Page 104 of Meet Me in Ivy Falls

The hunch to Torran’s shoulders warned this might not have been the best decision, but I was all in now and couldn’t turn back.

‘You need to start explaining right now, Beck.’ The fire in her voice was not at total boiling because of the girls.

‘Please, let’s go inside and then we’ll talk.’

She mumbled out ‘jackass’ under her breath before following the girls up the restored steps. I dragged in a full breath and prayed this was going to work.

In the last week, I’d made over a dozen calls to the people in Ivy Falls I thought might agree to my plan. I wasn’t sure anyone would want to help the guy who broke Torran Wright’s heart again, but I had to try. Luckily they loved her more than they hated me.

Once inside the front door, we were greeted by several people working in the living room. The scent of turpentine and fresh paint clung to the damp August air.

Torran looked at me with a combination of shock and irritation.

In the formal dining room, Barb, Susan and Miss Cheri were surrounded by another ten people on their hands and knees scrubbing at what was left of the stains on the paint-covered floor. Even old Mrs Vanderpool, with her little dog tucked into what looked like a baby carrier, was laying a coat of primer on the walls.

‘Beck,’ she huffed out. ‘You said you’d explain.’

‘I know but go upstairs first. Your dad is waiting for you and the girls.’ She started to shake her head but I stepped in close. ‘I need you to trust me right now.’

‘Trust you?’ she said, her voice low and haunted. ‘How do you expect me to do that after everything…’

She stopped and glanced at the girls who watched us with wide eyes.

‘Fine, I will see you upstairs.’

She mounted the steps with the girls darting up and around her to reach the landing first.

I followed voices into the kitchen. Manny, Diego, Pete, Deputy Ben and Silvio from the hardware store all worked on yanking out what was left of the damaged appliances.

Manny and I locked eyes. He tipped his chin to the corner of the kitchen. Once we had a bit of privacy, he said, ‘They’re waiting for you upstairs in the master bedroom. Torran’s dad told her to be here by five.’

‘Yeah, about that.’ I scratched at the whiskers on my chin. ‘Her truck broke down and I picked her and the girls up as they were walking here.’

‘So much for a sneak attack,’ Manny said.

All I could do was shrug. ‘She’s here. That’s what matters.’

‘True, but I need you to promise me you won’t screw it up again.’

‘I swear I’m done making mistakes.’

‘Good, because you know what will happen if you make Torran anything but blissfully happy.’

Manny tried to act all gruff but couldn’t hide the light in his eyes as he watched the town help restore his and Torran’s dream. Mine and Piper’s too.

‘I’m sure you’re not the only one who will run me out of the city limits if that happens.’

‘You’ve got that damn right!’ Old Mrs Vanderpool yelled from the entryway. Her little dog barked along like he agreed.

The men all laughed before returning their focus to the double ovens, which were beat to hell.

I turned and walked up the stairs, observing all the people working to clean up the house. I was sure a thank you wasn’t enough for Manny and Mr Wright. When I’d first reached out, they were hesitant about my plan, of what Torran would do, but they still helped me rally the people of Ivy Falls and I was very grateful.

At the hospital, she’d railed at me for running. For not wanting to put down roots. Today, I was going to show her that I was done being scared to let people help me. That I was willing to put all my fears aside and make connections with the people I loved again, even if I was deathly afraid of how easy it’d be for any one of them to be ripped away from my life.

Inside the master bedroom, Tessa worked side by side with Mr Wright repainting the walls. Isabel from the bank dumped paint into waiting pans. They were all laughing at some joke Mr Wright was in the middle of telling.

Torran wasn’t there.