by K. C. Crowne
“I agree,” Ezra said, his voice lower. He looked away. “Shit, man. This is a tough one. She doesn’t want you there, but I understand you don’t want to be apart from your child. It’s within your rights to be there, she really doesn’t have a say in that, but…”
He trailed off, and after a second, I asked him, “But what?”
“But I really don’t want you to go, man. I know you won’t be happy there.”
I shrugged. “I’ve always wanted a family.”
“But like this? Where you have to live in the city, away from everyone else you love? And with a woman who doesn’t even want you there?”
“I know.”
No one said anything for a few moments, and I thought I’d lighten the mood with a joke. “There is one good thing to come out of this for you, though,” I said, cracking a smile at Ezra.
“What’s that?”
“One less person in competition for the car.”
Ezra let out a low groan. “Declan, Jesus, that’s the least of my concerns right now, and besides, we all knew you were going out next anyway, so no surprises there.”
The three of us laughed, and it felt good. For a moment, I forgot about everything. I took a long swig of beer and said out loud, “God, I’m going to miss you guys.”
Because in my mind, there was only one path forward and we all knew it.
I was moving to New York City. Whether Eva wanted me to or not, whether I wanted to leave Liberty or not, I was going to know my child.
I was going to be there for him or her, no matter what it cost me.
Chapter 20
Eva
I stared at my phone as it buzzed in my hand and frowned when a New York number popped up on the screen. Part of me had hoped it would be Declan, even though I knew it was my fault he wasn’t calling. I’d reiterated to Declan that I needed some space. My father was getting worse by the day, and I didn’t want to talk about our future when I felt so vulnerable. He said he understood and had given me the space I asked for. I hadn’t heard from him in over a week, and it was going on two weeks since our argument at the dinner with my family.
It was hard to believe that I’d only been in Liberty a couple of weeks. I looked at the paintings sitting on every surface in the hotel room. I couldn’t remember a time when I created so much in a short amount of time.
I ignored my phone and looked down at my latest work.
It wasn’t the typical dark colors, but rather pastels. I’d painted a sunrise over the mountains. Nothing that would sell because landscape paintings were a dime a dozen, but something about it made me smile. I’d created similar paintings when I was a youngster but seeing how far I’d come was an amazing feat.
My phone buzzed again, another number with a New York City area code. I shouldn’t ignore it. If they were going through me instead of Lily, it was probably important. We’d been inundated with calls for future events, for charity events, from journalists wanting to interview me, and I was just tired. So tired. I didn’t want to deal with any of that.
I sighed and answered the phone.
“Yes?” I said, admittedly sounding grumpier than I intended.
“Ms. Stone?” a friendly voice asked on the other end. “Hello, this is Viola Taylor with the Brooklyn Art Center. How are you doing today?”
I immediately felt like an asshole for responding so coldly. I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. “Oh Ms. Taylor, yes, hi. I’m doing well, how are you?”
“Very well, thank you for asking. I hope I’m not bothering you. I heard you were currently out of the city on vacation. I hope you’re having a wonderful time.”
It was nice not to be questioned and interrogated, and even nicer to have someone sincerely wish me well. I couldn’t remember a time where a business call wasn’t all about the business and less about, well, me.
“I am trying to make the best of it,” I told her. “And you aren’t bothering me at all. What can I help you with?”
“Well, the kids have really enjoyed the new art supplies we were able to purchase with your generous donation, and they painted a mural in your honor that they’re dying to show you. Would you be available for a short Zoom call with the children?” she asked, a pleading note in her voice. “I understand if you aren’t free. I can send you a video at a later time, but if you’re free, I know it would be a great surprise for them.”
They painted a mural. For me. I was surprised these children even knew who I was or even cared. Kids that young weren’t interested in social media celebrities or high valued art. Their hearts were purer, which was why donating to charities impacting children meant the world to me.
“I’d actually love that, Ms. Taylor,” I told her, feeling a knot in my throat. “And if it would be possible, I could even teach a class or two. Or hold a workshop. As a volunteer, of course.”
“We would love that, Ms. Stone. If you have the time, we’ll work around your schedule.”
She sounded genuinely surprised and grateful, and I couldn’t recall when anyone in the industry seemed to appreciate my time or my work to this extent. And I would be doing some good, which wasn’t lost on me either.
“My schedule is pretty open these days. What would you think about setting up the Zoom with the kids for later today or tomorrow? Whatever works for you.”
“Tomorrow morning would be perfect,” she replied excitedly. “Some of the kids have gone home today already and I know they’d like to participate.”
“Tomorrow morning is perfect.”
I finalized the arrangements with her, not even bothering to check with Lily about my schedule. I was sure I didn’t have anything else. My schedule was pretty open in case my dad needed me, but this was different.
When I got off the phone, I had a big grin on my face. I was happy.
I looked around at the latest paintings - none of them would be sellable at the gallery, so I decided to donate the ones I didn’t intend to keep for myself.
My stomach growled, reminding me that it was getting a little late for lunch. Matt and Lily were together, so I didn’t want to disturb them. I briefly considered calling Declan and asking if he wanted to meet up to talk, but I felt my smile fading at the thought.
How could I ask him to leave behind everything in Liberty? It wasn’t right to ask that of him. He’d be miserable in the city, though I also wanted him to be there for his baby.
Not to mention, I wanted him to be there for me.
I wanted to be with him, and not long-distance either.
I sighed and pushed those thoughts from my head.
Don’t ruin a good day, Eva. You’ll figure it out.
I decided that the weather was beautiful, and I could draw while I waited for my food. I grabbed my supplies and headed out the door toward the diner. It was a decent walk, but not too bad and the sun was shining.
I took a deep breath and savored the fresh air. I loved how close everything was here, how I could walk almost anywhere downtown. The streets weren’t crowded and loud, there was no smog. It was just peaceful, and I found myself smiling at the people I walked past, and they smiled back at me. Didn’t matter if we knew each other, people were just polite here.
As I walked, I saw a familiar face that caused my stomach to drop. Tucker was walking toward me, and the sidewalk was barely wide enough for us both.
He seemed to be sober today, so that was a start. His eyes were clear and blue, and while he did give me a once over, he didn’t come onto me with a cheesy pickup line. I surprised myself by stopping him, stepping in his path.
“Hi, Tucker.”
He raised an eyebrow and gave me another once over. “Hey. Do we know each other? If so, I apologize—”
“No, I mean yes, we knew each other at one time. We went to high school together actually. Evelyn?”
His eyes glazed over, and he ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, it doesn’t ring a bell, and I would think I’d remember a hottie like you.”
I clenched my jaw but took a deep breath to calm myself down. “Well, I didn’t look the same back then. In fact, you and your friends were complete assholes to me. You took pictures of Declan and me in his barn and showed them at our high school graduation.” I watched as it clicked in his mind.
“Oh shit,” he muttered, his eyes moving from side to side as he tried to look anywhere but at me. “Listen, Evelyn… I apologize. We were dumb kids back then and—”
I held up a hand to stop him. “I don’t need your apologies, Tucker.” And I surprised myself even more by actually meaning it. “Your little stunt the other night was not cute.”
“I—I don’t even remember, but I’m sorry. I’ll try not to do whatever it was again.”
“Good. Glad we’re on the same page,” I said smoothly, stepping aside and walking past him.
He called out, “See you around.”
All I could do was chuckle to myself.
At one time, the idea of running into Tucker or any of the people from my past would have sent me into a panic. And now? Well, I didn’t even care if I saw Tucker again. Amy or Carl either. Jessica and I were on good terms, and she stood by her word and fired the nurse who went to the press for breaking confidentiality laws.
I approached the diner, and an older man held the door open for me. I smiled as I stepped inside the restaurant.
“Hey Eva,” the diner owner, Felicity, called out to me with a wave. “Your usual booth is open; take a seat and I’ll be right over with your iced tea.”
I slipped into the booth and didn’t even need to open a menu, nor would I need to order because Felicity and her staff seemed to remember my favorites.
As I sat there and looked around, I realized it really did feel good to be home.
Chapter 21
Declan
After a long day at work, I was glad to be home. The sun was setting in the mountains in the distance, just past the barn, where all the drama with Eva started in the first place.
A car pulled in behind my truck, and I turned to find Eva’s rental BMW parked in the driveway.
It had been a few weeks since we’d spoken. I’d given her space, as she’d asked. But when she got out of the car, damn, I was glad to see her.
She offered a friendly smile as she walked toward me, and my eyes dropped to her belly. She was wearing a fitted dress that seemed to show off the roundness. Maybe because I was looking for it, but she appeared to be showing faster than expected, and seeing her pregnant with my child filled me with so many emotions.
“You look good,” I complimented, my gaze moving over her curves. “Really good.”
“Thanks,” she said as she approached. Her skin seemed to glow, and the smile on her face felt less forced than any I’d seen from her in some time. Her eyes seemed to sparkle, and she was in good spirits. Her gaze moved past me to the barn. “It looks exactly the same as it did back then.”
I glanced behind me. “Yep. I haven’t changed much about the place. Since my folks died, I find it comforting to keep things the way they did. Reminds me of them.”
“I bet,” she said, touching my arm. “I was wondering if we could talk.”
“Of course. You want to go inside?”
“Actually, mind if we check out the barn?” She wrinkled her nose. “Is that weird? I just feel like it might be nice to see it again, after all these years, you know.”
“Sure, and I don’t think it’s weird. As long as you’re okay with it.”
“I’m more than okay, Declan. Being in Liberty has shown me that I’ve moved past all that, and I’ve even talked to Jessica and Tucker, so I think I can handle the barn.” She looped her arm through mine and we walked toward the old barn. “Do you still have cows?”
“A couple, though I don’t run the actual farm or anything. They’re more pets than anything else,” I said with a chuckle. “I’ve got more goats than cows, and sometimes make some goat cheese, but that’s about it for the farming these days.”
“You always were a gentle soul, Declan,” she commented, giving me a sideways glance.
I knew, coming from her, it was a compliment. “Thanks, Eva. So how have you been? Everything going okay?”
“Everything’s been going very well, actually,” she said as we approached the side door leading to the barn. I swung it open and let her enter first. “I mean, obviously Dad is getting worse and that’s not easy, but everything else has been better than I would have expected.”
As soon as we stepped inside the barn, the smell of old hay stung my nostrils. Eva sneezed, then sniffled a little.
“Still allergic to hay. Maybe we should go inside.”
But she walked away from me, heading toward the loft before I could stop her. “Careful,” I said as she climbed the ladder.
“It’s okay, Declan. I’m pregnant, not fragile,” she said with a laugh, climbing to the top. I followed her up the ladder, relieved once we reached the loft. “It looks a lot like it did back then, too. Minus the lights and blankets,” she said, her voice soft.
“Yeah, I don’t come up here much these days. Don’t really need to,” I said, running a hand through my hair.
She turned to me with a smile. “So you asked how I was doing, and Declan, I have to say— being in Liberty has been really eye-opening for me.”
“How so?”
“Well, for one thing, I’ve created so much art, more than I have in years living in the city. None of it good enough for the gallery or the critics, but I realized I don’t need to create art for anyone but myself, and damn, that feels good.”
“Oh yeah?” I didn’t want to get my hopes up or assume to understand what she was getting at.
“Yes, and while I’ve been here, I’ve been working with the Brooklyn Art Center, via Zoom, teaching virtual classes to some of the kids, and it’s been amazing.” She closed the distance between us, staring up at me with a smile. Taking my hands in hers, she said, “And it’s got me thinking… what if I did return to Liberty?”
“But what about the gallery?”
She shrugged. “I can run it from here, and if I decide to stay for good, I might even sell it. I’m going to be honest with you,” she said, sighing. “Being in the spotlight all the time is exhausting, and I’m not sure I want to raise a child in that life. Especially if I’m not even happy.”
“But I thought it was your dream, Eva.”
Her gaze fell to my lips. “It was my dream, but now that I’ve lived it, I realize how unfulfilling it really is. And dreams change, Declan. And right now, I think my dream is to stay here. In Liberty. With you.”
She stood on her tiptoes. I leaned closer to her and her lips pressed into mine. I held her face in my hands, and it felt like a dream.
Then reality hit me, and I pulled back.
“Wait, just like you were worried about me uprooting my life for you, I can’t have you uproot your entire life for me.”
“I’m not doing it just for you. I’m ready for a new life. Since teaching the children at the Art Center, I’ve realized that I want to do something that gives back. I’ve already talked to Matt, and I think I want to teach. Is that crazy or what?” She chuckled, and she did legitimately look very happy.
I stroked her cheek and kissed her softly. “It’s not crazy, but I worry that pregnancy hormones could be messing with you.”
“And that’s why I won’t make any permanent changes until the baby is born,” she assured me. “I won’t sell the gallery or officially retire, but I do need a break. And that’s not just for you – that’s for both me and the baby too. I need to step back from the madness of the city and the press and just breathe.”
She kissed me again, and I couldn’t pull back from her this time.
“Let’s finish what we tried to start all those years ago,” she whispered against my lips.
“You mean…”
“Yes, I want you, right here, Declan,” she said, pulling at my shirt.
She didn’t have to ask
me twice. I picked her up and carried her over to a soft spot in the hay.
“Sorry there are no blankets this time. I wasn’t prepared,” I said with a cheeky grin.
“I don’t give a damn about blankets. I just want you.”
I slipped her dress off over her head and tossed it to the side as she worked at my zipper. We undressed each other quickly, discarding the clothes on the floor. I laid her down in the hay, hovering above her and staring deep into her eyes. Her body wrapped around mine, her skin soft against mine.
I moved my hand between her thighs, feeling her wetness and warmth. Biting her lip, she stared up at me from behind her thick lashes.
“You are so beautiful,” I murmured, slipping my fingers between her folds. “The most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
All these years, I’d dated other women, but I meant what I said. None of them could hold a candle to Eva.
I kissed her neck and nuzzled her ear as I teased her clit, circling it with my fingers. “And you’re even more beautiful when you come.”
That elicited a whimper from her, and her body responded to my touch. With my other hand, I teased her nipple before sucking and licking it as I played with her pussy.
I slipped a finger, then two, inside her, using my thumb to circle her clit.
“Oh God…” she moaned, and I knew she was close by the way her thighs shuddered around my hand.
I moved so I could look in her eyes, wanting to watch her come. “Yes, baby. Come for me…”
And as if on command, I felt her spasm around my fingers, her body shaking like an earthquake as she cried out in pleasure.
Her face contorted into one of pure bliss - her eyes barely open, her mouth slack as she moaned, and it was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen. I would never grow tired of making her come and watching her writhe in pleasure beneath me.
“Declan, please— I need you inside me, now,” she said breathlessly just as her body calmed from the first orgasm. She gripped my body and pulled on me, arching upward as if to close the distance between us. I moved in position, hovering directly above her, staring deep into her eyes.
