural take shape, but this was the first time she’d seen it complete. Her eyes brightened with tears.

“It’s exactly what Emma wanted,” Hazel whispered. “Exactly.”

“I just followed her sketches.” Livvie set the brush down, wiped her hands on the paint-stained apron. “She did all the hard work.”

“You brought it to life.” Hazel crossed the room, tilted her head to study the dragon’s eye. “She would have loved this.”

Livvie’s throat closed. “Yeah. She would.”

“It’s perfect.”

The voice came from behind them—warm, familiar, threaded with emotion.

Livvie spun around.

Aunt Lila stood in the doorway. Her silver hair was in a messy bun, she wore an oversized cardigan, her glasses on a beaded chain, a sort of delight shining in her eyes.

“Aunt Lila. What are you doing here?”

“You’ve been here almost two weeks and you think I’d miss the finale?” Lila crossed the room and pulled Livvie into a hug that smelled like lavender and old books. “Besides, Hazel called me. Said you’d been painting for two days straight, in between your runs to Nate’s house to feed him, and she was worried you’d forgotten to eat.”

“I ate.” Livvie pulled back, swiped at her eyes. “There was a bagel. Yesterday, I think.”

“A bagel.” Lila cupped Livvie’s face, studied her with those sharp, loving eyes that saw everything. “You look exhausted. And happy. And confused. So basically, exactly how you should look.”

“I’m fine.”

“Terrible liar. Always have been.” Lila released her, turned to survey the mural. “This is extraordinary, Livvie. Truly.”

“Emma designed it.”

“Emma sketched it. You made it.” Lila traced a finger along the silver fox’s tail. “There’s a difference between having a vision and bringing it into the world. Both matter.”

Hazel cleared her throat softly. “I’ll leave you two alone. Livvie, the dedication ceremony is Sunday. We’ll have the bench unveiling and the Storybook Corner grand opening together.” She paused in the doorway, glanced back. “He’s going to come, isn’t he? Nate?”

Livvie’s stomach dropped. “I don’t know.”

“Ask him.” Hazel’s smile was gentle but firm. “He’ll come if you ask.”

Then she was gone, and it was just Livvie and Lila in the children’s section, surrounded by enchanted forests and unspoken questions.

“I need to get Nate’s lunch,” Livvie said.